Deniece Williams

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Deniece Williams
Williams in 1982
Williams in 1982
Background information
Birth nameJune Deniece Chandler
Also known asNiecy Williams
Born (1950-06-03) June 3, 1950 (age 73)
Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1968–present
Labels

June Deniece Williams (née Chandler; born June 3, 1950)

Grammys with twelve nominations altogether.[5][6] She (with Johnny Mathis) is also known for recording “Without Us”, the theme song of Family Ties
.

Early life

June Deniece Chandler was born and raised in Gary, Indiana, United States.[7]

She attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, in the hopes of becoming a registered nurse and an anesthetist, but she dropped out after a year and a half. She recalled, "You have to be a good student to be in college, and I wasn't."[8]

Career

Early years (late 1960s–1975)

Williams started performing while a college student, "a part-time job singing at a club, Casino Royal, and I liked it. It was a lot of fun."[8] During those years, she also worked at a telephone company and as a ward clerk at the Chicago Mercy Hospital.[8]

She recorded for The Toddlin' Town group of labels as Deniece Chandler. One of those early records, "I'm Walking Away", was released on Toddlin's subsidiary Lock Records in the late 1960s, is a favorite on England's

Northern Soul scene. A brief spell in 1969 with Patti Hamilton's the Lovelites resulted in her lead on "I'm Not Like the Others", a track that was eventually released in 1999.[9]

Onward to stardom (1975–1987)

She became a

backup vocalist for Stevie Wonder as part of "Wonderlove", lending her vocals on his albums Talking Book, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life. Williams also appeared on Syreeta Wright's 1974 album Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta, Minnie Riperton's 1974 album Perfect Angel and Roberta Flack's 1975 album Feel Like Makin' Love and 1977 album Blue Lights in the Basement.[6]

She left Wonder in 1975 to sign a deal with

UK Singles, Billboard Hot R&B Songs and Hot 100 charts respectively. Another single being "That's What Friends Are For" rose to No. 8 on the UK Singles chart.[15][16][17]

A few months before the release of This Is Niecy, Charles Stepney died. White went on to solely produce Williams' second album,

The Daily Express found Songbird is "filled with gorgeous songs that showcase her four-octave range to full effect".[19] John Rockwell of The New York Times also wrote "Deniece Williams's “Song Bird” is a most appealing album for anyone who likes varied, skillful and sophisticated singing in the black pop area. One can't be more stylistically precise than that because it is a characteristic of Maurice White's production and Miss Williams's virtuousically diverse singing that her disk ambles all over the stylistic map. But instead of sounding diffuse, it sounds refreshingly varied."[20]
A tune from the album called "Baby, Baby My Love's All for You", reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 32 UK Singles chart.[17][15]

Williams guested on Roberta Flack's 1977 album, Blue Lights in the Basement, and sang along with Maurice White on Weather Report's 1978 album, Mr. Gone.[21][22]

Williams recorded a duet with

Adult Contemporary Songs charts.[23][16][15]

Williams went on to issue a duet album with Johnny Mathis dubbed That's What Friends Are For in 1978 on Columbia for Kalimba Productions.[24] Paul Sexton of Record Mirror commented "their coupling is quite satisfactory from an artistic point of view."[25] Dennis Hunt of the Los Angeles Times said "Mathis' duets with Williams have rescued him from the MOR graveyard and given him new life in the pop/R&B market. This album, far superior to the last featuring this pair, brims with romantic material. To make sure no one mistakes these songs for MOR, producer Jack Gold has tacked on sprightly rhythm tracks which turn some of them into gentle rockers."[26] The LP rose to No. 14 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 19 on the Billboard 200 chart.

RIAA.[27]

An album cut as a cover of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's You're All I Need to Get By peaked at No. 5 on the RPM Canadian Adult Contemporary Songs chart, No. 10 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles Chart and No. 16 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary songs chart.[15][23]

William's fourth studio recording,

ARC Records (ARC), Maurice White's vanity label on Columbia.[28] Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times proclaimed "This album (coproduced by Raydio's Ray Parker Jr.), nicely showcases Williams' expressive voice, and those translucent high C's she's capable of reaching."[29] The album rose to No. 27 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.[11] A single from the album, "I've Got the Next Dance", rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play chart.[30]

Williams issued her follow-up album,

RIAA.[34]
The single, "Silly", reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.[15]

Williams issued her follow-up album,

Village Voice found "Williams's exquisite clarity and thrilling range have always slotted her among the perfect angels for me, but there's a lot more to her work with Thom Bell, who finally challenges Burt Bacharach on his own turf, applying strings and woodwinds and amplifiers with a deft economy that textures rather than sweetens. And Williams's lyrics, while never startling, become increasingly personal as her professional confidence grows--she's wrinkling her brow more and her nose less." Crispin Cioe of High Fidelity found "as a writer, Williams deals in the unabashedly romantic; as a singer she lends her lines an emotionalism that rings true. In Bell's sympathetically rich arranging/production context small sentiments take on grand proportions, and therein lies the album's charm."[36][37]

Side A of Williams's US single "It's Gonna Take a Miracle"

A cover of the Royalettes' "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[15][16] Williams and Mathis collaborated once again to record "Without Us" the theme song of the sitcom Family Ties which debuted in September 1982.[38]

In the Netherlands the album track "It's Your Conscience" had been released as a single. It climbed to No. 15 on the Dutch Top 40 charts.[39]

During 1983 she released her seventh studio album,

Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female category.[40][5][12] During 1984 Williams released her follow up album Let's Hear It for the Boy. This album reached No. 26 on the US Billboard 200 Albums chart and No. 10 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hop-Hop Albums chart.[11][12] The title track reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Soul Songs and Dance Club Play Songs charts.[15][30][16] The hit single was eventually certified Platinum in the USA by the RIAA, Gold in Canada by Music Canada and Gold the UK by the BPI.[41][42] What's more this tune was featured on the soundtrack to the feature film Footloose. She later guested on Johnny Mathis' 1984 album A Special Part of Me, Stevie Wonder's 1985 LP, In Square Circle and James Taylor's 1985 album That's Why I'm Here.[6]

Gospel period (1980–1987)

Although Williams had recorded one inspirational song on almost each of her mainstream albums, it was in 1980 that her musical career path began to change favoring Gospel music. Williams joined with friends Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire fame, Billy Davis and Marilyn McCoo to present a gospel show at The Roxy, a popular Los Angeles club: "Jesus at the Roxy". Williams later reported that "God did something miraculous. Over three hundred people were saved."[43] In 1985, at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards, Williams sang an a cappella version of her 1977 composition "God Is Amazing", a Gospel song, rather than her No. 1 song "Let's Hear It for the Boy", much to her record company's disdain.[44]

During 1986, her first gospel studio album,

Sandi Patti, Williams won the Grammy Award for Best Gospel Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, Choir or Chorus and for "I Surrender All", she won the Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female.[45][44][5]

R&B, Gospel and Jazz (1987–2000)

During 1987 she released her tenth studio album,

Water Under the Bridge, which rose to No. 39 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart. "Never Say Never" reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart and No. 23 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.[6][11][15][30]

A year later she released her follow-up studio album, As Good As It Gets, which rose to No. 48 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart. "I Can't Wait" charted at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart. Another single, "This Is as Good as It Gets", rose to No. 29 on the Billboard Hot R&B Songs chart.[6][11][15]

During 1989, she issued her second Gospel album Special Love.[46] That album reached No. 11 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart.[45]

Williams went on to appear on Nancy Wilson's 1990 LP A Lady with a Song, George Duke's 1992 album Snapshot, Stevie Wonder's 1995 LP Conversation Peace and Spyro Gyra's 1995 album Love & Other Obsessions. During 1999 she released another Gospel album, This Is My Song, on Harmony Records. The album rose to No. 14 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. As well This Is My Song won a Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.[6][47][5]

Recent (2000–present)

In April 2007 she later released another studio album entitled Love, Niecy Style, produced by Philly Soul veteran

Vernon G. Smith as an Outstanding Hoosier.[50]

In October 2007 Williams went on to issue a single called, "Grateful: The Rededication", with Wanda Vaughn of The Emotions and Sherree Brown. The single got to No. 40 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.[51]

On April 29, 2008, Williams announced that she was preparing a proposal to establish a program called KOP—Kids of Promise—in her hometown of

TV One's musical biography show.[54]

She later guested on Cliff Richard's 2011 album Soulicious.[55]

In the fall of 2020 she released a new single called "When You Love Somebody".[56] This was followed by a new EP titled Gemini, released in the fall of 2021.[57] On June 30, 2021, she was honoured as one of the first ever inductees into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame. Williams was, on May 16, 2023, also bestowed with the keys to the city of Kingston, Jamaica.[58][59][60]

Filmography

Williams went on to appear in the 2003 holiday movie

Elimidate as part of their "Celebrity Week".[50]

Vocal profile

Deniece Williams has a four-octave range and distinctive soprano voice.[61] Her vocal range was also pointed out by The New York Times, "Miss Williams mounted a spectacular vocal display in which her penetrating, feline soprano soared effortlessly to E flat above high C, and she worked various vowel sounds into prolonged feats of vocal gymnastics."[62] In pointing to Williams's similar vocal ability as her former musical icon and colleague (Minnie Riperton), Mark Anthony Neal, in referencing Jill Scott's agility in displaying vocal acrobatics, states, "Scott draws on her upper register recalling the artistry of the late Minnie Riperton and "songbird" Deniece Williams."[63] According to Monica Haynes of Post-Gazette.com, Williams "has the kind of range that would make Mariah Carey quiver".[64]

Personal life

Williams has been married three times and has four sons. Williams was married to her middle school sweetheart Kendrick Williams from 1971 until 1975, before she relocated to California in the early 1970s. She has since continued to use her first husband's surname professionally.Together they had two sons, Kendrick Jr. (b. 1972) and Kevin (b. 1973). In May 1981, Williams married actor and minister Christipher Joy. Williams and Joy separated in August 1982,[65] divorcing later that year.[66] From 1986 until 1993, Williams was married to Brad Westering,[67] with whom she had two sons: Forrest (b. 1988)[68] and Logan.

Discography

Main article: Deniece Williams discography

Grammy Awards

The

National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Williams has received four awards out of thirteen nominations.[5]

Year Category Nominated work Result
1983
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
 "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" Nominated
1984 I'm So Proud Nominated
1984 Best Inspirational Performance "Whiter Than Snow" Nominated
1985
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
 "Let's Hear It for the Boy" Nominated
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance
 Let's Hear It for the Boy Nominated
1987 Best Female Gospel Performance So Glad I Know Nominated
Best Female Soul Gospel Performance "I Surrender All" Won
Best Duo or Group Gospel Performance "They Say" (with
Sandi Patti
) 		Won
1988 Best Female Gospel Performance "I Believe in You" Won
1989 "Do You Hear What I Hear?" Nominated
1990 "Healing" Nominated
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group
 "We Sing Praises" (with Natalie Cole) Nominated
1999 Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album This Is My Song Won

See also

  • List of number-one hits (United States)
  • List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
  • List of number-one dance hits (United States)
  • List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart

References

  1. ISBN 9781410732941
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  2. ISBN 9780252062599
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  3. ISBN 9780786457632
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  4. ^ "Deniece Williams: My Melody". BBC.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Deniece Williams". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Deniece Williams". AllMusic.
  7. ^
    ISBN 0-85112-733-9
    .
  8. ^ a b c d "Deniece Williams Story with Interview". Soulexpress.net. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  9. ^ Herb Kent, The Kool Gent Presents The Lovelites, Notes to CDretrospective, Love Lite Records, Chicago, Illinois (1999)
  10. ^ "Deniece Williams: This Is Niecy". 45worlds.com.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Deniece Williams: (Top R&B Hip Hop Albums)". Billboard.
  12. ^ a b c d e "Deniece Williams (Billboard 200)". Billboard.com.
  13. ^ "Deniece Williams - This Is Niecy". riaa.com. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  14. ^ "BPI Certification for Deniece Williams: This Is Niecy". BPI.co.uk.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Deniece Williams (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.com.
  16. ^ a b c d "Deniece Williams (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  17. ^ a b "Deniece Williams (Singles)". OfficialCharts.com. April 2, 1977.
  18. ^ "Deniece Williams: Songbird". 45worlds.com.
  19. ^ Gage, Simon (August 6, 2010). "Review: Deniece Williams – Song Bird (BBR)". Daily Express – via express.co.uk.
  20. ^ Rockwell, John (December 30, 1977). "The Pop Life". The New York Times – via nytimes.com.
  21. ^ "Weather Report: the life and times of the group on record". JazzWiseMagazine.com.
  22. ^ Gilbert, Andrew (December 18, 2018). "Singer Deniece 'Niecy' Williams heads to Oakland with new album, new sound". The Mercury News. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  23. ^ a b "Deniece Williams (Adult Contemporary Songs)". Billboard.
  24. ^ Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams: That's What Friends Are For. Columbia Records. 1978.
  25. ^ Sexton, Paul (August 12, 1978). Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams "That's What Friends Are For". Record Mirror. p. 15.
  26. ProQuest 158588454
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  27. RIAA
    .
  28. ARC/Columbia Records
    . 1979.
  29. ^ Johnson, Connie (October 28, 1979). "Deniece Williams: When Love Comes Calling". newspapers.com. Los Angeles Times. p. 412.
  30. ^ a b c "Deniece Williams (Dance Club Play Songs)". Billboard.
  31. ARC/Columbia Records
    . 1981.
  32. Philadelphia Inquirer
    . May 29, 1981. p. 80.
  33. ^ Holden, Stephen (April 26, 1981). "TWO TASTEFULLY OPULENT RELEASES". The New York Times.
  34. RIAA
    .
  35. ARC/Columbia Records
    . 1982.
  36. ^ Cioe, Christian (July 1982). "Denice Williams: Niecy" (PDF). High Fidelity. Vol. 32, no. 7. pp. 74, 80.
  37. ^ "Deniece Williams: Niecy (Billboard 200)". Billboard – via billboard.com.
  38. ^ "Family Ties". IMDb.
  39. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40". Stichting Nederlandse Top 40.
  40. ProQuest 153475896
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  41. ^ "Deniece Williams; Lets Hear It For The Boy". BPI. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  42. ^ "DENIECE WILLIAMS; LET'S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY". Music Canada. August 1, 1984. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  43. ^ As reported in an interview Williams gave to Gospel Today magazine.
  44. ^ a b "EXCLUSIVE: Deniece Williams Preps For Oakland Shows This Weekend, Remembers Collaborations With Mathis, Natalie Cole, and Sandi Patty". Saccculturalhub.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  45. ^ a b "Deniece Williams: (Top Christian Albums)". Billboard.
  46. ^ Deniece Williams: Special Love. Sparrow Records. 1989.
  47. ^ "Deniece Williams: (Top Gospel Albums)". Billboard.
  48. ^ D. Ollison, Rashod (December 7, 2006). "Keeping the faith". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  49. ^ "Curtain rises on new Glen Theater". nwitimes.com. October 14, 2007.
  50. ^ a b "Deniece Williams". IMDb.
  51. ^ "Wanda Vaughn, Deniece Williams & Sherree Brown: Grateful (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard.
  52. ^ "Deniece Williams". www.alumni.morgan.edu. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  53. Ledger Enquirer
    .
  54. ^ "BET Awards 2010|Deniece Williams". tvone.tv. Archived from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
  55. ^ Gage, Simon (October 7, 2011). "CD review – Cliff Richard: Soulicious (EMI)". Daily Express – via express.co.uk.
  56. ^ Lavalee, Jules (October 13, 2020). "Deniece Williams new single, "When You Love Somebody"". Formidable Young Woman. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  57. ^ Coleman, Michael P (October 2, 2021). "Deniece Williams Releases new Gemini EP". THE HUB: The Urban Entertainment and Lifestyle Magazine. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  58. ^ Sexton, Paul (June 30, 2021). "Valerie Simpson, Roberta Flack Among First Women Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees". uDiscover Music. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  59. ^ Peru, Yasmine (May 16, 2023). "Red Rose for Gregory delivered on Mother's Day". jamaica-gleaner.com. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  60. ^ Henry, Balford (May 12, 2023). "Kingston honouring Deniece Williams with Key to the City". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  61. ^ "Deniece Williams Story with Interview". soulexpress.net.
  62. ^ Holden, Stephen (October 11, 1982). "Pop-Soul – Deniece Williams in Concert". The New York Times. Retrieved April 2, 2017.
  63. ^ "Jill Scott: Experience: Jill Scott 826+". PopMatters. November 19, 2001.
  64. ^ "Music Review: Time just can't stop energized O'Jays train". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  65. ^ "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. August 30, 1982. Retrieved July 7, 2021 – via Google Books.
  66. ISBN 9780810322110
    . Retrieved July 7, 2021 – via Google Books.
  67. ^ "Ebony". Johnson Publishing Company. March 7, 1989. Retrieved July 7, 2021 – via Google Books.
  68. ^ "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. October 17, 1988. Retrieved July 7, 2021 – via Google Books.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Deniece_Williams&oldid=1219120091"