Dave Wooley

Last updated

David Freeman Wooley
Dave Wooley Photo 2024.jpg
Dave Wooley in 2024
Born (1960-04-09) April 9, 1960 (age 64)
Harlem, New York
Other namesDave Wooley
Alma mater Wilmington University Education: Wilmington University BBA & MBA
Occupations
  • Director
  • producer
  • author
  • entrepreneur
Years active1981–present
Notable workCNN Documentary
Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over
The Clash of the Legends: Julius "Dr. J" Erving vs Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Talent/Content Advisor: Biden/Harris Presidential Inaugural Committee
Spouse
Debora Wooley
​
(m. 2023)​
Children2
Veda Davida Wooley
Davina E'man Wooley

David Freeman Wooley (born April 9, 1960) is an American director, producer, author and entrepreneur based in Wilmington, Delaware. His most notable accomplishments include long-standing work with Dionne Warwick, and collaborations with Julius "Dr. J" Erving.

Contents

The NAACP Image Awards announced on January 25, 2024, that Wooley is nominated in the category for Outstanding Directing in a documentary television or film, for his documentary, Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over. [1] [2]

Early life

Wooley was born and raised in Harlem, New York to parents Herman and Bettye Wooley. The family lived in the Frederick Douglass housing projects. Wooley was six years old when he began taking drum lessons from Nigerian musician, Babatunde Olatunji. During his elementary years, Wooley attended Holy Name Catholic School and graduated from the all-boys private Rice High School in Harlem, New York. In 1980, Wooley re-located to Wilmington, Delaware attending, Wilmington University where he received a BBA and MBA. [3] [4]

Career

Wooley launched his career in the entertainment industry as a teenage drummer, recording with professionals including gospel singer Cissy Houston, and R&B/Jazz artist Norman Connors. In 1981, Wooley founded his production company, Dave Wooley Productions. Later, he also spent seven years as president and co-owner of DJ Group, a sports entertainment company, along with Julius "Dr J" Erving. [5] As a producer, Wooley has worked with Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Run-DMC, Loretta Lynn, and Tony Bennett. [6]

Collaboration

Wooley's most extensive collaborations are with Dionne Warwick, his business partner whom he has worked with for over 25 years. [7] He co-written three books with her tilted, "Say A Little Prayer", "Little Man" and her autobiography, My Life, As I See It—and produced her 50th anniversary gala at Lincoln Center. [8] [9] He also wrote, produced, and co-directed the documentary Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over. The film received a standing ovation at the Toronto International Film Festival and won first runner-up for the People's Choice Award for Documentaries, [10] [11] later also winning the Best Feature honor at the Gene Siskel Film Center's Black Harvest Film Festival, [12] receiving Centerpiece Screening at DOC NYC, [13] and landing the Audience Award at the 2021 Montclair Film Festival. [14] In a positive review of the documentary, Victor Stiff of That Shelf wrote, "[Co-director David Heilbroner] and Wooley pack their film with everything you want from a musical documentary: fantastic music, a one-of-a-kind star, and deep-cut stories from family and friends. It's an inspiring tale of overcoming the odds, filled with beautiful music and prudent life lessons along the way." [15] The documentary premiered on CNN on January 1, 2023, debuting at #1 among cable news viewers aged 25–54. [16] As of July 2023, the documentary has a Rotten Tomatoes critic's rating of 91% and audience rating of 100%. [17] After the broadcast, it was made available on HBO Max. [18]

Other projects

Wooley's career has extended into the sports sector. In 1988 he rose to prominence as the only Black man in the country to be awarded exclusive paid-per-view and closed-circuit television broadcasting rights for several entire states to the Mike Tyson versus Michael Spinks "Once And For All" match – the largest fight in history at the time. The fight grossed over seventy million dollars. [19] He was subsequently featured in the 2021 documentary series Mike Tyson: The Knockout. Wooley was also awarded exclusive paid-per-view and closed-circuit television broadcast rights for several states to other championship fights including, the 1991 match-up, George Foreman vs Evander Holyfield. [20] [21]

In 1993, Wooley had a vision to develop an area of Wilmington Delaware Christina Riverfront into a family style entertainment destination by building a movie theatre and restaurants then called, Riverview Plaza. Later that year, It became a close reality when, Enterprise Developers Corporation led by Wooley which included, Julius "Dr.J" Erving, and investment banker, Malcolm D. Pryor Sr., won Wilmington City Council's request for proposal (RFP), during Mayor, James H. Sills, Jr's administration. [22] [23] [24]

Wooley was the sole producer who came up with the idea for "The Clash of the Legends," a paid-per view TV hoopfest of 1992, which pitted retired NBA basketball players Julius "Dr. J" Erving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar against one another. [25] Wooley described the event as a spiritual descendent of the one-on-one games played between neighborhood legends in his native Harlem. [26] Proceeds from the event went to benefit the American Foundation for AIDS Research, as well as the Magic Johnson Foundation, a charity established by the retired Laker star to battle against the HIV virus. [27]

In 2024, Wooley served as Vice Chair for amFar (American Foundation for Aids Research), which held their fundraising gala in Palm Beach, Florida. The non-profit organization honored award-winning singer Dionne Warwick for her work as a trailblazer in HIV/Aids activism. Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees presented the award to Warwick. Recording artist Sting was the featured performer. The event raised 4.1 million dollars. [28] [29] [30]

In May 2024, Wooley co-produced the, "Don't Make Me Over" Europe Tour, which included performances in London, Scotland, Ireland, and Dublin. As part of the performance, Wooley interviewed Dionne Warwick on stage as she recalled stories and events from her life. This was supported by footage from Warwick's, "Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over" documentary film. [31] [32]

Awards and recognition

In 2009, Wooley's children's book Say a Little Prayer—co-authored with Warwick and Tonya Bolden, and illustrated by Soud—was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Children's.

In October 2015, then-Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams formally honored Wooley with a key to the city for his work promoting Wilmington, in particular the creation of the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. [33]

In 2020, Wooley was named Talent/Content Advisor for the Biden/Harris Presidential Inaugural Committee. [34]

In 2022, the city of Wilmington performed a street naming ceremony in Wooley's honor, designating the corner of 16th and Claymont Street "David F. Wooley Way." [35]

In 2023, Wooley was featured on the cover of HBCU Times. [36]

On December 8, 2023, Wooley received a honorary doctoral degree from Huron University in recognition of his body of work. [37] [38]

The NAACP Image Awards announced on January 25, 2024, that Wooley is nominated in the category for Outstanding Directing in a documentary television or film, for his documentary, Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over. [1] [39]

Personal life

Wooley grew up in Harlem, New York, before relocating to Wilmington in 1980. He raised two daughters from the ages of two, and three years old until adulthood as a single custodial father. Veda a practicing attorney, and Davina a computer engineer, who received an MS in Computer Science from Georgia Tech. He has been an adjunct professor at Wilmington University's College of Business since 1996, where he teaches business and marketing classes. [8] [40]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kareem Abdul-Jabbar</span> American basketball player (born 1947)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is an American former basketball player. He played professionally for 20 seasons for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins as a center. Abdul-Jabbar won a record six NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards. He was a 19-time NBA All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA Team member, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team selection. He was a member of six NBA championship teams as a player and two more as an assistant coach, and was twice voted the NBA Finals MVP. He was named to three NBA anniversary teams. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, he has been called the greatest basketball player of all time by many of his contemporaries such as Pat Riley, Isiah Thomas, and Julius Erving. Abdul-Jabbar broke the NBA's career scoring record in 1984, and held it until LeBron James surpassed him in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gladys Knight</span> American singer (born 1944)

Gladys Maria Knight is an American singer. Knight recorded hits through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s with her family group Gladys Knight & the Pips, which included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and cousins William Guest and Edward Patten. She has won seven Grammy Awards, and is often referred to as the "Empress of Soul".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaac Hayes</span> American musician and actor (1942–2008)

Isaac Lee Hayes Jr. was an American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor. He was one of the creative forces behind the Southern soul music label Stax Records in the 1960s, serving as an in-house songwriter with his partner David Porter, as well as a session musician and record producer. Hayes and Porter were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005 in recognition of writing scores of songs for themselves, the duo Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas, and others. In 2002, Hayes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dionne Warwick</span> American singer (born 1940)

Marie Dionne Warwick is an American singer, actress, and television host. During her career, Warwick has won many awards, including six Grammy Awards. She has been inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Apollo Theater Walk of Fame. In 2019, Warwick won the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Three of her songs have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burt Bacharach</span> American composer and songwriter (1928–2023)

Burt Freeman Bacharach was an American composer, songwriter, record producer, and pianist who is widely regarded as one of the most important and influential figures of 20th-century popular music. Starting in the 1950s, he composed hundreds of pop songs, many in collaboration with lyricist Hal David. Bacharach's music is characterized by unusual chord progressions and time signature changes, influenced by his background in jazz, and uncommon selections of instruments for small orchestras. He arranged, conducted, and produced much of his recorded output.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morgan Spurlock</span> American filmmaker (1970–2024)

Morgan Valentine Spurlock was an American documentary filmmaker, writer, and television producer. He directed 23 films and was the producer of nearly 70 films throughout his career. Spurlock received acclaim for directing the documentary Super Size Me (2004), which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film. He produced What Would Jesus Buy? (2007) and directed Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden? (2008), POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (2011), Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope (2011), and One Direction: This Is Us (2013).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Questlove</span> American hip hop musician (born 1971)

Ahmir K. Thompson, known professionally as Questlove, is an American drummer, record producer, disc jockey, filmmaker, music journalist, and actor. He is the drummer and joint frontman for the hip-hop band the Roots. The Roots have been the in-house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon since 2014, after having fulfilled the same role on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Questlove is also one of the producers of the 2015 cast album of the Broadway musical Hamilton. He has also co-founded of the websites Okayplayer and OkayAfrica. He joined Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University as an adjunct professor in 2016, and hosts the podcast Questlove Supreme.

"That's What Friends Are For" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soledad O'Brien</span> American broadcast commentator and producer

María de la Soledad Teresa O'Brien is an American broadcast journalist and executive producer. Since 2016, O'Brien has been the host for Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien, a nationally syndicated weekly talk show produced by Hearst Television. She is chairwoman of Starfish Media Group, a multiplatform media production company and distributor that she founded in 2013. She is also a member of the Peabody Awards board of directors, which is presented by the University of Georgia's Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dee Dee Warwick</span> American soul singer (1942–2008)

Delia Juanita Warrick, known professionally as Dee Dee Warwick, was an American soul singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she was the sister of singer Dionne Warwick, the niece of Cissy Houston, and a first cousin of singers Whitney Houston and Leontyne Price.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Legend</span> American R&B singer (born 1978)

John Roger Stephens, known professionally as John Legend, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He began his musical career working behind the scenes for other artists, playing piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything," and performing as an uncredited backing vocalist on Jay-Z's "Encore" and Alicia Keys' "You Don't Know My Name". He was the first artist to sign with Kanye West's GOOD Music, through which he released his debut studio album, Get Lifted (2004). The album reached the top ten of the Billboard 200, received double platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and spawned his first hit song, "Ordinary People".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankie Beverly</span> American singer (1946–2024)

Howard Stanley Beverly, known as Frankie Beverly, was an American singer, songwriter, and producer known primarily for his recordings with the soul and funk band Maze. He formed Maze, originally called Raw Soul, in his hometown of Philadelphia in 1970. After moving to San Francisco and an introduction to Marvin Gaye, Maze later released nine Gold albums and created a large and devoted following.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walk On By</span> 1964 single by Dionne Warwick

"Walk On By" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David for singer Dionne Warwick in 1963. Warwick's recording of the song peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Cash Box Rhythm and Blues Chart In June 1964 and was nominated for a 1965 Grammy Award for the Best Rhythm and Blues Recording.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Make Me Over (song)</span> 1962 single by Dionne Warwick

"Don't Make Me Over" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, originally recorded by American singer Dionne Warwick in August 1962 and released in October 1962 as her lead solo single from her debut album, Presenting Dionne Warwick (1963), issued under Sceptor Records. The song reached number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number five on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart.

<i>Friends Can Be Lovers</i> 1993 studio album by Dionne Warwick

Friends Can Be Lovers is the twenty-ninth studio album by American singer Dionne Warwick. Her tenth album for Arista Records, it was released on January 20, 1993, in the United States. Warwick garthered material from songwriters and producers such as Barry J. Eastmond, Harvey Mason, Siedah Garrett, Dianne Warren, and Blue Zone lead singer Lisa Stansfield. The album, which Warwick described as "a labor love" and true "family affair," also saw her collaborating with her son David Elliot and cousin Whitney Houston for the first time as well as reuniting with former contributors Burt Bacharach and Hal David on the song "Sunny Weather Love" after more than two decades.

Damon William Elliott is an American record producer, songwriter and composer. Throughout his career he has worked with various artists spanning across hip hop, R&B, pop, pop rock, gospel, reggae and country. He also produced the Academy Award-nominated song "Applause" from the 2022 film Tell It Like a Woman. Elliott is the son of Dionne Warwick and Bill Elliott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warwick Thornton</span> Australian film director

Warwick Thornton is an Australian film director, screenwriter, and cinematographer. His debut feature film Samson and Delilah won the Caméra d'Or at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and the award for Best Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. He also won the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Film in 2017 for Sweet Country.

David Heilbroner is an American director, producer and sound editor best known for producing Traffic Stop (2017), for which he received Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject nomination alongside his wife, Kate Davis, at the 90th Academy Awards.

<i>DionneDionne</i> 2014 studio album by The Dionne Farris/Charlie Hunter Duo

DionneDionne is a 2015 tribute album to Dionne Warwick by singer Dionne Farris and jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter.

<i>Dionne Warwick: Dont Make Me Over</i> 2021 American film

Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over is an American documentary film directed by Dave Wooley and David Heilbroner. It follows the life and career of Dionne Warwick.

References

  1. 1 2 Hipes, Patrick (January 25, 2024). "Colman Domingo, Keke Palmer, Ayo Edebiri, Victoria Monét Lead NAACP Image Awards Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  2. ↑ McGovern, Joe (January 25, 2024). "The Color Purple Dominates 2024 NAACP Image Award Nominations". TheWrap. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Don't Make Her Over – News at WilmU" . Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  4. ↑ "First to the Bench – News at WilmU" . Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  5. ↑ Patton, Daniel (November 12, 2021). "Dave Wooley Explains How to Make a Dionne Warwick Film". Screen Magazine.
  6. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (April 28, 2017). "Mister Smith boards Dionne Warwick doc 'Don't Make Me Over'". Screen Daily.
  7. ↑ Complex, Valerie (September 14, 2021). "'Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over' Directors Gush Over Legendary Singer- TIFF Studio". Deadline. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Celebrating with Dionne". Delaware Today. December 7, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Bibliography:David Freeman Wooley". Goodreads.
  10. ↑ Coyle, Jake (September 14, 2021). "Dionne Warwick, star of a new documentary, keeps smiling". ABC News.
  11. ↑ Pond, Steve (September 18, 2021). "'Belfast' Wins Toronto Film Festival's People's Choice Award". The Wrap.
  12. ↑ "Gene Siskel Center presents Black Harvest Film Festival prize". Reel Chicago. November 5, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Centerpiece Screening: Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over". DOC NYC.
  14. ↑ Complex, Valerie (November 1, 2021). "'Montclair Honors 'The Worst Person In The World; 'Disfluency' Wins Narrative Award At Austin Film Festival – Fest Briefs". Deadline.
  15. ↑ Stiff, Victor (September 16, 2021). "TIFF 2021: Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over Review". That Shelf.
  16. ↑ "CNN Rings in 2023 #1 in Cable News for New Year Special Programming and CNN Films'". CNN Press Room. January 4, 2023. Archived from the original on January 4, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  18. ↑ Carey, Matthew (August 23, 2022). "CNN Sets Jan. 1 Premiere Date For CNN Films' 'Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over,' Doc On Singer With "Grace, Grit, Singular Talent"". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Producer Dave Wooley Featured In ABC-TV Documentary, "Mike Tyson: The Knockout"". New York Trend. May 17, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Wilmington Renames Street After Veteran Entrepreneur, Director & Producer Dave Wooley | NationalBlackGuide.com". nationalblackguide.com. March 1, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  21. ↑ Taguchi, Emily; Louszko, Ashley; Sherwood, Roxanna; Goldberg, Alan B.; Yang, Allie (June 2, 2021). "People close to Mike Tyson give personal look at his mistakes, losses and triumphs in new documentary". ABC News.
  22. ↑ "The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware". Newspapers.com. July 29, 1993. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  23. ↑ "The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware". Newspapers.com. July 14, 1995. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Part 2 Wooley Riverview Plaza". The News Journal. July 14, 1995. p. 4. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  25. ↑ Meyers, Kate (February 28, 1992). "Kareen Abdul-Jabbar vs. Dr. J". Entertainment Weekly.
  26. ↑ Herbert, Steven (February 23, 1992). "A Half-Court Gamble : Abdul-Jabbar and Dr. J Take It to the Hoop in $19.95 'Clash'". Los Angeles Times.
  27. ↑ Groller, Keith (February 29, 1992). "Jabbar Routs Dr. J in 'Legends' Clash". The Morning Call.
  28. ↑ "amfAR Palm Beach 2024". amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Tom Ford, Kris Jenner, Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger Gathered at AmfAR Palm Beach". Vogue. March 4, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  30. ↑ "'That's What Friends Are For': Dionne Warwick to be honored for AIDS activism at Palm Beach gala". Palm Beach Daily News. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  31. ↑ McCarthy, James Martin (May 27, 2024). "We went to the last night of Dionne Warwick's tour and her story was fascinating". Belfast Live. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Young Dionne Warwick fan overjoyed as star goes out of way to sign poster". Yahoo News. May 31, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Friend of Wilmington Honored". 6abc. October 14, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Interview With Producer & Entrepreneur Dave Wooley! (PART 1)". So Booking Cool. May 25, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Wilmington Renames Street After Veteran Entrepreneur, Director & Producer Dave Wooley". Delaware Black. March 1, 2022.
  36. ↑ "HBCU Times: 2023 Summer Issue". HBCU Times. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Huron University Confers Honorary Doctorate to Award-Winning Producer, Director, Author and Entrepreneur, David Freeman Wooley". Huron University. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  38. ↑ Anthony, Florence (December 28, 2023). "Go With The Flo". New York Amsterdam News. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  39. ↑ McGovern, Joe (January 25, 2024). "The Color Purple Dominates 2024 NAACP Image Award Nominations". TheWrap. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Student Veda Wooley will be attending the Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law this fall as the first Wilmington University alum to be admitted". News at WilmU:First to the Bench. July 17, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.