Michelle Williams (singer): Difference between revisions
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===Background=== |
===Background=== |
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Williams was born in 1979. She was in the class of 1997. |
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Raised in a [[Christianity|Christian]] family, Williams learned to sing in her church's [[choir]]. She later sang in a musical [[quartet]] called United Harmony with sister Cameron. After attending [[Rockford Auburn High School|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]] while singing back-up for [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] star [[Monica (singer)|Monica]]. It was then that she gained the opportunity in becoming part of the what was soon to be global phenomenon of Destiny's Child. |
Raised in a [[Christianity|Christian]] family, Williams learned to sing in her church's [[choir]]. She later sang in a musical [[quartet]] called United Harmony with sister Cameron. After attending [[Rockford Auburn High School|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]] while singing back-up for [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] star [[Monica (singer)|Monica]]. It was then that she gained the opportunity in becoming part of the what was soon to be global phenomenon of Destiny's Child. |
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Revision as of 05:21, 14 November 2006
Template:Infobox musical artist 2
Tenitra Michelle Williams (born July 23, 1980 in Rockford, Illinois) is one-third of the R&B supergroup Destiny's Child. She is also a gospel singer and Broadway actress. She has won three Grammy Awards.
Background
Raised in a Christian family, Williams learned to sing in her church's choir. She later sang in a musical quartet called United Harmony with sister Cameron. After attending 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 while singing back-up for R&B star Monica. It was then that she gained the opportunity in becoming part of the what was soon to be global phenomenon of Destiny's Child.
Destiny's Child (2000-2005)
After much-publicized turmoil Williams officially joined the group in February 2000 replacing LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson. The first video she appeared in alongside co-founding members Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland and new 4th member Farrah Franklin 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 Farrah left the group. As a trio, Michelle and Destiny's Child continued their (what may have been surprising to some people, after a line of member changes and media-developed group conflict) rise to global superstardom with the 11-week Billboard #1 hit, Independent Women Part 1, featured on Destiny's Child's third studio album, Survivor, as well as the Charlie's Angels soundtrack. After three other Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits - the title-track Survivor (#2), Bootylicious (#1) and Emotion(#10) - and a massive tour, the group separated temporarily to pursue various solo endeavors.
After the three year hiatus that involved concentration on individual solo projects, Michelle rejoined Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland for Destiny's Child's fourth (and final) studio album, Destiny Fulfilled, released November 2004. The album hit #2 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the hits Lose My Breath, Soldier, Girl, and Cater 2 U. Destiny Fulfilled is without a doubt the album which best displays Williams vocals. The album title itself was a hint that Destiny Fulfilled may in fact be the last Destiny's Child album and indeed that was to be the case.
Williams and the other two-thirds of Destiny's Child embarked on a World Tour sponsored by McDonald's titled, Destiny Fulfilled and Lovin' It, in 2005, visiting over 70 cities throughout Australia, Asia, Middle East, Europe and North America from April to September. Shortly before the end of the European leg of the tour, at a concert in Barcelona, Spain, Kelly announced that the group was to go their separate ways the following September.
In October 2005, the group released their final album, entitled #1's, which included all of Destiny's Child's #1 hits and most well-known songs. The compilation went straight to the top of the Billboard Album Chart at #1. The greatest hits album also included 3 new tracks: Feel The Same Way I Do, Check On It, and the final single from Destiny's Child, Stand Up For Love.
In 2005 at the World Music Awards, Destiny's Child were given the award for the biggest selling girl group of all time with record sales of over 50 million.
Solo projects (2002-present)
After the release and promotion of Survivor, Williams became the first member to release a solo studio album. Her Gospel album, Heart To Yours , shot up to #1 on the Billboard Gospel Chart and became the biggest-selling Gospel album of 2002, making her the first member of Destiny's Child to do so; she then broke into acting with her starring role in the Broadway hit, Aida, replacing R&B singer Toni Braxton.
Following the success of her debut, Michelle released her sophomore album, entitled Do You Know, in 2004, featuring the single of the same name and a Destiny's Child Gospel track I Know. The album did not perform as well as her debut but did reach #2 on the Hot Christian Contemporary Album Chart and #3 on the Billboard Gospel Chart.
The lesser performance of Do You Know may have been due to the increasing criticism of Williams, by some devout Christian groups, who were against the fact that she was both a solo artist partaking in Gospel music and an R&B artist as part of the globally successful secular group Destiny's Child. Williams' second album also produced a different sound from the debut, with more R&B tinged beats and stronger vocals from Michelle.
Michelle's new and upcoming LP features tracks written by her and she has recorded two or three songs recently.
Other Activities and Ventures
- Williams received rave reviews after replacing Toni Braxton in the lead role of Aida on Broadway in November 2003.
- In the Autumn of 2005, Williams signed a deal to endorse and appear in commercials for The Gap, where she appeared alongside other musical stars including Joss Stone, John Legend and Alanis Morissette among others.
- Michelle also made her on-screen debut in February 2006 on the popular UPN comedy Half&Half, where she played the role of a record company executive called Naomi, who is HIV positive. She appeared in 3 recurring episodes, giving Williams the acting bug - much like her fellow DC members - after having such a great experience on set.
- On February 20, 2006, the Chicago Sky, a team in the Women's National Basketball Association, announced that Michelle is part of a group of minority shareholder owners in the team. In addition, her manager, Mathew Knowles, is also a part-owner of the Sky.
- On April 2, Michelle opened up World Wrestling Entertainment's annual pay-per-view Wrestlemania by singing America the Beautiful.
- On August 29, 2006 Michelle appeared on on the debut show of Celebrity Duets as a Celebrity singer along with actors that are also amateur singers. She sung "I Knew You Were Waiting" with Alfonso Ribeiro and "Say My Name" with Jai Rodriguez.
- On September 19, 2006, Michelle 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.
Future
Michelle's manager, Matthew Knowles, confirmed that she is due to start working on her third studio album sometime in 2006 which will see her venture away from her previous Gospel material and head along a more commercial Soul/R&B route, a direction which she has experienced successfully throughout her time as a member of Destiny's Child. In a recent interview she said, "This album will still have an inspirational twist, but it will be R&B." The album is expected to be released in mid 2007. Rumours over the Internet have suggested the name of the new album will be 'Phoenix' but the fact that Michelle has barely started work on the album so far is a clear indication that it's unlikely any kind of album title has been selected.
Solo Discography
Albums
- 2002 Heart To Yours - #1 Top Gospel Albums; #57 Billboard 200 (300,000)
- 2004 Do You Know - #3 Top Gospel Albums; #120 Billboard 200 (150,000)
- 2007 TBR
Singles
From Heart To Yours:
- 2002: "Heard A Word"
From Do You Know:
- 2004: "Do You Know"
Other tracks
From Soundtrack Urban Night:
- 2003: "Will You Still Love Me"
From Soundtrack Roll Bounce:
- 2005: "Let's Stay Together" - also appears on the GAP Favorites
Acting
Broadway
TV
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, his Amy Foster-Gillies and Beyonce 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, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle 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, Michelle 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.
Trivia
- She has been romantically linked to Curtis Martin and Gary Baxter.
- Michelle, like former Destiny's Child members, Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and Letoya, has had a #1 solo album.
- She is the oldest member of Destiny's Child.
- Michelle Williams is also the name of an American actress who is known for her role in Dawson's Creek, for which the abbreviation is also 'DC'. She was born in exactly the same year as Williams, the singer.
External links
- Michelle's Myspace(Yes this is really her and not an imposter)
- Michelle Williams Online (Official)
- Michelle Williams Official Fan Club (Official)
- Destiny's Child (Official)
- Destiny's Child Official Fan Club (Official)
- Michelle Williams at IMDb
- Michelle Web - A Michelle Williams Fan Site (unofficial)
- Out.com interview
- February 20, 2006 Our Sports Central press release on Michelle becoming a part-owner of the Chicago Sky basketball team