It’s the 74th birthday of one of the sweetest soprano voices in music – Deniece Williams.
Born June 3rd, 1950, Deniece Williams is a four-time Grammy Award winner who has produced a number of songs with messages from self-empowerment to party hits. Williams has had a nearly five-decade, genre-bending career. She spent a decade at the top of the soul charts and then another decade as a significant Gospel artist. In addition to R&B and gospel, the mom of four also dabbled in the disco and pop lanes.
A Gary, Indiana, native, Williams was weaned on the soul stylings of the late, great Minnie Riperton, who would later become a trusted mentor and friend to Williams.
Williams took a circuitous route to musical stardom. She attended Morgan State University in Baltimore to become a registered nurse and also worked as a ward clerk at Mercy Hospital in Chicago and at a telephone company while singing part-time in clubs.
While she did not intend to pursue a career in music, her emerging vocal talent brought her notice in the Chicago area and the opportunity to audition for Stevie Wonder in 1971. Wonder fell in love with her sweet, feminine voice, and hired her for what turned into a three-year stint as part of his vocal group, Wonderlove.
Williams performed vocals on Stevie’s all-time great albums, Talking Book, Fulfillingness’ First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life. Williams continued to perform vocals on the albums of revered artists including Syreeta Wright, Minnie Riperton. and Roberta Flack.
Making Her Mark
Williams’ career trajectory continued to soar. By 1976, she was signed as a solo artist to Columbia Records releasing her debut album, This Is Niecy, produced by Maurice White and legendary Charles Stepney. Together they introduced her singular artistry to the world with the powerful songs “Free,””It’s Important to Me” and the smooth “Cause You Love Me Baby.” Her debut album became an instant classic, landing at #3 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart.
She went on to produce other smash hits including “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late, (with Johnny Mathis)” “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle,” and “Never Say Never.”
Williams also had a partnership with Johnny Mathis that yielded the sitcom theme song for 1980s Family Ties.
In 1985, Williams appeared on the Grammy Awards. However instead of “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” the audience saw her singing an accapella version of “God Is Amazing.” It signalled the beginning of a significant career shift that established her as a Gospel star.
Williams has been nominated for 12 Grammys over the course of her career. She won four for: Best Female Soul Gospel Performance for “I Surrender All” and the Best Duo Gospel Performance for “They Say” (with Sandi Patti), Best Female Gospel Performance for “I Believe In You” and in 1999 scored another Grammy for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album with “This Is My Song.”
Nine years passed before her next release, Love, Niecy Style, on which she covered R&B classics spanning the ’60s, ’70s, and early ’80s.
Williams has made an indelible mark in music with her four-octave range and distinctive soprano voice. The songbird’s melodic songwriting and soft delivery allowed Williams to carve out a lane of her own. Though she is celebrating her 74th birthday, Williams continues to perform and act across stages.