Interview: Dionne Warwick on her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

With over 80 Billboard charting singles, it’s easy to see why Dionne Warwick is recognized as one of the most iconic vocalists in American popular music.

Warwick's upcoming performance in Central Indiana comes on the heels of her recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Warwick was honored alongside a diverse group of performers that included A Tribe Called Quest, Cher, Ozzy Osbourne, and Mary J Blige, among others.

This interview has been edited for style and clarity.

Kyle Long: I asked Warwick for her thoughts on the ceremony.

Dionne Warwick: Well, it was very exciting and to have my music recognized. Basically, that's what was really inducted, my body of work, which makes me very, very happy to know that people are still very much in love with what I've been doing for years and years and years.

Long: While she appreciated the recognition, Warwick doesn't view her work as rock and roll music. In fact, she's resistant to categorizing her music at all.

Warwick: When you categorize people, that keeps you in in what we call a box, and I fortunately feel that I've never really been able to be categorized. People have different ways of realizing what they think I am. You think I'm rock and roll, then that's what I am. You think I'm R&B, then that's what I am. You know, I'm music, that's what I am.

Long: Warwick was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by the singer, dancer and actor Teyana Taylor. Taylor is set to portray Warwick in an upcoming biopic.

Warwick: I chose Teyana. In fact, she chose me, and it came from a photograph. We compared her photograph and mine, and I swear I said, “My God, she looks so much like me.” Then I finally got a chance to meet her. She is so much like me, it’s scary. She's a fine actress, she's a dancer, she sings, and she's a full boat. So, I mean, couldn't have anybody better.

Long: Warwick has been performing in Indiana for over 60 years. One of her most memorable appearances was her 1992 performance for Indiana Black Expo. The concert was billed as an HIV/AIDS benefit and featured guest stars including Stevie Wonder. Warwick was among the most prominent AIDS activists of her generation. I asked Warwick what inspired her activism around the issue of AIDS.

Warwick: The fact that we were losing so many people, especially within our industry. I said, “Something has got to be done about this.” I was appointed by President Reagan as the Ambassador of Health for the United States, the only one, I guess I still am.

I traveled the world, visiting health facilities throughout the entire world, getting answers to things that they were doing to prevent it, or to at least put a stem on it, and to see if they could find a cure for it. We're still looking for that cure, but we've gotten pretty much a handle on how to stem it.

Long: Warwick says her upcoming tour will include fan favorites from across the decades.

Warwick: Well, I'm looking forward to coming back and hanging out with you guys. We have a fun time. I love talking to people, they love talking back with me. We love to laugh a lot, that’s something I enjoy doing very, very much. Hopefully they'll come to hear the songs they all want to hear.