NBC TONIGHT SHOW | Dionne Warwick sings "SOLID GOLD...SLOWLY" | 6/25/1981

[@brandonlewis7832]

Dionne knew she ATE this entire performance!

[@andreaswanson1596]

This woman can sang! Her range was so high I thought my phone was going to crack! Absolutely Phenomenal!

[@ronaldhiggins2832]

Looking gorgeous with elegance and style. Loved the way she wore her hair. Warwick is one of the best. Class act!

[@DavidMiller-kf1ss]

Kennedy honors!❤

[@stevewashington4372]

This shimmering display of brilliance was almost 40 years ago. Let that sink in. My how time flies....

[@seattledude6277]

What a wonderful talent! I love her poise and naturalness! None of these young singers can touch that precision ! Such a stunning smile as well!

[@jasonburger3533]

Her smile said it all. Some singers appear to be in agony singing their lyrics. Here the rhythm and flow all came together to give it mass appeal. The long holds I found most impressive and showed good technique.

[@QueerlyBeloved386]

Doesn't she look SO BEAUTIFUL here. Like stunning!!

[@jasonburger3533]

She made 40 look so young here and I am a lot older than that currently.

[@QueerlyBeloved386]

@@jasonburger3533 Her skin is NEXT LEVEL

[@jasonburger3533]

@@QueerlyBeloved386 Please explain that.

[@QueerlyBeloved386]

@@jasonburger3533 Its her cheekbones, they hold everything tight and right. Think about when women get fillers its usually to either plump or lift and Ms Warwick has built in lift. Iconic.

[@jasonburger3533]

@@QueerlyBeloved386 Yes, she had the natural smooth look then and still does at age 81.

[@jesselockhart1230]

2:45 That familiar hook that defined TV for a decade!

[@singingmanmd]

Phenomenal so much attitude, skill, and technique was put in this one song without over doing it!! Only Ms. Dionne can put it down like that❤❤❤❤❤

[@personnelbattalion]

That's how you sing a song....great job Dionne

[@eugenehiggins3478]

Great rendition. And loved her hair and make up. Warwick always had great stage presence.

[@bskeete]

a haunting version....classic Dionne!!!!

[@jasonburger3533]

Yes, but haunting in a good way. The long holds that she had were spectacular and the audience and Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon and Doc Severinson got a musical powerhouse on stage.

[@stevedale8611]

positively enthralling....only she could do this

[@majorboyce123]

Damn this baritone can soar. No one sings like Dionne.

[@cincereqoutes8844]

Mezzo.... Soprano..

[@jasonburger3533]

@@cincereqoutes8844 Yes, she was a wonderful mezzo-soprano and has lowered to contralto in more recent times. No matter what vocal type, she is a voice of distinction.

[@BartSimpson-nr1dy]

25 to 30 years later, sounds better than ever. That lady has it all. WOW!

[@ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΣΒΑΒΟΥΔΑΚΗΣ-π1ε]

Absolutely standing, it thrills me!!

[@tomtalker2000]

I absolutely LOVE Dionne. One of THE BEST singers of all time. Her diction, breath control, and range is unbelievable. Coming from one singer too another she's always been an influence of the gift the lord blessed me with. I also REALLY miss shows like Solid Gold, Soul Train, and Star Search. We have AGT, The Voice, and Idol now but some how they just don't compare to these old shows. At least too me they don't.

[@donovanrobinson1843]

Its due to the caliber of singers out now. They just dont have it like the older generations. Its a few who can definitely stand with the greats but back then you had no choice but to sang your butt off

[@donovanrobinson1843]

Its due to the caliber of singers out now. They just dont have it like the older generations. Its a few who can definitely stand with the greats but back then you had no choice but to sang your butt off

[@donovanrobinson1843]

Also the musicians and musical directors as a whole were just different. Now a-days you can go to a computer and “wah lah “ but then musical director and composers worked their butts off to bring out the magic . Besides singing, arranging is the hardest aspect of music as you’re the key to tying the song and instrumentation together to convey the true intent of what was meant to be felt. and Michael you were great at it

[@bigeyezzzzzzz]

Wow, thank you so much, kind sir! 🤗

[@rickw1100]

A truly great and instantly recognizable voice!

[@Zueridisco]

Hard to believe this is more than 40 years ago … I remember when I was 14 watching Solid Gold and admired all these great artists there. But as a young guy for me the greatest voice and greatest smile had Dionne.

[@thanksfortheapples4356]

This actually brought me to tears...so moving.

[@devinsummer3022]

She was mesmerizing here

[@wstdx]

Always love it in my life time!

[@melvin292]

Wow! Absolutely awesome.

[@bigeyezzzzzzz]

melvin292 Thank you!

[@bklynp718]

Wow, I forgot what a great voice middle-aged Dionne had!

[@singingmanmd]

Brilliant and mesmerizing!!!

[@brockbaby]

Class act!

[@koapakakaluhiokalani4507]

I love this ❤

[@trastis]

the best singer ever !!!!

[@vagelisvavoudakis960]

i really really love it

[@jasonburger3533]

It is a special rendition that begins as a slow ballad and builds into a nearly disco-like sound.

[@marion71355]

What an awesome piece of music history!

[@scudder99]

absolutely haunting intro.

[@StrongCaramel]

When you see Dionne’s left brow point straight up you KNOW she about to launch 🚀. That eyebrow has more talent than I have in my entire body. Idk why people act so surprised that Miss D had range. Her voice is so big and rich. 😍

[@jasonburger3533]

Her range was unmatched by most of the other contemporary singers of the same era and less so by most of the current crop of female singers who tend to focus on style over substance.

[@StrongCaramel]

@@jasonburger3533 Agreed. From what I’ve observed, she is just as comfortable in the spotlight as in the background and will hold back to let others shine. That’s probably why she doesn’t get her proper accolades. But there’s no mistaking her vocal prowess.

[@jasonburger3533]

@@StrongCaramel That is true. However, she let her vocals stand out often enough that she has an unmistakable sound. That is not the case with much of the sameness the is part of modern music that is hard to distinguish apart. .

[@edadam]

FANTASTIC! I remember watching this way back in 1981 and then years later, before the internet, at the Museum of TV & Radio in Beverly Hills. Thank you for posting!

[@chitasworld7391]

CLASS!!!

[@aisensantana6765]

she is Amasing omg wow

[@jimpalmer325]

LOVE LOVE LOVE

[@cbreez40]

Ms Warwick is in the same category as ms Streisand and unfortunately some don't recognize it..

[@alansatchwell9137]

gad, she does a GREAT job on this.

[@bigeyezzzzzzz]

Yup, Alan, it was one of my favorite performances of my song that Dionne ever did. The other is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqatdaaVp6h0pdk

[@2391jessie]

marion71355 3 years ago What an awesome piece of music history! ............................................... You are damn right!

[@markbouldin5532]

She and Marilyn McCoo made my 80s...❤❤

[@jasonburger3533]

Although both she and Marilyn McCoo go back to the 1960s in pop music, they did become 80s icons through the "Solid Gold" television show.

[@pabloyeb9764]

maravillosa, dionne warwick tiene una voz increiblemente bella, la mejor!!!!

[@DLFfitness1]

She was a great singer.

[@jasonburger3533]

She still is a great singer and is currently still touring at age 81 and that is something that we should recognize, her over 60 years in the music industry.

[@iamprincessbrittany]

Wow. Just, Wow.

[@jasonburger3533]

Wow is right.

[@oldestbrother1516]

Awesomeness!

[@MALAKYT]

it reminds me of "One Night Only" from "Dreamgirls".

[@alanfox4172]

We used to get the Johnny Carson show in the UK in the early eighties late night until the TV were too tight to pay for future episodes.

[@AdrianChristian]

Ok, I just discovered your channel and this is a thrill!!!! Thank you, Michael!!! Talent that is timeless.

[@bigeyezzzzzzz]

You’re very welcome! 🎶🤗🎶

[@xdlmg3b]

Thanks for posting. This was excellent!

[@davidmiller3190]

thanks!

[@ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΣΒΑΒΟΥΔΑΚΗΣ-π1ε]

Such a lady!!!;

[@christofa2009]

AWESOME!! ☆☆☆☆☆ Dionne is My Mentor!♡ Does Anyone know where I can find the clip of Dionne on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1979 or 1980 singing the Title Song from Her album ""No Night So Long""?? I have searched Aimlessly because, it was Truly a Moment of Change for Me in My Life hearing those words and looking up to see the Voice behind Soooo Many songs in My youth. I was 13 and My GrandMother had just passed away who had helped raise Me after My Father passed when I was 10 Weeks Old. Dionne Changed My Life with Her Words and Her Voice when I was at My Worst and thinking of suicide. No Night So Long was the 1st Album I ever Bought forMyself!!♡♡

[@ferdinstra]

Chris G, kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmK8ZqOie9WLqKM

[@singingmanmd]

What an astounding impact Ms. Dionne has on you, me, and so many others. Bless you!!!

[@jasonburger3533]

That is on KZbin and there is also a version from the "Solid Gold" show itself.

[@jasonburger3533]

This slow to fast version has a certain depth that is hard to describe. Other than this "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" appearance and the "Solid Gold" show appearance, I was wondering, Mr. Miller, if there were any other televised airings of this version. This arrangement, and that "slowly" version on "Solid Gold," was a very unique version that really can help someone learn the lyrics. This Dionne Warwick version is still solid gold, in my opinion. I was unaware of these slow to regular versions until you had posted them on KZbin. That has helped with me with music education and music appreciation for a theme song for a music show that is part of the annals of television history, but is kept alive by the theme song that was very much a part of each episode. I was wondering if you were there on the "Tonight Show" set to help.with this particular arrangement, as I know that Doc Severinson was the leader of the band on that show. I just wonder how all the pieces fit together that culminated in such a fine production.

[@bigeyezzzzzzz]

Jason Burger Thank you for your beautiful review of this slow arrangement I did of my Solid Gold theme song. And yes, I was at the Tonight Show for this - I conducted it. As far as I know, there were no other televised airings of the slow version other than this one and the one we did on Solid Gold. Dionne did perform it in her touring act for years, but I don’t have any recordings of those performances.

[@jasonburger3533]

@@bigeyezzzzzzz Thank you for your response. Back then, the "Tonight Show" was 90 minutes long, and as I was 9 years old, it was on past my bedtime and my family did not have a VCR, yet. That has made this upload the only way for me to have seen this spectacular performance. I have some Johnny Carson videos that were sold by his company, and I know they have others on DVD instead of the VHS that I have, but I do not know if this musical performance was ever included in his highlight videos for sale. On his last show in 1992, Johnny Carson noted that the first 10 years of the show with him as host, 1962 to 1972, had been taped over to save space and had been done on kinescope. I know they regretted that. On his last show in May 1992, he did hold up a still photograph of Dionne Warwick that was undated, but from one of her many appearances on his show. Thanks again for sharing these bits of American television history and helping to invoke nostalgia in many, including myself.

[@bigeyezzzzzzz]

Jason Burger Thank you so very much, and I’m so glad this performance moves you so deeply! 🤟🏼

[@jasonburger3533]

@@bigeyezzzzzzz Yes, it was certainly a stellar performance that, until you placed on KZbin, I had no idea had existed, and I had originally missed the version done on "Solid Gold" when it had first aired. So, again, thank you for uploading that to KZbin. I think that these "slow" or "slowly" arrangements would have been good to have been done as a studio album recording as well. That good. Again, thank you so much.

[@Sentinel-911]

@@bigeyezzzzzzz Moved me too. I watched the series when young.

[@dominiquedevereux7205]

I haven't heard this song sing I watched the show in the 80s!! If I don't remember anything else about a show --- especially from the 80s and 90s --- it's the theme song.

[@bigeyezzzzzzz]

Dominique Devereux Thank you! I‘m Michael Miller, the composer of the Solid Gold Theme, and your words mean a lot to me. A show that I thought would last only six weeks ended up lasting nine years and becoming a major part of the fabric of the 80s!

[@dominiquedevereux7205]

@@bigeyezzzzzzz Oh, wow. I'm honored to talk to you!! This show is one of the memories I hold dear & that is part of the tapestry of my childhood, & I'm sure contributed to my love of music in general and singing in particular. Thank you so much for sharing your gift and giving your all even in spite of the prospect that it may never have been experienced in full by the world.

[@bigeyezzzzzzz]

Dominique Devereux Dominique, your beautiful words mean the world to me, and I’m so glad the show and theme song have meant so much to you! Thank you…💙

[@DatBxtchJ4y]

2:11 I just heard Whitney omg

[@evaneleven17]

Dionne used to be such a belter,she's got the power!

[@christopherkinslow5432]

Always said they had similar tones

[@StrongCaramel]

Thank you!!! They are so similar you know they HAD to be related.

[@singingmanmd]

Yeah Whitney learned alot. No one like Ms. Dionne Warwick 😁

[@rlly_james_smh1744]

She knew she could sing...

[@jimmyharper9547]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@tsteigh]

Wow! 🇺🇸💪👉👸👍👍.

[@dommenkosi]

that's greaat! thanks! :)

[@edadam]

next she sang There's a Long Road Ahead of Us and Changes are For Good

[@Kalisis07]

Is there a single of this? It's so good!!! She sang this song! Heck I'd teach it to my choir if I could find the instrumental!

[@bigeyezzzzzzz]

Cory R Hi there, this is Michael Miller and I only ever did this arrangement of my Solid Gold theme for Dionne to sing on Solid Gold, The Tonight Show, and in her Vegas act. It was never released as a single, but you are certainly welcome to do a choral arrangement of it. If you need the sheet music, just let me know where to email it. And thanks for all your kind words!!

[@Kalisis07]

bigeyezzzzzzz that would be awesome! Thank you so much! My email is [e-mail]

[@bigeyezzzzzzz]

Just emailed it to you!

[@darenemartin7584]

I’d love to hear your arrangement of this song. Big Dionne Warwick fan .

[@MA-yh2ko]

@@bigeyezzzzzzz OMG

[@jimmyharper9547]

💜💜💜💜💜

[@GiuseppePascuale928]

Ooh does anyone have either of those clips to share? Two of my faves from Hot! Live And Otherwise.

[@romeredubost6971]

Dionne Warwick is THE ORIGINAL BLACK DIVA she claimed and became it.

[@jasonburger3533]

Dionne Warwick sang "There's A Long Road Ahead Of Us" on that same broadcast. Michael, did you conduct that song as well? To me, that is a song that is her best from that album.

[@bigeyezzzzzzz]

Thanks for your question, Jason. Joe Kloess conducted “There’s a Long Road Ahead of Us”, and I conducted the slow version of my Solid Gold Theme.

[@jasonburger3533]

@@bigeyezzzzzzz Thank you very much for the answer to that question. Two beautiful songs sung by a beautiful singer produced by two excellent musical wunderkinds. A musical double feature on the old Johnny Carson "Tonight" Show. Excellent.

[@jasonburger3533]

Michael, I wonder if you have Dionne Warwick and her spectacular performance of "There's A Long Road Ahead Of Us" from that same Johnny Carson Tonight Show episode and if you had conducted that performance as well. That is an excellent ballad that I believe should have gone to the top of the charts.

[@bigeyezzzzzzz]

I don’t have it, but there are several instances of it on KZbin - for instance: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3PIkmaqpZWYpZY

[@jasonburger3533]

@@bigeyezzzzzzz Thank you for that link. She really did that one so well on that show. It is too bad that the interview portions were not included. Johnny Carson always liked to interview his musical guests and when his show was still 90 minutes in length, as it was then, he let them do up to 3 songs and continued that with Dionne and maybe some others when his show length was trimmed down to 1 hour in length. He always seemed to enjoy her as a guest.

[@jasonburger3533]

Since I had written the above comment about the original 90 minute length of "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", I have been made aware that the show had gone from 90 minutes to an hour in length in 1980, so by this 1981 episode, it was already an hour in length and I also found out that Dionne had performed a third song on that episode.

[@donaldmiller4643]

Kenai of course not adele is good, Dionne is a superior TALENT. Phrasing superb

[@hamletmhb5914]

El show de Craig!!! pero en balada romántica

[@Hollyleaf123100]

interesting version to the song

[@jasonburger3533]

I recently became aware that Dionne Warwick had performed a third song on this same episode. It is called "Some Changes Are For Good". I was curious if you have that video and if you had arranged that song that episode and what the order of the songs were of the 3, Additionally, I wonder if the gold background behind Dionne when she sang the "slowly" version of your "Solid Gold" theme, at least in the first part before it became purple and gold, was done purposefully because of the gold in the the "Solid Gold" theme and name of your show, and, if you have any video of Johnny Carson interviewing Dionne on this episode or know where that might be found on KZbin or elsewhere online. Thank you in advance, Michael. Thank you so very much for these uploads.

[@bigeyezzzzzzz]

Hi there, Jason - sorry that I am striking out with all of your questions except one. If you search KZbin for “Dionne Warwick Tonight Show”, the first item in the search is exactly what you’re looking for - the clip that has all three songs: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWW0aouDYqd5mJo As for what I arranged for her performance that night, I actually can’t remember. Also, I had nothing to do with the lighting or set design, so I can’t answer those questions either. And I don’t have any video of Johnny interviewing Dionne. Anyway, I’m glad you’re enjoying the music!

[@jasonburger3533]

@@bigeyezzzzzzz Thanks for your response and clip. Johnny Carson gave his musical guests an interview and 3 songs on his show. Just as the music quality has changed, a lot of the television talk shows have changed. They often only allow one song per artist. Three songs was like a real album sample. The interview lengths and depths seemed better. The music continues to act as a balm and a time capsule from the Michael Miller Time Travel Machine. Thanks for those uploads.

[@cidadaocomum7837]

👍👍👍👍...para a maravilhosa 💓Dionne , mas todo meu repúdio a essas porcarias de vídeos "anúncio" da tal Kwai-Criar e outros similares!!!

[@jasonburger3533]

I just rewatched this excellent version of your theme song and found that there is a discrepancy in the airdate. The caption under the video says June 18, 1981, which was a Thursday and the description below your subscriber profile says June 16, 1981, which was a Tuesday. I wonder which date is correct and why it took me this long to notice the difference on the dates.

[@bigeyezzzzzzz]

The correct date, according to NBC, is actually 6/25/1981

[@jasonburger3533]

@@bigeyezzzzzzz Thank you for that new information. That made it a week later on a Thursday night back when it was still a 90 minute show. This version and that dress blows the competition away.

[@ed21202]

@zainol2010 no but i wish someone who had them could post them!

[@fisotavuiy9092]

That 👗 though?

[@wade2922]

Just not the same as the original arrangement.

[@edmundsookermany8733]

What a unique great singer!!! Comment apart she has always been so elengant but this outfit was a terrible design, and it's a shame because the styling the make up and hairstyle was stunning great great make up job never seen her look so beautiful, but terrible dress....