Deniece Williams

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Deniece Williams

Background information
Birth name June Deniece Chandler
Also known as "Niecy" Williams
Born June 4, 1950 (1950-06-04) (age 58)
Origin Gary, Indiana, USA
Genre(s) soul, R&B, Gospel
Occupation(s) Singer, Songwriter
Instrument(s) Vocals
Years active 1970-present

Deniece "Niecy" Williams (born June 3, 1950) is a Grammy Award-winning American singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved success in the 1970s and 1980s. Williams, whose music has been influenced by pop, soul, gospel, R&B and dance, is known for her hits such as "Let's Hear It for the Boy," "It's Gonna Take a Miracle", and for her many vocal duets with Johnny Mathis.

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[edit] Career

Born June Deniece Chandler in 1950 (some sources list her birth year as 1951) in Gary, Indiana, Williams' career began in the 1970s when she became a backup vocalist for Stevie Wonder as part of "Wonderlove", along with Minnie Riperton. She left Wonder in 1975 and teamed up with producer Maurice White, who was the leader of Earth, Wind & Fire. After signing to Columbia Records, her 1976 debut album entitled This Is Niecy was released. The single "Free" reached #2 on the Black Singles chart, #25 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on the British Singles chart. The album also featured "Cause You Love Me Baby" (which charted separately on the R&B chart as the flip side of "Free") and "That's What Friends Are For". She also shared a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with pop singer Johnny Mathis in 1978 with the duet "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late". The duet also topped the Black Singles and Adult Contemporary charts. Williams also topped the dance charts with her disco single "I've Got The Next Dance".

Williams moved on to the American Recording Company (ARC) in the early 1980s where she scored the top ten R&B smash hit "Silly." in 1981. The following year, famed producer Thom Bell helped Williams score another #1 R&B chart-topper with her remake of The Royalettes' "It's Gonna Take a Miracle," which became a Top 10 pop hit as well, reaching #10. In 1984, Williams released the album Let's Hear It for the Boy, in which the title track reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was featured on the soundtrack to the motion picture, Footloose.

Williams continued releasing albums during the 1980s such as Hot On The Trail (1986), Water Under The Bridge (1987), and As Good As It Gets (1988), which featured her last Top Ten hit to date, "I Can't Wait", written by Skylark. However, in part due to a lack of promotion from her record company, her mainstream popularity faded.

From 1996 to 2004, Williams presented her own BBC radio show in the UK, showcasing the best in new gospel and inspirational music.

[edit] Vocal profile

Deniece Williams has a four-octave range and distinctive soprano voice that has often been described as birdlike and angelic. 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'[1] .

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 "songbird" Minnie Riperton and Deniece Williams'[2]]. According to Monica Haynes of Post-Gazette.com, Williams "has the kind of range that would make Mariah Carey quiver."[3]

[edit] Current Projects

After more than a decade Williams' new R&B album, titled Love, Niecy Style, was released on April 24, 2007 on Shanachie Records. The disc is produced by veteran "Sound of Philly" man Bobby Eli. The disc has received positive review from Starpulse [4], soultracks.com, [5] eurweb.com and Jet. The disc charted at #41 on Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.

Williams returned to Gospel music, charting again in October 2007. The song, "Grateful-The Redication", recorded with Wanda Vaughn of The Emotions and Sherree Brown debuted at #40 debut on the Billboard Adult R&B Singles chart. This was Williams' first entry on the singles chart since 1989.

[edit] Trivia

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The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.
  • Williams and Johnny Mathis's collaboration on "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late", was followed a few months later by an entire album they recorded together titled That's What Friends Are For. The title track was a remake of the same song from her debut album. The album also contained covers of Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell's "You're All I Need To Get By", Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are" and Stevie Wonder's "Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)", a hit for Aretha Franklin in 1974.
  • The distinctive-sounding soprano singing backup for James Taylor in his song, "That's Why I'm Here" is Deniece Williams.
  • Mathis and Williams also recorded the popular theme to the sitcom Family Ties, "Without Us".
  • In December 2005, Deniece Williams appeared on the reality-dating show Elimidate as part of their "Celebrity Week". Other participants included fellow 1970s icons Leif Garrett and Jimmie Walker.
  • The track "The Rain" on the Will Smith album Willennium contains a sample of Deniece Williams's song "I Believe In Miracles".
  • On April 13, 2007 Williams announced plans for a reality show entitled "Life Niecy Style!". It will be a weekly show that feature her two teenage sons, two grown sons, daughter in law and the grandchildren popping in and out. The show will also feature long time friends like Johnny Mathis and others.
  • At an August 18, 2007 performance in Los Angeles, CA she injured herself when she fell off the stage. Despite her injury she continued to perform and finished her set where upon she was taken to the hospital in a wheel chair. She later filed suit against concert organizers for poor stage lighting.
  • Williams also contributes in an album featuring English-language translations of songs from the world-popular Japanese pop music girl group Morning Musume. She sings "Dance Site", a translated version of their 8th single, "Koi no Dance Site".
  • On October 13, 2007 Williams gave a benefit performance on opening night at The Glen Theater, a landmark in her hometown of Gary, Indiana which was re-opened after being closed for nearly twenty years. The day was officially declared "Deniece Williams Day" in the city and Williams was named a "Distinguished Hoosier" by the State of Indiana.
  • Nas mentions her in AZ's song "The Essence".
  • On April 29, 2008 Williams announced that she is preparing a proposal to establish a program called KOP -- Kids of Promise -- in her hometown of Gary, IN. Williams said the program will include a center with classes and programs dedicated to education and the performing arts. http://www.post-trib.com/news/neighbors/920892,kop.article

[edit] Discography

Main article: Deniece Williams discography

[edit] Awards/Nominations

  • Grammy Awards
    • 1999, Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: This Is My Song (Winner)
    • 1990, Best Female Gospel Performance: "Healing" (Nominated)
    • 1990, Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group: "We Sing Praises" (Nominated)
    • 1989, Best Female Gospel Performance: "Do You What I Hear" (Nominated)
    • 1988, Best Female Gospel Performance: "I Believe In You" (Winner)
    • 1987, Best Duo or Group Gospel Performance: "They Say" (Winner)
    • 1987, Best Female Soul Gospel Performance: "I Surrender All" (Winner)
    • 1987, Best Female Gospel Performance: So Glad I Know (Nominated)
    • 1985, Best Insprirational Performance: "Whiter Than Snow" (Nominated)
    • 1985, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: "Let's Hear It for the Boy" (Nominated)
    • 1985, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: "Let's Hear It for the Boy" (Nominated)
    • 1984, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: I'm So Proud (Nominated)
    • 1983, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: It's Gonna Take a Miracle (Nominated)


[edit] References

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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