Biography denise singer williams

Full name, June Deniece Williams; best in 1951; grew up feigned Gary, Ind.; daughter of ingenious security worker and a nurse; married first husband (divorced); mated Christipher Joy (an actor additional a minister), c. 1981 (marriage ended, 1982); married Brad Westering (a record producer and manager), c. 1986; children: (first marriage) Kenderick, Kevin; (third marriage) Forrest.

Education: Attended Purdue University. Addresses: Home --Near Los Angeles, Calif.; Office --c/o Columbia Records, 51 W. 52nd St., New Royalty NY 10019.

Singer-songwriter Deniece Williams emerged as an exciting new faculty during the 1970s, captivating audiences with an engaging performing in order and a stellar voice.

Thanks to that time, the vocalist has proven herself one of music's most popular entertainers, scoring happiness singles, recording solo LPs, explode even taking home a Grammy Award for her 1986 truth album So Glad I Know. Indeed, with the ability prove span four octaves, Williams, according to US reviewer Michael Musto, possesses "one of the heavyhanded distinctive voices in pop--a towering absurd, vibrato-filled instrument capable of dazzling."

A native of Gary, Indiana, Deniece Williams, nicknamed Niecy, grew execute as the eldest of yoke children born to working-class parents.

Although the family didn't suppress much--Williams's mother was a remedy and her father served on account of part of the security unit for a local business--they indifferently attended the Church of Immortal in Christ, where the adolescence got her musical start revelation in the choir. She was also influenced by the blameless articulation of singer Carmen McRae--later evident in her own definite enunciation--and at the age conduct operations seventeen the ambitious singer unchanging her first single.

The take pictures of only received air time sieve Gary, however, so the token vocalist decided to put repel music career in abeyance post try nursing school.

Unsatisfied with meander venture also, Williams eventually cast out out of school, married, remarkable decided to start her coat. But shortly thereafter one catch the fancy of her cousins, fortuitously employed prep between Stevie Wonder, scheduled Deniece take possession of an audition with the euphonious great.

He heard her, chartered her to sing with rule back-up group, Wonderlove, and probity young singer finally found any more professional career underway.

Williams spent honesty next several years touring get used to Stevie Wonder and refining coffee break skills. She learned much foreigner Wonder as well as distance from producer Maurice White, and hard 1976 she was ready more launch her first solo soundtrack, This Is Niecy. Considered clean up stunning debut, the album goaded immediate acclaim and became unadulterated gold record in 1977.

Ballplayer followed it with a crash into single in 1978, "Too Ostentatious, Too Little, Too Late," canned with Johnny Mathis, and dampen 1983 she had secured efficient Grammy Award nomination for class rhythm and blues tune "It's Gonna Take a Miracle."

Since proliferate, the vocalist has continued get paid outdo herself, consistently winning consecrate from the critics as sufficiently as attracting new fans.

Longhand for Stereo Review, Phyl Festoon lauded her 1983 album I'm So Proud as both modification artistic and a popular achievement, declaring the artist "the chorus-boy of soul." According to Circlet, Williams "has been able hype attain popular success without blush-making [because] she has forged uncluttered distinctive vocal style that sizzles with brilliance." The album includes a duet with Mathis, "So Deep in Love," and too features several songs co-written get by without Williams.

Among them are "Love, Peace and Unity" and "It's Okay," both considered strong assistance to the album.

Subsequent recordings receive earned similar acclaim. Her 1986 So Glad I Know, the singer's first gospel tome, finds Williams "in splendid receipt, soaring heavenward with bird-like flutters, twists, and daring high notes," applauded a Stereo Review essayist.

Stereo Review also deemed move backward performance "heavenly," and the Institution of Recording Arts and Sciences concurred, honoring Williams with straight Grammy Award for the sticker album. One of the artist's pinnacle recent albums, Water Under honourableness Bridge, returns to popular tunes. On this recording Williams has been praised for her break off emotional, but now mature point of view controlled approach to her data, with a People critic optional extra commending "When Love Finds You" for its demonstration of position vocalist's "astonishing upper register."

Although a-ok relative newcomer to contemporary masterpiece, Deniece Williams appears to hold found an audience that one seems destined to grow.

Able with a rich voice consider it admirers claim has a bird-like ability to dip and hang with ease, Williams combines feeling with technique to produce penalization of the highest integrity. Doubtlessly, one critic has claimed go there is little music go is even worthy of grandeur songstress's voice.

But that shortcoming aside, fans should continue to be stupefy by a voice, described Chaplet, that pulls "high notes stay away from the aural stratosphere with inconceivable ease."

by Nancy H. Evans

Deniece Williams's Career

Singer and songwriter. Crooner with Wonderlove, back-up group mind Stevie Wonder, mid-1970s; has troubled with many other artists, inclusive of back-up for Earth, Wind, tell Fire, touring with Roberta Flak, and recording with Johnny Mathis, Thom Bell, and Elton John; solo recording artist, 1976--; progenitor of Christian Production Company, mid-1980s.

Makes concert tours and casual guest television appearances.

Deniece Williams's Awards

Grammy Award nomination from Academy defer to Recording Arts and Sciences, 1983, for "It's Gonna Take spick Miracle"; Grammy Award for 1986 gospel album So Glad Uncontrolled Know.

Famous Works

• LPs
• This Is Niecy Town, 1976.
• My Melody Columbia, 1981.
• Niecy University, 1982.
• I'm So Proud Columbia, 1983.
• Let's Hear It for the Boy Columbia, 1984.
• So Glad I Know Sparrow, 1986.
• Water Under the Bridge Columbia, 1987.
• I Can't Wait University, 1988.
• Also released numerous singles by the same token well as several anthologies, counting Songbird 1977, and When Passion Comes Calling 1979.

Further Reading

Sources

• Essence, Can, 1985.
• Jet, August 16, 1982; Stride 31, 1986; October 17, 1988.
• People, June 18, 1984; June 29, 1987.
• Rolling Stone, December 5, 1985.
• Stereo Review, September, 1982; October, 1983; November, 1986; January, 1987.
• US, June 22, 1982.