Marion Williams
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| Marion Williams | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | August 29, 1927 |
| Origin | Miami, Florida, USA |
| Died | July 2, 1994 (aged 66) |
| Genre(s) | Gospel |
| Instrument(s) | vocal |
Marion Williams (b. August 29, 1927; d. July 2, 1994) was an American gospel singer.
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[edit] Early years
She was born in Miami, to a religiously devout mother and musically inclined father. As was common in the area, Williams was exposed to African American blues and jazz, alongside Caribbean calypso. Poverty caused Williams to leave school at fourteen, working with her mother at a laundry. She was singing at church and on street corners, inspired by a wide range of musicians including Sister Rosetta Tharpe and the Smith Jubilee Singers. She stuck with gospel, however, in spite of pressure to switch to popular blues tunes or the opera.
[edit] Musical career
[edit] The Ward Singers
Williams was invited to join the Ward Singers when they heard her singing during a visit to her sister in Philadelphia in 1946. Williams did so in 1947, staying with them for eleven years. Her first recording with the group was "How Far Am I from Canaan" (1948), followed by the breakthrough "Surely God Is Able", which launched Williams and the rest of the group into superstardom. Their concerts were mobbed by frenzied fans.
[edit] Stars of Faith
Dissatisfied with the low pay she was receiving while starring for the group, Williams left the Ward Singers in 1958, followed by most of the rest of the group, to form the Stars of Faith. The Stars of Faith was unable, however, to reproduce the success the Ward Singers had enjoyed, as Williams retreated from the spotlight to give other members of the group more opportunity to star. The group's career recovered, however, in 1961, when it appeared in Black Nativity, an off-Broadway production, and toured across North America and Europe.
[edit] Solo career
In 1965, Williams began a solo career but soon returned to Miami for her mother's funeral. While there, she felt reinspired to continue her career and began touring college campuses across the country. Her perhaps best-known hit is from this period -- Standing Here Wondering Which Way to Go.
[edit] Discography
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (September 2007) |
[edit] Albums
| Can't Keep It To Myself | Shanachie Entertainment Corp. | 1993 | |
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| 1 | Got On My Traveling Shoes | 3:01 | |
| 2 | Ain't He Good | 2:45 | |
| 3 | God's Amazing Grace | 5:48 | |
| 4 | Come Out The Corner | 2:46 | |
| 5 | Leave You In The Hands Of The Lord | 3:06 | |
| 6 | Ride In The Clouds | 3:04 | |
| 7 | Press On (Like The Bible Said) | 2:18 | |
| 8 | The New Gospel Train | 2:24 | |
| 9 | Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen | 3:37 | |
| 10 | I'll Never Return No More | 1:51 | |
| 11 | Hark The Voice | 3:21 | |
| 12 | Packin' Up | 3:35 | |
| 13 | Live The Life I Sing About In My Song | 3:35 | |
| 14 | I Heard The Voice | 2:40 | |
| 15 | I'm So Glad | 2:33 | |
| 16 | I Have A Friend | 3:38 | |
| 17 | O Lord Remember Me | 2:55 | |
| 18 | Were You There When They Crucified My Lord | 2:42 | |
| 19 | Loose The Man | 2:27 | |
| 20 | Lazarus | 2:48 | |
| 21 | Mary Mary | 2:41 | |
| 22 | I Just Can' t Keep It To Myself | 3:47 | |
[edit] Notable singles
[edit] Videography
[edit] Music videos
[edit] Film appearances
In 1991, she performed as a gospel singer in the film Fried Green Tomatoes, though her scene is available only in the director's cut. The movie was dedicated to her.
[edit] Television appearances
[edit] Other video appearances
[edit] Awards
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (September 2007) |
[edit] Awards Wins
[edit] Award Nominations
[edit] Music
A powerful singer with a preternaturally broad range, able to reach the highest registers of the soprano range without losing either purity or volume, she could also swoop down to growling low notes in the style of a country preacher.
[edit] Influences
Williams' singing helped make The Ward Singers nationally popular when they began recording in 1948, and also inspired Rock 'n' Roll pioneer Little Richard's signature wail.[citation needed]
[edit] Honors and awards
She was honored as a MacArthur Fellow in 1993.[citation needed]
[edit] Personal life
A esteemed Member and Church Mother at the BM Oakley Memorial Church of God in Christ in Philadelphia, PA under the pastorate of the late Mother Irene A. Oakley.
