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Dee Dee Sharp
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<h2 id="life-and-career">Life and career</h2> <h3>Early life and education</h3> <p>Sharp began playing the piano from an early age and directed church choirs for her grandfather's and other congregations in her hometown of Philadelphia. </p><p>She grew up in <a href="/facts/North_Philadelphia/WIvgDpy6">North Philadelphia</a> and graduated from <a href="/facts/Overbrook_High_School_(Philadelphia)/frF3uGpC">Overbrook High School</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> </p> <h3>Career</h3> <p>When Sharp was thirteen, her mother suffered a car accident, which spurred her to find a singing job to help support the family while her mother recovered from her injuries.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> After Sharp promised to keep up with her schooling, she received her grandmother's blessing.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> Sharp responded to an ad in the daily news for backup singers. Her first job was with Willa Ward Moultrie and was soon singing backup vocals for the likes of <a href="/facts/Lloyd_Price/1mnsJckv">Lloyd Price</a>, <a href="/facts/Chubby_Checker/nCBSCqaG">Chubby Checker</a>, <a href="/facts/Bobby_Rydell/23k2FJwR">Bobby Rydell</a>, <a href="/facts/Frankie_Avalon/0GS3mfuH">Frankie Avalon</a> and <a href="/facts/Jackie_Wilson/A27nVtGC">Jackie Wilson</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p><p>According to Sharp, Chubby Checker discovered her.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> When she was providing backing vocals during one of his recording sessions, he suggested her to <a href="/facts/Bernie_Lowe/rUwarHF7">Bernie Lowe</a>, head of <a href="/facts/Cameo-Parkway_Records/M3spbhrP">Cameo-Parkway Records</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> After she sang with Checker on his hit single "<a href="/facts/Slow_Twistin%2527/K9IRSB0B">Slow Twistin'</a>," (1962) Lowe was keen to make her a solo artist.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> She was later asked to accompany Checker as his opening act when he was scheduled to appear at the <a href="/facts/1962_Seattle_World%2527s_Fair/3Dhup0lh">1962 Seattle World's Fair</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> </p><p>In 1962, she was signed by Cameo-Parkway and was re-christened Dee Dee Sharp by producers Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> At the time, her brother called her "Dee" and since she sang in <a href="/facts/E-flat_major/jyImE3jI">"D sharp"</a> she was given this new identity.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> She produced a string of successful <a href="/facts/Billboard_Hot_100/gwKl8VL9"><i>Billboard</i> Hot 100</a> <a href="/facts/Top_40/vHTAW2M6">top 10</a> <a href="/facts/Hit_record/cFBCe0aS">hits</a>: <a href="/facts/Mashed_Potato_Time/I84KT6SW">Mashed Potato Time</a>" (#2), "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)" (#9), "<a href="/facts/Ride!/gsjW9KKA">Ride!</a>" (#5) and "Do the Bird" (#10).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> Both "Mashed Potato Time" and "Ride!" each sold over one million copies, and were awarded <a href="/facts/Music_recording_sales_certification/zGzLFa9l">gold discs</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> "Do the Bird" provided her only entry in the <a href="/facts/UK_Singles_Chart/s2yyGUlD">UK Singles Chart</a>, where it peaked at #46 in April 1963.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> </p><p>From 1962 to 1981 she appeared several times on <a href="/facts/American_Bandstand/zjHE6crT">American Bandstand</a>, the ABC Television Network music-performance and dance series hosted by Dick Clark. She was also a regular feature on Clark's <a href="/facts/Caravan_of_Stars/l0TkA8bs">Caravan of Stars</a> tours.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> In 1965 Sharp performed the jazz song "Steady, Steady" on the Ed Sullivan show. Unhappy with record sales, she switched to Atco/Atlantic Records in 1966. </p><p>In 1967, Sharp married Kenny Gamble of the songwriting and production duo <a href="/facts/Gamble_and_Huff/wHw9dnJQ">Gamble & Huff</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> Sharp recorded for Gamble Records and <a href="/facts/Philadelphia_International/T6qQIKH9">Philadelphia International</a>, and she worked with Gamble & Huff behind the scene at various iterations of <a href="/facts/TSOP_Records/T6qQIKH9">TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) Records</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:25" href="#fn:25"><sup>25</sup></a> </p><p>As Dee Dee Sharp Gamble, she had a career resurgence during the <a href="/facts/Disco/BQu4rHxV">disco</a> era and hit the charts again with her version of <a href="/facts/10_CC/jV3Vso9J">10 CC</a>'s "<a href="/facts/I%2527m_Not_In_Love/Nh0fApQs">I'm Not In Love</a>." She also joined <a href="/facts/Lou_Rawls/XrQs4foL">Lou Rawls</a>, <a href="/facts/Billy_Paul/yD3XJtns">Billy Paul</a>, <a href="/facts/Teddy_Pendergrass/z6P7mUEK">Teddy Pendergrass</a>, <a href="/facts/The_O%2527Jays/mbMblKdr">The O'Jays</a> and <a href="/facts/Archie_Bell_(singer)/9dTb8wsC">Archie Bell</a> as a member of the Philadelphia International All Stars, who had a minor hit with "Let's Clean Up the Ghetto." In 1980 she spent four weeks at <a href="/facts/Chart-topper/Ae8LNm9B">number one</a> on the <a href="/facts/Hot_Dance_Club_Play/TNav6YJl">Hot Dance Club Play</a> <a href="/facts/Record_chart/Ae8LNm9B">chart</a> with "<a href="/facts/Breaking_and_Entering_(song)/2cvRwuWA">Breaking and Entering</a>" / "Easy Money," from her <a href="/facts/Album/WFW6z2fj">album</a> <i>Dee Dee</i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:26" href="#fn:26"><sup>26</sup></a> </p><p>In 1992, Sharp's 1962 hit "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)" was featured in a scene in the American movie comedy <i><a href="/facts/Sister_Act/s3dVMRyt">Sister Act</a></i> which starred <a href="/facts/Whoopi_Goldberg/Kvpzy1es">Whoopi Goldberg</a>. It was also included as part of the film's soundtrack album. More recent appearances included a performance at <a href="/facts/Pontins/L6UBp3bj">Pontins</a> in the UK for the Northern Soul Show, and at the 2008 <a href="/facts/Detroit_Jazz_Festival/hVlrG0Vq">Detroit Jazz Festival</a>. In May 2009, she appeared in <a href="/facts/Belgium/YKuMXP5j">Belgium</a> at the Salle De L'Hotel de Ville. </p> <h2 id="personal-life">Personal life</h2> <p>In a documentary film, <i>Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story</i> (1996), Sharp revealed that she was engaged to boxer <a href="/facts/Muhammad_Ali/N3HxyBct">Muhammad Ali</a> in 1964.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:27" href="#fn:27"><sup>27</sup></a> After <a href="/facts/Muhammad_Ali_vs._Sonny_Liston/nAvCvE5K">defeating Sonny Liston</a> for the heavyweight title in Miami, Ali proposed to her, but he insisted on consulting <a href="/facts/Malcolm_X/BMf83KyG">Malcolm X</a> before making any final plans.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:28" href="#fn:28"><sup>28</sup></a> Sharp was allegedly told by Malcolm X that they could only get married if she agreed to become a <a href="/facts/Nation_of_Islam/f3gAVleH">black Muslim</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:29" href="#fn:29"><sup>29</sup></a> Sharp's mother called off the engagement when she learned of the conversion requirement.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:30" href="#fn:30"><sup>30</sup></a> </p><p>Sharp was married to <a href="/facts/Kenny_Gamble/wHw9dnJQ">Kenny Gamble</a> from 1967 to 1980, during which time she was known as Dee Dee Sharp Gamble. </p><p>Sharp and her husband Bill Witherspoon reside in <a href="/facts/Medford%2c_New_Jersey/wYmPI1Xm">Medford, New Jersey</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:31" href="#fn:31"><sup>31</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="discography">Discography</h2> <p>Dee Dee Sharp has released 9 studio albums and 14 compilation albums. </p> <h3>Studio albums</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th rowspan="2">Year</th><th rowspan="2">Album</th><th colspan="2">Peak chart positions</th></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/Billboard_200/XtbnoFSM">US</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:32" href="#fn:32"><sup>32</sup></a></th><th><a href="/facts/Top_R%2526B%2fHip-Hop_Albums/3K17jrMS">US R&B</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:33" href="#fn:33"><sup>33</sup></a></th></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">1962</td><td><i><a href="/facts/It%2527s_Mashed_Potato_Time/XMNFAEDt">It's Mashed Potato Time</a></i></td><td>44</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td><i>Songs of Faith</i></td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td><i>Down to Earth</i> (with <a href="/facts/Chubby_Checker/nCBSCqaG">Chubby Checker</a>)</td><td>117</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">1963</td><td><i>Do the Bird</i></td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td><i>Down Memory Lane</i></td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td><i>Wild</i></td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="1">1975</td><td><i>Happy 'Bout the Whole Thing</i></td><td>—</td><td>48</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="1">1977</td><td><i>What Color Is Love</i> (as Dee Dee Sharp Gamble, in association with <a href="/facts/Kenneth_Gamble/wHw9dnJQ">Kenneth Gamble</a>)</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="1">1980</td><td><i>Dee Dee</i></td><td>—</td><td>59</td></tr><tr><td colspan="15">"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.</td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Compilation albums</h3> <ul><li>1963: <i>18 Golden Hits</i></li> <li>1963: <i>All the Hits</i></li> <li>1963: <i>Biggest Hits</i></li> <li>1979: <i>Cameo-Parkway Sessions</i></li> <li>1993: <i>All the Hits & More</i></li> <li>1995: <i>All the Golden Hits</i></li> <li>1998: <i>What Color Is Love / Dee Dee</i></li> <li>2004: <i>Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, Dee Dee Sharp – Bobby Rydell & Chubby Checker and Down to Earth</i></li> <li>2005: <i>Best of Dee Dee Sharp 1962–1966</i></li> <li>2006: <i>Sharp Goes Wild</i></li> <li>2010: <i>It's Mashed Potato Time / Do the Bird</i></li> <li>2010: <i>Happy 'Bout the Whole Thing + What Color Is Love + Dee Dee</i></li> <li>2015: <i>Hurry On Down, It's Mashed Potato Time</i></li> <li>2020: <i>The Queen of Rhythm & Blues</i></li></ul> <h3>Singles</h3> <table><tbody><tr><th rowspan="2">Year</th><th rowspan="2">Single (A-side, B-side)Both sides from same album except where indicated</th><th rowspan="2">Label and number</th><th colspan="5">Chart positions</th><th rowspan="2">Album*Wyncote label compilations of various Cameo-Parkway artists</th></tr><tr><th><a href="/facts/Billboard_Hot_100/gwKl8VL9">US</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:34" href="#fn:34"><sup>34</sup></a></th><th><a href="/facts/Hot_R%2526B%2fHip-Hop_Songs/830VoC96">US R&B</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:35" href="#fn:35"><sup>35</sup></a></th><th><a href="/facts/Hot_R%2526B%2fHip-Hop_Songs/830VoC96">US Dance</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:36" href="#fn:36"><sup>36</sup></a></th><th>CAN<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:37" href="#fn:37"><sup>37</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:38" href="#fn:38"><sup>38</sup></a></th><th><a href="/facts/UK_Singles_Chart/s2yyGUlD">UK</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:39" href="#fn:39"><sup>39</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:40" href="#fn:40"><sup>40</sup></a></th></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">1962</td><td>"<a href="/facts/Mashed_Potato_Time/I84KT6SW">Mashed Potato Time</a>"b/w "Set My Heart at Ease" (Non-album track)</td><td>Cameo 212</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>—</td><td>2</td><td>—</td><td rowspan="3"><i>It's Mashed Potato Time</i></td></tr><tr><td>"<a href="/facts/Slow_Twistin%2527/K9IRSB0B">Slow Twistin'</a>" (Chubby Checker & Dee Dee Sharp)b/w "La Paloma Twist" (by Chubby Checker, non-album track)</td><td>Parkway 835</td><td>3</td><td>3</td><td>—</td><td>18<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:41" href="#fn:41"><sup>41</sup></a></td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>"Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)"b/w "Baby Cakes" (Non-album track)</td><td>Cameo 219</td><td>9</td><td>11</td><td>—</td><td>12</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>"<a href="/facts/Ride!/gsjW9KKA">Ride!</a>"b/w "The Night" (Non-album track)</td><td>Cameo 230</td><td>5</td><td>7</td><td>—</td><td>15</td><td>—</td><td><i>All the Hits by Dee Dee Sharp Volume II</i></td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">1963</td><td>"Do the Bird"b/w "Lover Boy" (from <i>Hullabaloo with the Stars</i>*)</td><td>Cameo 244</td><td>10</td><td>8</td><td>—</td><td>32</td><td>46</td><td><i>Do the Bird</i></td></tr><tr><td>"Rock Me in the Cradle of Love"b/w "You'll Never Be Mine" (from <i>Hullabaloo with the Stars</i>*)</td><td>Cameo 260</td><td>43</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>36</td><td>—</td><td><i>Biggest Hits</i></td></tr><tr><td>"Wild!"b/w "Why Doncha Ask Me?" (from <i>Do the Bird</i>)</td><td>Cameo 274</td><td>33</td><td>25</td><td>—</td><td>27</td><td>—</td><td><i>All the Hits with All the Stars</i>*</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="5">1964</td><td>"Where Did I Go Wrong" /</td><td rowspan="2">Cameo 296</td><td>82</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td><i>Shindig with the Stars</i>*</td></tr><tr><td>"Willyam, Willyam"</td><td>97</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td><i>Hullabaloo with the Stars Vol. 2</i>*</td></tr><tr><td>"Never Pick a Pretty Boy"b/w "He's No Ordinary Guy" (Non-album track)</td><td>Cameo 329</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td><i>Hits a Go-Go with the Stars</i>*</td></tr><tr><td>"Deep Dark Secret"b/w "Good"</td><td>Cameo 335</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td rowspan="14">Non-album tracks</td></tr><tr><td>"To Know Him Is to Love Him"b/w "There Ain't Nothin' I Wouldn't Do for You"</td><td>Cameo 347</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">1965</td><td>"Let's Twine"b/w "(That's What) My Mama Said"</td><td>Cameo 357</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>"I Really Love You"b/w "Standing in the Need of Love"</td><td>Cameo 375</td><td>78</td><td>37</td><td>—</td><td>28</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">1966</td><td>"(It's Wonderful) The Love I Feel for You"b/w "Willyam, Willyam"</td><td>Fairmount 1004</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>"It's a Funny Situation"b/w "There Ain't Nothin' I Wouldn't Do for You"</td><td>Cameo 382</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>"My Best Friend's Man"b/w "Bye Bye Baby"</td><td>Atco 6445</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>1967</td><td>"What Am I Gonna Do"b/w "(Heart and Soul) Baby I Love You"</td><td>Atco 6502</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">1968</td><td>"We Got a Thing Going On"b/w "What 'Cha Gonna Do About It"Both tracks: Ben E. King & Dee Dee Sharp</td><td>Atco 6557</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>"A Woman Will Do Wrong"b/w "You're Just a Fool in Love"</td><td>Atco 6576</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>"Help Me Find My Groove"b/w "This Love Won't Run Out"</td><td>Atco 6587</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>"What Kind of Lady"b/w "You're Gonna Miss Me (When I'm Gone)"</td><td>Gamble 219</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>1970</td><td>"The Bottle or Me"b/w "You're Gonna Miss Me (When I'm Gone)"</td><td>Gamble 4005</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>1971</td><td>"Conquer the World"b/w "We Got a Thing Going On"Both sides: Dee Dee Sharp Gamble with Bunny Sigler</td><td>Philadelphia International 3512</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>1974</td><td>"Happy 'Bout the Whole Thing"b/w "Touch My Life"</td><td>TSOP 4776</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td rowspan="3"><i>Happy 'Bout the Whole Thing</i></td></tr><tr><td>1975</td><td>"Share My Love"</td><td>Album cut</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>6</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>1976</td><td>"<a href="/facts/I%2527m_Not_in_Love/Nh0fApQs">I'm Not in Love</a>"b/w "Make It Till Tomorrow"</td><td>TSOP 4778</td><td>—</td><td>62</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">1977</td><td>"Nobody Could Take Your Place"b/w "Flashback"</td><td>Philadelphia International 3625</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td rowspan="4"><i>What Color Is Love</i></td></tr><tr><td>"I'd Really Love to See You Tonight"b/w "What Color Is Love"</td><td>Philadelphia International 3636</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="2">1978</td><td>"Just as Long as I Know You're Mine"b/w "I Believe in Love"</td><td>Philadelphia International 3638</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>"I Wanna Be Your Woman"b/w "Trying to Get the Feeling Again"</td><td>Philadelphia International 3644</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">1981</td><td>"Easy Money"b/w "I Love You Anyway"</td><td>Philadelphia International 70058</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td rowspan="3"><i>Dee Dee</i></td></tr><tr><td>"<a href="/facts/Breaking_and_Entering_(song)/2cvRwuWA">Breaking and Entering</a>"</td><td rowspan="2">Philadelphia International 02041</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>1</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>"I Love You Anyway"</td><td>—</td><td>79</td><td>—</td><td>—</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td colspan="9">"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.</td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul> <li>Philadelphia portal</li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_artists_who_reached_number_one_on_the_Billboard_R%2526B_chart/1hwJqbsF">List of artists who reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_artists_who_reached_number_one_on_the_U.S._Dance_Club_Songs_chart/KhxR4Wtg">List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_disco_artists_(A%25E2%2580%2593E)/IXeNpwkX">List of disco artists (A–E)</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_people_from_Philadelphia/xJgtAdkL">List of people from Philadelphia</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/List_of_acts_who_appeared_on_American_Bandstand/wD4gg0LL">List of acts who appeared on <i>American Bandstand</i></a></li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="http://www.deedeesharp.com/">Official website</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Hamilton, Andrew. "Dee Dee Sharp Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2009. <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography" target="_blank">https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Lloyd, Jack (February 22, 1981). "Her music makes them feel like dancing—again". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 136. Retrieved February 21, 2025. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-dee-dee-sharp/166316430/" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-dee-dee-sharp/166316430/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Hamilton, Andrew. "Dee Dee Sharp Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2009. <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography" target="_blank">https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Gary James' Interview With Dee Dee Sharp". www.classicbands.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019. <a href="http://www.classicbands.com/DeeDeeSharpInterview.html" target="_blank">http://www.classicbands.com/DeeDeeSharpInterview.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"Dee Dee Sharp – Artist Profile". eventseeker.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019. <a href="https://eventseeker.com/artist/87529-dee-dee-sharp" target="_blank">https://eventseeker.com/artist/87529-dee-dee-sharp</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Charleston, Rita (May 3, 2019). "Singer DeeDee Sharp recalls early days in Philly as an 'overnight sensation'". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2019. <a href="https://www.phillytrib.com/entertainment/music/singer-deedee-sharp-recalls-early-days-in-philly-as-an/article_f1b39fd9-fff2-5742-bd1c-79889a67c626.html" target="_blank">https://www.phillytrib.com/entertainment/music/singer-deedee-sharp-recalls-early-days-in-philly-as-an/article_f1b39fd9-fff2-5742-bd1c-79889a67c626.html</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Gary James' Interview With Dee Dee Sharp". www.classicbands.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019. <a href="http://www.classicbands.com/DeeDeeSharpInterview.html" target="_blank">http://www.classicbands.com/DeeDeeSharpInterview.html</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Hamilton, Andrew. "Dee Dee Sharp Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2009. <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography" target="_blank">https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Charleston, Rita (May 3, 2019). "Singer DeeDee Sharp recalls early days in Philly as an 'overnight sensation'". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2019. <a href="https://www.phillytrib.com/entertainment/music/singer-deedee-sharp-recalls-early-days-in-philly-as-an/article_f1b39fd9-fff2-5742-bd1c-79889a67c626.html" target="_blank">https://www.phillytrib.com/entertainment/music/singer-deedee-sharp-recalls-early-days-in-philly-as-an/article_f1b39fd9-fff2-5742-bd1c-79889a67c626.html</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Gary James' Interview With Dee Dee Sharp". www.classicbands.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019. <a href="http://www.classicbands.com/DeeDeeSharpInterview.html" target="_blank">http://www.classicbands.com/DeeDeeSharpInterview.html</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"Dee Dee Sharp – Artist Profile". eventseeker.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019. <a href="https://eventseeker.com/artist/87529-dee-dee-sharp" target="_blank">https://eventseeker.com/artist/87529-dee-dee-sharp</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Lloyd, Jack (February 22, 1981). "Her music makes them feel like dancing—again". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 136. Retrieved February 21, 2025. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-dee-dee-sharp/166316430/" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-dee-dee-sharp/166316430/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Lloyd, Jack (February 22, 1981). "Her music makes them feel like dancing—again". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 136. Retrieved February 21, 2025. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-dee-dee-sharp/166316430/" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-dee-dee-sharp/166316430/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Bacas, Harry (March 23, 1962). "Dee Dee Sharp's "Mashed Potato Time" Is a Mixture of an Old Song and Dance". Evening star. p. 79. Retrieved February 21, 2025. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-dee-dee-sharps-mashed-po/166316938/" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-dee-dee-sharps-mashed-po/166316938/</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Lloyd, Jack (February 22, 1981). "Her music makes them feel like dancing—again". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 136. Retrieved February 21, 2025. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-dee-dee-sharp/166316430/" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-dee-dee-sharp/166316430/</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Hamilton, Andrew. "Dee Dee Sharp Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2009. <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography" target="_blank">https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>"Dee Dee Sharp – Artist Profile". eventseeker.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019. <a href="https://eventseeker.com/artist/87529-dee-dee-sharp" target="_blank">https://eventseeker.com/artist/87529-dee-dee-sharp</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Charleston, Rita (May 3, 2019). "Singer DeeDee Sharp recalls early days in Philly as an 'overnight sensation'". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved December 20, 2019. <a href="https://www.phillytrib.com/entertainment/music/singer-deedee-sharp-recalls-early-days-in-philly-as-an/article_f1b39fd9-fff2-5742-bd1c-79889a67c626.html" target="_blank">https://www.phillytrib.com/entertainment/music/singer-deedee-sharp-recalls-early-days-in-philly-as-an/article_f1b39fd9-fff2-5742-bd1c-79889a67c626.html</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Hamilton, Andrew. "Dee Dee Sharp Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2009. <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography" target="_blank">https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 152. ISBN 0-214-20512-6. <a href="0-214-20512-6" target="_blank">0-214-20512-6</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 494. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. <a href="1-904994-10-5" target="_blank">1-904994-10-5</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>"Gary James' Interview With Dee Dee Sharp". www.classicbands.com. Retrieved December 20, 2019. <a href="http://www.classicbands.com/DeeDeeSharpInterview.html" target="_blank">http://www.classicbands.com/DeeDeeSharpInterview.html</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>Hamilton, Andrew. "Dee Dee Sharp Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2009. <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography" target="_blank">https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>Smith, Danyel (February 14, 2023). Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop. Random House Publishing Group. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-593-13273-9. <a href="978-0-593-13273-9" target="_blank">978-0-593-13273-9</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:25"><p>Smith, Danyel (February 14, 2023). Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop. Random House Publishing Group. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-593-13273-9. <a href="978-0-593-13273-9" target="_blank">978-0-593-13273-9</a> <a href="#fnref:25" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:26"><p>Hamilton, Andrew. "Dee Dee Sharp Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved April 14, 2009. <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography" target="_blank">https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/biography</a> <a href="#fnref:26" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:27"><p>Condor, Bob (September 3, 1996). "A Real Knockout". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 21, 2017. <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/09/03/a-real-knockout/" target="_blank">https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/09/03/a-real-knockout/</a> <a href="#fnref:27" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:28"><p>Fernandez, Bernard (September 3, 1996). "It's not the greatest, but Ali documentary packs punch". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 55. Retrieved February 21, 2025. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-muhammad-ali-th/166315436/" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-muhammad-ali-th/166315436/</a> <a href="#fnref:28" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:29"><p>Fernandez, Bernard (September 3, 1996). "It's not the greatest, but Ali documentary packs punch". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 55. Retrieved February 21, 2025. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-muhammad-ali-th/166315436/" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-muhammad-ali-th/166315436/</a> <a href="#fnref:29" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:30"><p>Fernandez, Bernard (September 3, 1996). "It's not the greatest, but Ali documentary packs punch". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 55. Retrieved February 21, 2025. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-muhammad-ali-th/166315436/" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/article/philadelphia-daily-news-muhammad-ali-th/166315436/</a> <a href="#fnref:30" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:31"><p>Staff. "For Dee Dee Sharp, a good life moves on", The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 24, 2008. Accessed October 24, 2011. "Over the next 20 years, that spotlight would shine on a career that took her around the world and finally back to Medford, NJ, where she spends most of her time keeping house for her husband, attorney Bill Witherspoon." <a href="http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DN&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI%7CDN&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1244178C3A052E10&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM" target="_blank">http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DN&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI%7CDN&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1244178C3A052E10&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM</a> <a href="#fnref:31" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:32"><p>"Dee Dee Sharp – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2022. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121001054633/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/awards" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20121001054633/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/awards</a> <a href="#fnref:32" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:33"><p>"Dee Dee Sharp – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2022. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121001054633/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/awards" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20121001054633/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/awards</a> <a href="#fnref:33" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:34"><p>"Dee Dee Sharp – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2022. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121001054633/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/awards" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20121001054633/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/awards</a> <a href="#fnref:34" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:35"><p>"Dee Dee Sharp – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2022. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121001054633/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/awards" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20121001054633/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/awards</a> <a href="#fnref:35" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:36"><p>"Dee Dee Sharp – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2022. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121001054633/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/awards" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20121001054633/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dee-dee-sharp-mn0000812920/awards</a> <a href="#fnref:36" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:37"><p>"CHUM Hit Parade results". Archived from the original on July 17, 2006. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060717021736/http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?artist=9450" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20060717021736/http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?artist=9450</a> <a href="#fnref:37" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:38"><p>"RPM Play Sheet - December 20, 1965" (PDF). <a href="http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5694.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5694.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:38" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:39"><p>Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 494. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. <a href="1-904994-10-5" target="_blank">1-904994-10-5</a> <a href="#fnref:39" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:40"><p>"DEE DEE SHARP – full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 23, 2022. <a href="https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/10667/dee-dee-sharp/" target="_blank">https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/10667/dee-dee-sharp/</a> <a href="#fnref:40" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:41"><p>"CHUM Hit Parade - April 16, 1962". <a href="http://chumtribute.com/62-04-16-chart.jpg" target="_blank">http://chumtribute.com/62-04-16-chart.jpg</a> <a href="#fnref:41" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>