Big Dee Irwin, born DiFosco Erwin Jr. on 6 July 1932 in Harlem, New York, was an American singer known for his contributions to soul and pop music. While serving in the United States Air Force, he formed The Pastels, a singing group that gained local success with their debut single "Been So Long" in 1958. This song reached number four on the Billboard R&B chart and Number 24 on the pop chart, marking a significant breakthrough for the group. Following the disbandment of The Pastels, he embarked on a solo career under various names, including Dee Erwin and Big Dee Irwin. His most notable hit was "Swinging on a Star", a duet with (uncredited) Little Eva released in 1963, which peaked at number 38 on the US pop chart and reached number seven in the UK. Despite subsequent releases like "Happy Being Fat" failing to replicate this success, he continued to release singles through the 1960s and worked as a songwriter for notable artists such as Ray Charles and Bobby Womack. In 1976, he released the disco single "Face to Face". Big Dee Erwin died of heart failure on 27 August 1995.
