Michelle Williams (singer)
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| Michelle Williams | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Tenitra Michelle Williams |
| Born | July 23, 1980 Rockford, Illinois, United States |
| Genre(s) | R&B, pop, gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, record producer, actress |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Label(s) | Columbia, Spirit Rising Music, Sanctuary |
| Associated acts | Destiny's Child, Beyoncé Knowles, Solange Knowles, Kelly Rowland |
| Website | MichelleWilliamsOnline.com |
Tenitra Michelle Williams (born July 23, 1980), commonly known as Michelle Williams, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She is better known for being one third of the hugely successful R&B girl group Destiny's Child, the best-selling female group of all time, according to the World Music Awards and Sony BMG.[1]
Originally a backing vocalist for singer Monica, Williams, alongside Farrah Franklin, joined Destiny's Child in 2000 replacing former members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson amidst much controversy. Following the departure of Franklin just five months later, Williams continued on with fellow members Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland as a trio. In 2002, after a series of commercial successes with the group, Williams released her debut solo album Heart to Yours, which became the biggest-selling gospel album of the year and spawned the single "Heard a Word." The album was followed by Do You Know in early 2004.
As well as having become a successful singer, Williams has also found success as a television and Broadway actress, yet she continues to return to the music. She is due to release her first commercial R&B album, Unexpected, on August 12, 2008.[2] Its first single, "We Break the Dawn", The single hit #18 as the most downloaded song on iTunes in June 2008.We Break The Dawn is the most highest position of any williams singles.On the week of June 7th 2008, "We Break the Dawn" featuring Flo Rida debuted at #47 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play in the first week in second week it debuted at number 38.
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[edit] Early life
Born July 23, 1980 in Rockford, Illinois and raised in a Christian family, Williams first began singing in her church's choir. She later sang in a musical group called United Harmony - first an octet, then a quintet and finally a quartet - with her sister Cameron. After attending Rockford Auburn High School and being a part of the C.A.P.A (Creative And Performing Arts) program there, she pursued a degree in Criminal justice at Illinois State University. After two years of school, she decided she wasn't sure of her career aspirations, and through a joke with a friend who was a musician for the singer Monica, Michelle Williams gained a spot as a Background singer on tour.
[edit] Recording and acting career
[edit] Beginnings the Destiny's Child
In 1998, Williams met Destiny's Child band members Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland in the lobby of an Atlanta hotel. Months later Beyoncé asked an acquaintance if he knew anyone who could sing for a possible spot with the group DC, and the person referred her to Michelle.
After much-publicized turmoil Williams—alongside Farrah Franklin—officially joined the group in early 2000, replacing LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson. Buoyed by the group's breakout success, Luckett and Roberson both had attempted to split with the group's manager in late 1990's, claiming that he kept a disproportionate share of the band's profits and unfairly favored to Knowles and Rowland.[3] The issue was heightened after Williams and Franklin appeared in the video of "Say My Name," implying that the orginal band members were already replaced.[3] Eventually, Luckett and Roberson departed; Franklin, however, faded from the group after five months, as evidenced by her absences during promotional appearances and concerts. Franklin attributed her departure to negative vibes in the group resulting from the strife.[3] After settling on this final lineup, the trior recorded "Independent Women Part I," which appeared on the soundtrack to the 2000 film Charlie's Angels. It became their best-charting single yet, topping the official U.S. singles chart for eleven consecutive weeks;[3] the success cemented the new lineup and skyrocketed them to fame.
Following the success of "Independent Women," Williams and Destiny's Child released the group’s third studio album Survivor. The album was released in May 2001, debuting at number one on U.S. Billboard 200 with 663,000 units sold.[4] Survivor has sold over ten million copies worldwide, 4.1 of which were sold in the U.S. alone.[5] The album spawned other number-one hits—"Bootylicious" and the title track, "Survivor", the latter of which earned the group a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. After releasing their holiday album, 8 Days of Christmas, the group announced their temporary break-up to pursue solo projects.[3]
[edit] Solo career development
While Williams was still with Destiny's Child, she intensified work on her debut solo album Heart to Yours. The album material comprised of collaborations with singers Carl Thomas, Shirley Caesar and the Mary Mary duo, taking the singer's work further into urban contemporary gospel and Christian music. "Some people will do gospel when their career fails, but I chose to do it at the height of the popularity of Destiny's Child," Williams explained during the album's release. "And I didn't want to do it because it was a fad. I wanted to do it because it's in me. It's in my heart."[6] Released on April 16, 2002 in North America, Williams became the first member of Destiny’s Child to release a any solo material with Heart to Yours. The album sold 17,000 in its first week, placing it at number 57 on the Billboard 200, number 3 on the Top Contemporary Christian tally and on top of the Top Gospel Albums chart.[7] It became the year's best-selling gospel album and has eventually sold more than 200,000 units stateside, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[8][9] A music video for the album’s first and only single, "Heard a Word," was produced by film director Sylvain White.
Following the release and promotion of Heart to Yours, Williams made her on-stage acting debut in 2003, replacing fellow R&B singer Toni Braxton in the title role of Aida, the hit Broadway musical with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice. She was the first and remains the only Destiny’s Child member to have acted on Broadway.
During the release of her fellow Destiny's Child members' debut albums Williams spent time in the studio, recording the new tracks for her sophomore effort. The album saw her generally re-teaming with the majority of all producers and songwriters off of her previous effort, also including Solange Knowles, Dawkins & Dawkins, and brother Erron Williams. However, released on January 26, 2004 in the United States, Do You Know reached a disappointing number 120 on the Billboard 200 chart only, barely selling 10,000 copies in its first week;[7] once again, Williams scored more success on the component charts, where the album debuted at at number 2 on the Top Gospel Albums chart and number 3 on the Top Christian Albums tally.[8] The album was later re-released, including previously unreleased songs, to find greater success but did not re-chart; it's same-titled lead single also failed to chart. As of March 2008, Do You Know has sold about 78,000 copies domestically.[10]
[edit] Destiny Fulfilled (2004) and hiatus
After the three-year journey that involved concentration on individual solo projects, Williams rejoined Knowles and Rowland for the band's fourth studio album Destiny Fulfilled, released in November 2004.[3] The album hit number two on the Billboard 200, and spawned the singles "Lose My Breath", "Soldier", "Girl" and "Cater 2 U".[11] In support of the album, Destiny's Child embarked on a 2005 Destiny Fulfilled ... And Lovin' It world tour, which started in April to September of the same year. On the Barcelona, Spain visit, the group announced their disbandment after their final North American leg would end.[12][3] In October 2005, the group released a compilation album, entitled #1's, including all of Destiny's Child's number-one hits and most of their well-known songs. The greatest hits collection also includes three new tracks, including the band's final single "Stand Up for Love," penned by David Foster. Destiny's Child was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in March 2006. They were also recognized as the world's best-selling female group of all time.[13]
Following Destiny's Child's disbandment in early 2006 Williams made her on-screen debut on the UPN comedy Half & Half, where she played the role of Naomi, a record company executive who is HIV positive. Later that year, she appeared as one of the celebrity singers on the FOX reality television show Celebrity Duets, duetting with actors Alfonso Ribeiro and Jai Rodriguez. Beginning in April 2007, Williams joined Oprah Winfrey's Chicago-based cast of the hit Broadway musical The Color Purple for its national tour, starting with an extended run at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Williams played the part of blues singer Shug Avery, for whose portrayal earned her positive reactions.
[edit] New projects
In March 2008, Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment revealed, that Williams will be releasing her third studio album, Unexpected, on August 12, 2008 in the U.S.[10] The album, which is confirmed to have 12 tracks, involves production by Stargate, Rico Love, the Heavyweights, Wayne Wilkins, Andrew Frampton and Soulshock & Karlin, among others. Its first single, "We Break the Dawn," received its first airing on People.com on March 31, 2008; Stargate-produced "Stop This Car" will be released as the its second.[10]
[edit] Philanthropy
In 2001, Williams gave $100,000 to her church, St. Paul Church of God in Christ in Rockford, Illinois to finish construction of the church's school, St. Paul Academy. The church is pastored by her uncle, Bishop James E. Washington. Songwriting legend David Foster, Amy Foster-Gillies and Beyoncé Knowles wrote Destiny's Child's last single "Stand Up For Love" for World Children's Day, an event which takes place annually around the world on November 20 to raise awareness and funds for children's causes worldwide. Over the past three years, more than $50 million has been raised to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities and other children's organizations.
Destiny's Child lent their voices and support as global ambassadors for the 2005 program. In this role, Knowles, Rowland and Williams visited Ronald McDonald Houses around the world during their Destiny Fulfilled...and Lovin' It World Tour and donated a portion of their North American ticket sales to Ronald McDonald House Charities.
On September 19, 2006, Williams jumpstarted the Chicago PepsiCo S.M.A.R.T. program to promote active, healthy lifestyles by building a new Smart Spot playground on Chicago's South Side. Williams, along with friend Lance Bass, was on hand to sing to and greet kids at the opening of Camp Heartland, a camp dedicated to helping kids suffering from HIV/AIDS enjoy life and take their mind off their illness.
In 2006 the Chicago Sky, a team in the Women's National Basketball Association, announced that Williams is part of a group of minority shareholder owners in the team. Her manager, Mathew Knowles, is also a part-owner of the Sky.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 2002: Heart to Yours
- 2004: Do You Know
- 2008: Unexpected
[edit] Acting
- Broadway
| Year | Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Aida | Aida |
| 2007 | The Color Purple (Tour) | Shug Avery |
- Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Half & Half | Naomi Dawson | (3 episodes) |
[edit] Awards and Nominations
| Year | Category | Recording | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOBO Awards | ||||
| 2003 | Best New Artist | "Heart to Yours" | Won | |
| Best Gospel Act | "Do You Know" | Nominated | ||
| 18th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards | ||||
| 2008 | Lead Female Actress | "The Color Purple" | Nominated | |
| The 2008 NewNowNext Awards | ||||
| 2008 | Best Female Artist | "We Break The Dawn" | Nominated | |
[edit] Endorsements
- 2005: Gap
- 2005: Walmart (with Destiny's Child)
- 2005: McDonald's (with Destiny's Child)
- 2008: "My Illinois" campaign
[edit] References
- ^ "Sony BMG Music. Retrieved December 28, 2006
- ^ Williams In A Dance Mood On Third Solo Disc
- ^ a b c d e f g Kaufman, Gil. "Destiny's Child's Long Road To Fame (The Song Isn't Called 'Survivor' For Nothing)", MTV News, (2005-06-13). Retrieved on 2008-04-13.
- ^ Todd, Martens. "Beyonce, Branch Albums Storm The Chart", Billboard, Nielsen Business Media, Inc., (2003-07-02). Retrieved on 2008-04-01.
- ^ Carpenter, Troy. "Destiny's Child Slapped With Infringement Suit", Billboard, Nielsen Business Media, Inc., (2003-10-22). Retrieved on 2008-04-01.
- ^ "Heart to Heart". Billboard. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
- ^ a b "Ask Billboard: Another Child of Destiny". Billboard. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
- ^ a b "Studio Album From Grammy-Winning Musical Artist Michelle Williams". d210. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
- ^ "Michelle Williams Back in the 'Know'". Billboard. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
- ^ a b c "Williams In A Dance Mood On Third Solo Disc". Billboard. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
- ^ Whitmire, Margo. "Eminem Thankful To Remain No. 1", Billboard, Nielsen Business Media, Inc, (2004-11-24). Retrieved on 2008-04-01.
- ^ Cohen, Jonathan. "Destiny's Child To Split After Fall Tour", Billboard, Nielsen Business Media, Inc, (2005-06-12). Retrieved on 2008-04-01.
- ^ Beyonce Knowles. TIME. Retrieved on 2008-04-12.
[edit] External links
- MichelleWilliamsOnline.com Official website
- Official MySpace
- ThatGrapeJuice.net Interviews Michelle Williams
- Michelle Williams (singer) at the Internet Movie Database
- Out.com interview
- February 20, 2006 Our Sports Central press release on Michelle becoming a part-owner of the Chicago Sky basketball team
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