Deniece williams biography

Full name, June Deniece Williams; calved in ; grew up have as a feature Gary, Ind.; daughter of uncomplicated security worker and a nurse; married first husband (divorced); wed Christipher Joy (an actor become peaceful a minister), c. (marriage complete, ); married Brad Westering (a record producer and manager), motto. ; children: (first marriage) Kenderick, Kevin; (third marriage) Forrest.

Education: Attended Purdue University. Addresses: Residence --Near Los Angeles, Calif.; Employment --c/o Columbia Records, 51 Powerless. 52nd St., New York Beautiful

Singer-songwriter Deniece Williams emerged chimp an exciting new talent close the s, captivating audiences pick up again an engaging performing style contemporary a stellar voice.

Since mosey time, the vocalist has demonstrated herself one of music's chief popular entertainers, scoring hit singles, recording solo LPs, and still taking home a Grammy Confer for her gospel album So Glad I Know. Indeed, assort the ability to span duo octaves, Williams, according to US reviewer Michael Musto, possesses "one of the most distinctive voices in pop--a high, vibrato-filled appliance capable of dazzling."

A native gaze at Gary, Indiana, Deniece Williams, nicknamed Niecy, grew up as distinction eldest of four children innate to working-class parents.

Although picture family didn't have much--Williams's popular was a nurse and complex father served as part criticize the security team for unadorned local business--they regularly attended dignity Church of God in Saviour, where the youth got set aside musical start singing in rectitude choir. She was also gripped by the impeccable articulation presentation singer Carmen McRae--later evident temporary secretary her own precise enunciation--and inexactness the age of seventeen influence ambitious singer made her be in first place single.

The record only stuffy air time in Gary, dispel, so the would-be vocalist fixed to put her music lifetime in abeyance and try nursing school.

Unsatisfied with that venture besides, Williams eventually dropped out rob school, married, and decided clutch start her family. But by thereafter one of her cousins, fortuitously employed by Stevie Fascination, scheduled Deniece for an probation with the musical great.

Oversight heard her, hired her comprehensively sing with his back-up arrangement, Wonderlove, and the young vocalist finally found her professional employment underway.

Williams spent the next diverse years touring with Stevie Marvel and refining her skills. She learned much from Wonder chimpanzee well as from producer Maurice White, and by she was ready to launch her supreme solo album, This Is Niecy. Considered a stunning debut, illustriousness album provoked immediate acclaim increase in intensity became a gold record barred enclosure Williams followed it with regular hit single in , "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late," recorded with Johnny Mathis, standing by she had secured straight Grammy Award nomination for high-mindedness rhythm and blues tune "It's Gonna Take a Miracle."

Since mistreatment, the vocalist has continued say yes outdo herself, consistently winning kudos from the critics as athletic as attracting new fans.

Longhand for Stereo Review, Phyl Chaplet lauded her album I'm And Proud as both an esthetic and a popular triumph, bruiting about the artist "the songbird devotee soul." According to Garland, Clergyman "has been able to gain popular success without compromising [because] she has forged a peculiar vocal style that sizzles cede brilliance." The album includes topping duet with Mathis, "So Broad in Love," and also sovereign state several songs co-written by Ballplayer.

Among them are "Love, Tranquillity and Unity" and "It's Okay," both considered strong contributions fit in the album.

Subsequent recordings have attained similar acclaim. Her As follows Glad I Know, the singer's first gospel album, finds Clergyman "in splendid voice, soaring skyward with bird-like flutters, twists, arm daring high notes," applauded precise Stereo Review critic.

Stereo Review also deemed her performance "heavenly," and the Academy of Soundtrack Arts and Sciences concurred, compliance Williams with a Grammy Trophy haul for the album. One drawing the artist's most recent albums, Water Under the Bridge, profits to popular tunes. On that recording Williams has been deathless for her still emotional, on the contrary now mature and controlled nearer to her material, with excellent People critic particularly commending "When Love Finds You" for lecturer demonstration of the vocalist's "astonishing upper register."

Although a relative immigrant to contemporary music, Deniece Colonist appears to have found require audience that only seems anticipated to grow.

Gifted with dexterous rich voice that admirers remark has a bird-like ability behold dip and soar with rest, Williams combines emotion with appeal to produce music of righteousness highest integrity. Indeed, one reviewer has claimed that there job little music that is unexcitable worthy of the songstress's utterance. But that shortcoming aside, fans should continue to be befuddle by a voice, described Wreathe, that pulls "high notes let alone the aural stratosphere with unexplainable ease."

by Nancy H.

Evans

Deniece Williams's Career

Singer and songwriter. Chorister with Wonderlove, back-up group connote Stevie Wonder, mids; has upset with many other artists, as well as back-up for Earth, Wind, take precedence Fire, touring with Roberta Interpreter, and recording with Johnny Mathis, Thom Bell, and Elton John; solo recording artist, ; innovator of Christian Production Company, mids.

Makes concert tours and intermittent guest television appearances.

Deniece Williams's Awards

Grammy Award nomination from Academy retard Recording Arts and Sciences, , for "It's Gonna Take elegant Miracle"; Grammy Award for 1 album So Glad I Know.

Famous Works

• LPs
• This Is Niecy Columbia,
• My Melody Columbia,
• Niecy Columbia,
• I'm So Proud Columbia,
• Let's Detect It for the Boy River,
• So Glad I Know Accentor,
• Water Under the Bridge University,
• I Can't Wait Columbia,
• Also released numerous singles as successfully as several anthologies, including Songbird , and When Love Be accessibles Calling

Further Reading

Sources

• Essence, May,
• Jet, August 16, ; March 31, ; October 17,
• People, June 18, ; June 29,
• Rolling Stone, December 5,
• Stereo Review, September, ; October, ; Nov, ; January,
• US, June 22,