Dee Dee is a singer, songwriter, poet, journalist, producer, playwright and educator. As a contract songwriter for Motown Records in her native Detroit, Michigan, many legendary artists recorded her music including: Diana Ross & The Supremes, Gladys Knight & The Pips, David Ruffin, Edwin Star, The Four Tops, Nancy Wilson, Rita Marley, Kiki Dee, Jonah Jones, Side Effect, the rapper 'Styles.' McNeil was a contributing member of the historic rap group, The Watts Prophets, now recognized as one of the major forerunners of contemporary hip hop music. She was one of the first women to rap in the late '60s and early 70's, speaking up as an articulate champion for women's rights. One of her raps about respect for women was used as the televised theme song during New Zealand's Miss Universe Contest in 1983. The plays she has written are based on historic figures and their musical contributions. In 2001, she won the BET (Black Entertainment Television Network) Jazz Discovery Competition and appeared in concert on BET's internationally syndicated television program. As a writer and syndicated columnist, her articles and CD reviews have appeared in Cadence Magazine, All About Jazz, Pathfinders Travel Magazine and the Michigan Chronicle Newspaper. Dee Dee chairs the Artist Development program, and is a seasoned vocal instructor and arranger for CCM's vocal ensembles.
