A Product of His ‘Own’ Creation

Once again, Dave White has reason to rejoice that he owns a piece of “You Don’t Own Me.”

White, an Orange County resident since 1988, wrote the song in 1963 with boyhood friend and musical partner John Madara. It became a big hit for Lesley Gore in 1964 after White, then based in his hometown of Philadelphia, pitched it to her and her record producer, Quincy Jones.

The song paid dividends again in the late ‘80s, when a version by the British band Blow Monkeys landed on the huge-selling “Dirty Dancing” film soundtrack.

Now, millions of moviegoers are hearing the defiant anthem in its latest incarnation, sung by Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton in the big, triumphant finale of “The First Wives Club.”

White, who lives in Mission Viejo, is hoping the royalty checks will swell again: The new, film-divas version of “You Don’t Own Me” closes the “First Wives Club” soundtrack album, which enjoyed a rapid chart rise before slipping back this week to No. 104.

White, 56, says the film’s use of “You Don’t Own Me” as a battle cry of feminist revenge fits with his original intent.

“It was written for a woman,” he said, noting that the song was first recorded by Maureen Gray, a Philly songstress who nowadays works with Steve Winwood. “I always was for the underdog, and I felt women were suppressed and not treated right. I guess that’s where [the song] came from. It has become somewhat of an anthem for the women’s movement.”

White also shares a writer’s credit on two other songs known to every lover of rock oldies: “At the Hop” and “Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay,” both written in the late 1950s, when he was a teenage founding member of the harmony group Danny & the Juniors.

“You Don’t Own Me” emerged soon after White left Danny & the Juniors to form a record-producing and songwriting partnership with Madara. “1-2-3,” a hit for Len Barry, was another of the team’s successes. The original version of “1-2-3” was heard under the opening credits of another recent film, “Mr. Holland’s Opus.”

The film soundtrack to “Grease” is another ongoing bonanza for White, thanks to its inclusion of “Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay.” The album, originally released in 1978, continues to sell steadily and has been on Billboard’s Top Pop Catalog Albums chart for nearly two years.

“It keeps me going,” White said of the income his handful of nuggets has generated over the years. “I’ve been very fortunate I haven’t had to do any other kind of work. It amazes me. I guess it amazes everybody out there that these old songs are still doing so well.”

Not that White isn’t interested in new songs too. He said that he and Madara are planning to write fresh material for a planned sequel to “Dirty Dancing,” and for a proposed film called “At the Hop,” about a fictional rock ‘n’ roll harmony group from the 1950s.

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TRIPLE BENEFITS: Little Richard will headline a benefit concert on Oct. 26 in the parking lot of Planet Hollywood in Santa Ana, with proceeds going to the Magic Mirror Foundation. The charity pays for reconstructive surgery for those who otherwise could not afford it. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. in a 2,500-capacity outdoor theater built for the occasion outside the restaurant, 1641 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana. Tickets: $35-$125. Information: (714) 668-1440. After raising $97,000 for the Lupus Foundation in a benefit show by the Righteous Brothers in May, Planet Hollywood has set a goal of $100,000 for the Little Richard concert.

A day earlier, Honk, a local rock favorite from the 1970s, will have one of its periodic reunions at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. Proceeds from Friday’s show will go to Ron “Spunky” Edgerly, a good friend and former roadie of the band who suffered disabling injuries to both legs last year in a job-related accident.

Original band members Steve and Beth Wood, Richard Stekol, Tris Imboden and Craig Buhler will play their mix of folk-rock and R&B;, with the Woods’ teenage son, Nate, a probable fill-in on bass for Will Brady, who will miss the show because of a prior out-of-town commitment. Donations also can be made to the Ron Edgerly Fund, 3675 Snowdrift, Riverside, CA 92503. Also appearing are the Fabulous Nomads and the Jeffrey John Band. Tickets: $15-$17. Information: (714) 496-8930.

Finally, surf rock and designer suits will be the attractions in another weekend benefit, as the Bay Area’s Aqua Velvets provide the music at a cocktail reception Friday at 7:30 p.m. unveiling Giorgio Armani’s fall and winter collection at the Emporio Armani in South Coast Plaza. Proceeds go to the Surfrider Foundation environmental group. Tickets: $30. Information: (714) 492-8170 (Surfrider Foundation).