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Dee Dee McNeil,
President of Great Legends and Great Music Company, is a
singer, songwriter and producer. She has owned and operated two
publishing companies for the past 20 years.
These companies have
published her internet novel, "Jooziefruit". Additionally, they
published and promoted a book of her original poetry that was
labeled a BOOKARD, because it comes in an envelope like a
greeting card and can be mailed to someone in a similar manner.
This project is entitled, "Perfumed Moments".
Ms. McNeil's published
poetry credits include: In 1997, the re-release of an anthology
of Black Love Poems entitled, "A Rock Against The Wind," edited
by Lindsay Patterson, with a foreward by Ruby Dee. In this
anthology she joins the ranks of other great African-American
poets, specifically Pearl Cleage, Quincy Troupe, Dudley
Randall, Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, Langston
Hughes, Alice Walker and more. This anthology was first
published by Dodd, Mead & Co. in hardcover and rejuvenated
in softbound - Published by Berkeley in New York .
Her work has also
appeared in the Mira Costa College Annual poetry Anthology
book, "Tide Pools" on two different occasions - Oceanside ,
California ; Broadside Press Anthology - Detroit , Michigan ;
Catalyst Magazine - Atlanta , Georgia ; and she was the female
part of The now historic Watts Prophets spoken-word group who
recorded and coined the phrase "rap" long before it was
popular. Because of this association, Dee Dee McNeil has been
referred to as the "Mother of Rap" in history books originating
in Southern California and was recorded on their "Rappin' Black
In a White World" album released in 1971, singing her original
music, playing piano and reciting her original poetry along
with the three male members of the group.
Her publishing companies
have also administrated her self-penned music over the years.
Before this she was a contract songwriter for Jobete
Publishing, the publishing arm of Motown Record Company for
many years. Artists who have recorded her songs are Gladys
Knight & the Pips, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Four
Tops, Edwin Starr, KiKi Dee, Reed man - Jonah Jones, David
Ruffin, Side Effect, Nancy Wilson, Reggae artist - Rita Marley,
Ripple, The Precisions, Barbara Mercer, Lomita & Eddie,
Jonah Jones, gospel artist - Lexi, The Watts Prophets and Ms.
McNeil herself. Dee Dee McNeil founded the company "Great
Legends & Great Music" when she returned to her hometown of
Detroit , Michigan and recognized the need for an enterprise
that would encourage and polish the raw talent she spotted in
and around the Motor City .
Dee Dee is a
multi-talented vocalist, poet and songwriter who recently wrote
and produced a unique musical play, using a group consisting of
some of Detroit 's top singers. She has a background in
publicity and publishing, as well as owning and operating
Double Dee Production & Publishing Company, based in
Encinitas, California.
Establishing her
own record label "Dee Square Records, in 1997 she released her
premiere CD entitled "Where Can Our Leaders Be". It was soon
picked up and internationally distributed by USA Records in
California . In 2000, Ms. McNeil released the second CD of her
catalogue featuring legendary drummer Bill Dowdy, former
founder and member of the internationally acclaimed Jazz Trio,
"The Three Sounds". Mr. Dowdy is currently the only living
member of that group. This CD is entitled, "The Bill Dowdy Jazz
Trio Plus Dee Dee McNeil" and was recorded 'Live' at the
Discovery Theater in Battle Creek , Michigan.
Ms. McNeil was the
first female, African-American Publicist for a major record
label in Hollywood to establish a premiere comprehensive press
list to service African-American newspapers and magazines
across the country. In 1973 she recognized that these
publications had previously been over-looked or ignored by
major record labels. This helped to elevate sales of recordings
on the A & M Record label and brought to the attention of
other record labels the potential of black press and
advertising in the African-American community. As a result of
her publicity achievements, she was offered a job with United
Artists/Blue Note Records as the first African-American female
Press and Media Coordinator for that label.
Great Legends &
Great Music Company ventured into the world of theater in 1999,
producing and funding the production of a locally successful
musical play that Ms. McNeil wrote .It was directed by Ron
Milner. Positive reviews can be found in the following
newspapers and magazines: The Detroit News; The Chronicle;
Detroit Jazz Magazine; The Detroit Free Press.
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