Singer Dionne Warwick Files for Bankruptcy over $10.7m Tax Debt

Grammy award-winning singer Dionne Warwick has filed for bankruptcy.

The Walk On By hitmaker, who is the cousin of the late Whitney Houston, has found herself with $10.7m in tax debts dating back more than 20 years.

Warwick, 72, paid the back taxes from the 1990s but penalties and interest were still accruing, her publicist Kevin Sasaki told NBCNews.com

The bankruptcy petition, filed in her native New Jersey, blamed the debts on "negligent and gross financial mismanagement" in the 1980s and 90s.

"In light of the magnitude of her tax liabilities, Warwick has repeatedly attempted to offer repayment plans and proposals to the IRS [Internal Revenue Service] and the California Franchise Tax Board for taxes owed," Sasaki said.

"These plans were not accepted, resulting in escalating interest and penalties."

The soul singer's attorney, Daniel Stolz, blamed her former business manager, alleging he had mismanaged her affairs.

"She was an innocent victim of terrible mismanagement," Stolz told Rolling Stone.

Warwick found fame in the 60s with hits including Don't Make Me Over, Walk On By and Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

During her career over four decades, 56 of her singles made the Billboard Hot 100. She is the second most-charted female vocalist of all time in the rock era.