Dolores Kenniebrew

Dolores Kenniebrew
Kennibrew in 1965
Background information
Also known as	Dee Dee
Born	(1945-07-09) July 9, 1945 (age 79) Brooklyn, New York, U.S.[1]
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1960–present
Member of	The Crystals

Dolores "Dee Dee" Kenniebrew (born July 9, 1945) is an American singer, best known for her work with the trio The Crystals. She was born as Dolores Kenniebrew and grew up in Brooklyn, New York.^[1] In 1960, at age 15, she was invited to sing in the girl group the Crystals.^[2] The group was formed by a band musician named Benny Wells who would soon become the group's manager.^[3] Wells was the uncle of Kenniebrew's bandmate Barbara Alston.^[1] Although she rarely sang lead on their songs (her voice was, according to her bandmate, Barbara Alston, "too high and soft"), she was the only member who stayed in the group from their formation to their disbanding. With the Crystals, she enjoyed a successful (but not very long) career in music. Their hits began to dry up after 1964 and they disbanded two years later.

In 1971, Kenniebrew and her former bandmates (Dolores "LaLa" Brooks, Mary Thomas, and Barbara Alston) reunited to tour and perform on the oldies circuit. However, in 1973, they disbanded again to devote their times to their families. According to Kenniebrew's Facebook page, in 2005 she and original Crystals Alston and Brooks performed together at the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, where girl-group postage stamps were unveiled.

Since the 1980s, she has kept the Crystals active in performing, but as a trio with two non-original members.^[4]

References

1. Chandler, Anna (January 21, 2015). "Dee Dee Kenniebrew on The Crystals, the '60s, and Phil Spector". Connect Savannah. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
2. The Crystals, Thecrystals.net, date unknown, (accessed January 24, 2007)
3. Smith, Harrison (February 26, 2018). "Barbara Alston, 'Da Doo Ron Ron' singer with 1960s group the Crystals, dies at 74". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
4. The Crystals, History-of-rock.com, date unknown, (accessed January 24, 2007)