Dee Dee Bridgewater | Multi Grammy & Tony Winning Vocalist

brand storytelling imagery for the multi-Grammy & Tony Award winning Performer

Jazz Legend. Triple Grammy Winner. Tony Winner. UN Goodwill Ambassador. Global Icon. National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master. Memphis Hall of Fame Inductee. Record Label Head. Producer. Philanthropist. ASCAP Champion…These are just a handful of the many descriptors for the vocalist, Dee Dee Bridgewater. The morning of Dee Dee’s portrait session, I sat with myself a bit, quietly taking in what it means to have the opportunity to collaborate with this living legend who has changed the very landscape of our culture through her leadership and art. I felt a rush of gratitude and excitement, and reminded myself to stay focused on the goal: to capture the incredible light and dynamism of this accomplished icon, within the boundaries of a collection of still frames. 

Prior to our shoot in Los Angeles, Dee Dee had been on tour throughout Europe and the U.S. for several months, and yet, despite the thousands of miles she’d logged up until that point, she arrived just the night before, with the varied and gorgeous wardrobe we selected together—Roberto Cavalli, Zac Posen, Rick Owens to name just a few— neatly packed and organized, her beloved dog Daisy, in tow, all of her grace and power at the ready. 

We shot outdoors over the course of a full day, and though the mercury rose to over 100F, Dee Dee showed up, eyes sparkling, for every shot. When we wrapped, we talked about where she’d be heading in the morning--NYC to workshop a musical written by one of my favorite award-winning actors/playwrights Anna Deveare Smith. Dee Dee will be portraying the great Ella Fitzgerald. How perfectly fitting. Thank you Dee Dee for sharing your magic with me.

With many thanks to the brilliant Tulani Bridgewater daughter of Dee Dee, writer, music philanthropist, producer, and President/Founder of Bridgewater Artists Management. She is pictured here with Dee Dee, and their bond is something rare and beautiful to behold.

HMUA: The super talented Jetty Stutzman

Assist: Stutz Elliot

Shot on location in Los Angeles, California
Photos © Kimberly M. Wang | Reproduction is not permitted | All Rights Reserved