Michelle Williams (singer)
Michelle Williams |
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Michelle Williams (born Tenitra Michelle Williams on July 23rd, 1980) is an American R&B and Gospel singer. She is most famous 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 SonyBMG.[1]
Originally a backing vocalist for R&B 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 5 months later, Williams continued on with fellow member Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland as a trio to become a global R&B super group they are better known as. She has received 3 Grammy Awards and several number one singles (including Independent Women and Survivor) as a member of Destiny’s Child and has released 2 solo Gospel albums to date: Heart To Yours (2002) and Do You Know (2004).
As well as having become a successful singer, Williams has also found success as a songwriter and television and Broadway actress, yet she continues to return to the music. She is due to release her first commercial R&B album, Unexpected, in the summer of 2008. Its first single, We Break The Dawn, will precede the album in early summer.
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. She met Kelly and Beyoncé 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. It was then that she gained the opportunity to become apart of what was soon to become the global phenomenon, Destiny's Child.
Beginnings with Destiny's Child
After much-publicized turmoil Williams officially joined the group in February 2000, replacing LeToya Luckett. The first video she appeared in alongside co-founding members Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland and fellow new member Farrah Franklin (who replaced LaTavia Roberson) was Say My Name, shot just a few days after she joined the group. Subsequent events saw the new quartet reduced to a trio when Franklin too left the group after just five months. As a part of the trio, Williams tasted her first success with the group when their song Independent Women, from the Charlie’s Angels Soundtrack, hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart for eleven weeks. Following the success of Independent Women, Williams and Destiny’s Child released the group’s third studio album Survivor which also went to number one, and three more Top Ten hits - Survivor, Bootylicious and Emotion -, including another Hot 100 number one single -Bootylicious - ensued. Having now become a trans-Atlantic and global phenomenon with Survivor sales of around eight million worldwide and their first World Tour behind them, the group released remix and Christmas-themed albums - This Is The Remix and 8 Days of Christmas - towards the end of 2001. At the end of the year Destiny’s Child announced they would take a temporary break to follow individual solo endeavours.
Solo Career (2002-2004)
Heart to Yours
In 2002 Williams began to pursue her solo career and became the first member of Destiny’s Child to release a solo studio album. Her debut album, the Gospel effort Heart to Yours, was released on April 16th and entered the Billboard Gospel Chart at number one, eventually becoming the biggest-selling Gospel album of 2002. It reached #57 on the Billboard 200 Chart. The album boasted collaborations with several prominent Gospel acts including Mary Mary and Shirley Caesar, and was the first time fans had the opportunity to fully appreciate Williams vocal abilities outside of Destiny’s Child. A video for the album’s first and only single, Heard A Word, was also made. To date the album has sold 480,000 copies in the US.
Following the release and promotion of Heart To Yours, in 2003 Williams made her acting debut after gaining the starring role in the hit Broadway musical, Aida, replacing R&B singer Toni Braxton. She was the first and remains the only Destiny’s Child member to have acted on Broadway.
Do You Know
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During the release of her fellow Destiny’s Child members’ debut albums - Kelly Rowland’s Simply Deep (2002/2003) and Beyoncé Knowles’ Dangerously in Love (2003) - Williams spent time in the studio recording the tracks for her sophomore album. Following the success of her debut, Williams released her second album, Do You Know, on January 26th 2004. The album did not perform as well as her debut, reaching only #120 on the Billboard 200 Chart, but did reach number two on the Hot Christian Contemporary Album Chart and number three on the Billboard Gospel Chart. It has sold 378,000 copies in the US to date. The album’s first and only single, also entitled Do You Know, was released and performed by Williams during the promotion campaign of the album. Do You Know explored different sounds from the debut album, with more R&B-tinged beats and a step up in Williams‘ vocal ability. The album was later re-released to find greater success but did not re-chart. Its lesser performance of may have been due to the increasing criticism of Williams by some Christian groups, including Sean Okundaye, who were against the fact that she was both a solo artist partaking in Gospel music, and an R&B artist performing songs such as Bootylicious.
Destiny's Child: The Reunion (2004-2005-2008)
The Possible 2008 Reunion
Former Destiny’s Child star Kelly Rowland has hinted a reunion may be in the group’s future. Referring to her former band members, Beyonce and Michelle Williams, she says, “We listen to each other’s songs and offer constructive criticism. We went our separate ways because we’re getting older and have different personal goals. But we might get back together one day. For now, we’re giving each other space.” Beyonce also stated "It would be a great thing for us but we are all enjoying great success as solo acts. I think it would be wrong for us to promise a return but also wrong for us to deny there will be one."
Solo Career (2005-present)
Television
In late 2005, Williams signed a deal to endorse and appear in commercials for The Gap’s “What’s Your Favourite?” campaign , where she appeared alongside other musical stars including Joss Stone, John Legend and Alanis Morissette. During the campaign she released a minor video-clip linked with the endorsement - her cover version of Al Green's soul classic Let's Stay Together.
In February 2006, Williams made her on-screen debut on the popular UPN comedy Half & Half, where she played the role of Naomi, a record company executive who is HIV positive. She appeared in three recurring episodes, giving Williams the acting bug – much like her fellow Destiny's Child members – after having such a great experience on set. Her performance was greatly received by fans of Destiny’s Child. Later in the year, in August of 2006, Williams appeared as one of the celebrity singers on the FOX reality television show Celebrity Duets. She sang "I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)" with Alfonso Ribeiro and one of her group’s biggest hits, Say My Name, with Jai Rodriguez.
'The Color Purple'
Beginning in April 2007, Williams joined the cast of the hit Broadway musical 'The Color Purple' for its national tour, starting with an extended run at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. Williams played the part of Shug Avery, a sexy singer, and appeared alongside La Toya London - an American Idol finalist - and members of the original Broadway cast, Felicia P. Fields and Jeannette Bayardelle. Williams’ stint lasted the duration of the national tour, including the stops in Chicago and San Francisco, right up until the first quarter of 2008 when the tour ended. The reviews for Williams were all positive.
Unexpected
In March 2008 Music World Entertainment/Columbia revealed via Billboard.com that Williams will be releasing her 3rd studio album, Unexpected, in August 2008. The album, confirmed to have 10 tracks, is a “…pop and dance record…a clear move away from Gospel-leaning direction of 2004’s Do You Know…and will boast productions from Stargate, Rico Love, the Heavyweights, Wayne Wilkins, Andrew Frampton and SoulShock & Karl.” The album’s first single, We Break The Dawn, will precede the album and will receive its first airing on People.com on 31st March 2008. It is expected that the album’s second single will be the Stargate-produced Stop This Car.
From Michelle Myspace.com
What up family!!!! How r y’all doin?
Me? I’m glad you asked!!! LOLLLL.......Anyhoo....i decided to extend my time with The Color Purple of 2 extra weeks!!! We’re in Tempe, AZ!!! I love it in Phoenix! I have friends and family here...plus it’s my vacation at the same time!!!! Well one of ’em!!! I know you guys want album news, RIGHT???
Okay....I did my photo shoot a couple weeks ago in NY!!!! All I can say is......snap for the kids!!!! I’m happy about my new look!!!! You’ll see it verrrrrry soon!!!
So Break The Dawn and Unexpected have been teased to you guys!! Now that I knew about!!! LOL.......I just wanted to give you a small appetizer that’ll hold you over until the main course!!! Stop This Car was just a pre-appetizer!!!
It’s amazing how this album came together!!! I’m finally done recording it!!! The artist had to step away from the canvas and look at what she had.....when she saw that what she had was great.....she did like Jesus and said "it is finished!!!"
I read the comments on YouTube and of course on Myspace and again I must say that you guys are very encouraging! You guys are the best!!! Now when my album comes out I want the same ones clappin...to be the first on Itunes, Walmart, etc.....gettin the album!!!!! LOLLLLLL.........I know y’all won’t let me down!!!!
The album will be released worldwide by the summer!! I will have a definite release date hopefully next week!! Oooooops.....one more thing!!! There’s a Stop This Car remix that people are hearing!!! It aint nuthin official....trrrrrrust me!!!!!!!
Peace out sugarlumps!!!!!!!
Michelle Williams
Discography
Studio Albums
- Heart to Yours (2002)
- Do You Know (2004)
- Unexpected (2008)[2]
Compilation Albums
- Heart to Yours/Do You Know (2006)
Singles
| Title | Album | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Heard A Word | Heart To Yours | 2002 |
| Do You Know | Do You Know | 2004 |
| We Break The Dawn | Unexpected | 2008 |
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) |
Awards
| Year | Category | Recording | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOBO Awards | ||||
| 2003 | Best New Artist | "Heart to Yours" | Nominated | |
| Best Gospel Act | "Heart to Yours" | Won | ||
| Grammy Awards | ||||
| 2003 | Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | "Survivor" | Won | |
| 2001 | Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | "Say My Name" | Won | |
| "Best R&B Song" | "Say My Name" | Won | ||
Endorsements
- 2005: Gap
- 2005: Walmart (with Destiny's Child)
- 2005: McDonald's (with Destiny's Child)
- 2008: "My Illinois" campaign
Philanthropy and Trivia
- 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.
References
External links
- MichelleWilliamsOnline.com (Official website)
- Official MySpace
- Please use a more specific IMDb template. See the documentation for available templates.
- Out.com interview
- February 20, 2006 Our Sports Central press release on Michelle becoming a part-owner of the Chicago Sky basketball team
- 1980 births
- African-American actors
- African-American female singers
- African-American singer-songwriters
- American actor-singers
- American female singers
- American gospel singers
- American musical theatre actors
- American rhythm and blues singers
- American television actors
- Destiny's Child members
- Illinois actors
- Illinois musicians
- Illinois State University alumni
- Living people
- People from Rockford, Illinois
- Performers of Christian music