Dodie Stevens - Dodie Stevens (1960) [Reissue 2015]

Dodie Stevens was a singing prodigy at the age of four. By the time she was seven she began making local television appearances, and in 1959, at age thirteen, she had the #1 hit, gold record “Pink Shoe Laces”. She followed with “Yes, I'm Lonesome Tonight”, “No” and “Merry, Merry Christmas Baby”, which all hit the Billboard charts in the early 60's.

While still in high school, Dodie’s career skyrocketed. She appeared on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand and starred with Fabian in her first film, “Hound Dog Man”, followed by “Convicts Four”, starring Ben Gazzara. She also co-starred with Frankie Avalon in “Alakazam The Great”, an animated feature film. She continued to record a string of singles and albums, and more television guest appearances followed, including The Bob Hope Show, and Pat Boone’s Chevy Showroom. Dodie also toured worldwide with Fabian, Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, Paul Anka, Bobby Rydell and many more teen idols from that era.

In the early 70’s she joined Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’77 touring internationally and recording three albums for A&M Records until 1973. She continued to perform in concert with artists such as Harry Belafonte, Boz Scaggs and Loretta Lynn, including numerous appearances on The Tonight Show, Midnight Special and Solid Gold. For twelve years she worked exclusively with Mac Davis in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and every major music theater worldwide. During this time, she also appeared in television specials with Dolly Parton, Donna Summer and Luther Vandross. In addition, in the 80’s, you would have heard Dodie’s voice on television commercials including Sprint and Dole Pineapple.

By 1990 she was starring in, as well as co-producing her Doo Wop Revue, “Bop”, a high energy show full of some of the most memorable songs from the early years of rock & roll, including her own hit, “Pink Shoe Laces”. For the next few years they worked casinos in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Reno to standing ovations.

Shortly thereafter, Dodie began touring with other recording artists from the 50’s and 60’s and included her talented daughter Stephanie in her shows. They later formed a southern-rock band, “a.k.a. Stevens”, singing classic rock & roll and country and co-writing all their originals. They recorded only one album “Outlaw of the Heart”, was the opening act for Toby Keith and worked a variety of venues across the country.

During Dodie’s career, she has performed in every major city in the United States and internationally, including Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan, China, Philippines, France, Monaco, Saudi Arabia, Caribbean, United Kingdom, (command performance for the Queen), and a special performance at The Kennedy Center for former President George H. W. Bush.

Today, Dodie continues to sing with her daughter, making personal appearances in Doo Wop concerts nationwide. She recently appeared on the PBS television special “At The Drive-In”, hosted by her earlier co-star, Fabian, and the TNN special, “Rock & Roll Graffiti”. In February 2009, she joined her peers in Clear Lake, Iowa at the Surf Ballroom to perform in a 5-day memorial concert, “Fifty Winters Later” (in memory of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper). When Dodie is not performing, she teaches singing and is a performance coach in San Diego, California, which gives her the opportunity to share her expertise and experience in the music industry with the new generation of talent.

In 2018, Dodie and Stephanie developed a unique, motivational concert, “Affirmasong”, using musical affirmations (written by Dodie) to inspire change in the world!