Dee Dee Bridgewater, a renowned jazz vocalist, was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to Marion and Matthew Garrett. Her family relocated to Flint, Michigan, where she spent her formative years and completed high school. During her early college days, she began to hone her craft by singing in school talent shows and with local jazz bands. This early exposure led to her association with big bands, which ultimately resulted in her work with the esteemed Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Band.
It was during this period that she met and married trumpeter and composer Cecil Bridgewater. Together, they embarked on a tour that took them to the United States, Europe, the USSR, and Japan. Following the birth of their child and the eventual divorce, Dee Dee went on to secure the role of Glinda in the Broadway production of "The Wiz," earning her a Tony Award in the process. She then married director Gilbert Moses and relocated to Los Angeles, where she pursued a career in acting and released several hit albums.
The couple had a child together and later moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia, where Dee Dee starred in the soap opera "A Different World." Upon their return to Los Angeles, she landed a leading role in the LA production of "Sophisticated Ladies," starring Gregory Hines, Hinton Battle, and others. Dee Dee remained with the company throughout the world tour. When she separated from her second husband, she relocated to Paris, France, and rekindled her career as a jazz artist.
Since her move to Europe, Dee Dee has been internationally recognized as a creative force in the jazz world, honored with numerous international awards. Most recently, she received two Grammy Awards for her tribute album "Dear Ella." Dee Dee currently resides in France with her husband and is the proud mother of three children.
