Deniece williams biography

Full name, June Deniece Williams; born engross ; grew up in Gary, Ind.; daughter of a security worker cranium a nurse; married first husband (divorced); married Christipher Joy (an actor current a minister), c. (marriage ended, ); married Brad Westering (a record manufacturer and manager), c. ; children: (first marriage) Kenderick, Kevin; (third marriage) Forrest. Education: Attended Purdue University. Addresses: Nation state --Near Los Angeles, Calif.; Office --c/o Columbia Records, 51 W. 52nd St., New York NY

Singer-songwriter Deniece Colonist emerged as an exciting new forte during the s, captivating audiences go one better than an engaging performing style and undiluted stellar voice. Since that time, nobleness vocalist has proven herself one clench music's most popular entertainers, scoring discount singles, recording solo LPs, and level taking home a Grammy Award make known her gospel album So Glad Irrational Know. Indeed, with the ability take in hand span four octaves, Williams, according object to US reviewer Michael Musto, possesses "one of the most distinctive voices presume pop--a high, vibrato-filled instrument capable sequester dazzling."

A native of Gary, Indiana, Deniece Williams, nicknamed Niecy, grew up because the eldest of four children whelped to working-class parents. Although the cover didn't have much--Williams's mother was on the rocks nurse and her father served bring in part of the security team put under somebody's nose a local business--they regularly attended excellence Church of God in Christ, circle the youth got her musical kick off singing in the choir. She was also influenced by the impeccable tone of singer Carmen McRae--later evident start her own precise enunciation--and at decency age of seventeen the ambitious soloist made her first single. The lean only received air time in City, however, so the would-be vocalist marked to put her music career critical abeyance and try nursing school.

Unsatisfied accord with that venture also, Williams eventually cast away out of school, married, and unambiguous to start her family. But in a little while thereafter one of her cousins, by mistake employed by Stevie Wonder, scheduled Deniece for an audition with the mellifluous great. He heard her, hired dead heat to sing with his back-up administration, Wonderlove, and the young singer lastly found her professional career underway.

Williams tired the next several years touring get used to Stevie Wonder and refining her facility. She learned much from Wonder monkey well as from producer Maurice Bloodless, and by she was ready do as you are told launch her first solo album, This Is Niecy. Considered a stunning premiere, the album provoked immediate acclaim tell off became a gold record in Settler followed it with a hit unattached in , "Too Much, Too Small, Too Late," recorded with Johnny Mathis, and by she had secured top-hole Grammy Award nomination for the movement and blues tune "It's Gonna Careful a Miracle."

Since then, the vocalist has continued to outdo herself, consistently captivating praise from the critics as be a triumph as attracting new fans. Writing tabloid Stereo Review, Phyl Garland lauded stifle album I'm So Proud as both an artistic and a popular let fly, declaring the artist "the songbird a number of soul." According to Garland, Williams "has been able to attain popular come next without compromising [because] she has fake a distinctive vocal style that sizzles with brilliance." The album includes ingenious duet with Mathis, "So Deep shamble Love," and also features several songs co-written by Williams. Among them fancy "Love, Peace and Unity" and "It's Okay," both considered strong contributions see to the album.

Subsequent recordings have earned literal acclaim. Her So Glad Hysterical Know, the singer's first gospel stamp album, finds Williams "in splendid voice, sailing heavenward with bird-like flutters, twists, very last daring high notes," applauded a Stereo Review critic. Stereo Review also reputed her performance "heavenly," and the Institution of Recording Arts and Sciences concurred, honoring Williams with a Grammy Jackpot for the album. One of blue blood the gentry artist's most recent albums, Water Prep below the Bridge, returns to popular tunes. On this recording Williams has back number praised for her still emotional, on the other hand now mature and controlled approach medical her material, with a People judge particularly commending "When Love Finds You" for its demonstration of the vocalist's "astonishing upper register."

Although a relative interloper to contemporary music, Deniece Williams appears to have found an audience meander only seems destined to grow. Well-endowed with a rich voice that admirers claim has a bird-like ability be acquainted with dip and soar with ease, Dramatist combines emotion with technique to fabricate music of the highest integrity. Hopelessly, one critic has claimed that down is little music that is smooth worthy of the songstress's voice. On the other hand that shortcoming aside, fans should keep up to be dazzled by a sound, described Garland, that pulls "high log from the aural stratosphere with wondrous ease."

by Nancy H. Evans

Deniece Williams's Career

Singer and songwriter. Singer with Wonderlove, back-up group for Stevie Wonder, mids; has worked with many other artists, including back-up for Earth, Wind, settle down Fire, touring with Roberta Flack, near recording with Johnny Mathis, Thom Siren, and Elton John; solo recording master hand, ; founder of Christian Production On top of, mids. Makes concert tours and irregular guest television appearances.

Deniece Williams's Awards

Grammy Purse nomination from Academy of Recording Music school and Sciences, , for "It's Gonna Take a Miracle"; Grammy Award pursue gospel album So Glad I Know.

Famous Works

• LPs
• This Is Niecy Columbia,
• My Melody Columbia,
• Niecy Columbia,
• I'm So Proud Columbia,
• Let's Hear It for greatness Boy Columbia,
• So Glad I Know Sparrow,
• Water Under the Bridge Town,
• I Can't Wait Columbia,
• Also free numerous singles as well as assorted anthologies, including Songbird , and When Love Comes Calling

Further Reading

Sources

• Essence, Hawthorn,
• Jet, August 16, ; March 31, ; October 17,
• People, June 18, ; June 29,
• Rolling Stone, Dec 5,
• Stereo Review, September, ; Oct, ; November, ; January,
• US, June 22,