Michelle Williams (singer)
Michelle Williams |
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Michelle Williams (born Tenitra Michelle Williams on July 23, 1980) is an American gospel and R&B singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer who was a background singer for Monica, before rising to fame as one-third of the successful Grammy Award-winning musical group Destiny's Child. She began her career with Destiny's Child as a replacement for LeToya and LaTavia, singing on the tour for "The Writings On The Wall". Eventually as the quartet transformed into a trio, her celebrity was shed in the limelight. As a part of the group, she released hits including, "Independent Woman Part I", "Survivor", "Bootylicious", and "Lose My Breath". With her gospel-infused and folk-like vocals, she received the more emotional verses of Destiny's Child songs, including the Bridges or Uptempo of the songs.
Background
Born July 23,1980 in Rockford, IL and raised in a Christian family, Williams first began singing in her church's choir. She later sang in a musical quartet called United Harmony 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 Beyonce in the lobby of an Atlanta hotel. Months later Beyonce 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. Michelle is currently dating producer/songwriter Justin Wooten of Next Selection Inc.
Destiny's Child (2000 – 2005)
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 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. As a trio, Williams and Destiny's Child continued their success 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; "Survivor" (#2), "Bootylicious" (#1), and "Emotion" (#10), and a successful tour, the group separated temporarily to pursue various solo endeavors. This included Williams solo gospel album, which went gold in the U.S.
After the three-year hiatus that involved concentration on individual solo projects, Williams 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". The album Destiny Fulfilled displays Williams' vocals more far more prominetly than past projects, giving the her a somewhat larger singing role as opposed to mostly one-liners and backing vocals. The album title itself was a hint that Destiny Fulfilled may in fact be the last Destiny's Child album, however, there is now speculation to the contrary.
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, Rowland 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, as well as singles that didn't hit number one. The compilation went straight to the top of the Billboard Album Chart peaking at #1. The greatest hits album also included three new tracks, including the final single from Destiny's Child, "Stand Up For Love".
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 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, Williams released her second album, 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. That same year Michelle Williams hosted the Annual Stellar Awards, honoring achievements in gospel music, which aired on WBn network.
The lesser performance of Do You Know 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 singing secular music such as "Bootylicious". Williams' second album also produced a different sound from the debut album, with more R&B-tinged beats and stronger vocals from Williams. The album was re-released to find greater success but did not re-chart.
According to the website of The Color Purple, the tour cast announced that Michelle Williams of Destiny's Child fame will play the saucy Shug Avery in The Color Purple tour which kicks off in Chicago on May 3, 2007 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre and American Idol Season 3 frontrunner, LaToya London, will play Nettie. The two stars join a cast including Jeannette Bayardelle (Celie) and Patricia P. Fields (Sophia) coming straight off their success in the Broadway production. The director notably stated that he chose Michelle Williams because the character "Shug" required a demeanor of having "seen the world", and Michelle, exemplifying Shug-like vocals and personality fit the part perfectly.
Williams has finished recording her third studio album scheduled for release in early May. Williams is rumored to be working with Darkchild, Stargate and Timbaland. Williams has confirmed through her official Myspace page that her lead single will be Stop This Car with a snippet available through her Myspace page. Songs "Break The Dawn" and "Unexpected" clips have recently been leaked to the internet.
Past Projects
In late 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, she also released a minor video-clip using this endorsement for her cover version of Al Green's Let's Stay Together.
In February 2006, Michelle 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 DC members – after having such a great experience on set. Same year 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. In addition, her manager, Mathew Knowles, is also a part-owner of the Sky. She opened World Wrestling Entertainment's WrestleMania 22 by singing "America the Beautiful" and later appeared on the debut show of Celebrity Duets as a Celebrity singer along with actors that are also amateur singers. She sang "I Knew You Were Waiting (for Me)" with Alfonso Ribeiro and "Say My Name" with Jai Rodriguez. In 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.
In the start of 2007 a song wrote and co-produced by Williams for her groupmate Kelly Rowland titled "You Will Win" appeared on Spirit Rising Vols. 1 & 2 released through Spirit Rising Music label, which Williams is also the co-founder. She is currently playing Shug Avery in the touring adaptation of "The Color Purple", alongside American Idol finalist Latoya London as Nettie.
The Color Purple
A national tour of The Color Purple has begun April 17, 2007, after an extended run at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. The company includes LaToya London as Nettie, Michelle Williams as Shug Avery, Felicia P. Fields as Sofia, and Jeannette Bayardelle as Celie. Bayardelle and Fields both are reprising their roles from Broadway. Incidentally, Williams, Bayardelle, and Fields are all Chicago natives. Williams has received only positive reviews.
The touring cast also includes Rufus Bonds, Jr. as Mister; Stu James as Harpo; Stephanie St. James as Squeak; Lynette Dupree, Kimberly Ann Harris and Virginia Ann Woodruff as the Church Ladies; Bridgette Bentley as the Church Soloist; and Adam Wade as Ol’ Mister.
Albums
| Information |
|---|
| Heart to Yours |
Do You Know
|
Heart to Yours/Do You Know
|
| TBA |
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 | ||
Singles
| Year | Single | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "Heard a Word" | Heart to Yours |
| 2002 | "Steal Away To Jesus" | |
| 2003 | "Better Place" | |
| 2004 | "Do You Know" | Do You Know |
| 2004 | "Love Thang" | |
| 2005 | "It's Good To Be Here" | |
| 2005 | "Let's Stay Together" | Roll Bounce soundtrack |
| 2008 | "Stop This Car" | Upcoming Album 2008 |
Tours
- National Tour with Luther Vandross and Angie Stone (2004)
- Heart To Yours US Tour - 2002 (A 5 Times Sold-Out Tour in United Kingdom)
- Do You Know World Tour - 2003 (A 3 Times Sold-Out Tour in Parts of The World)
- TBA
Acting
Broadway musicals
| Year | Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Aida | Aida |
| 2007 | The Color Purple (Tour) | Shug Avery |
TV
Videos
| Year | Title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Stop This Car | Michelle Williams |
| 2007 | Get Me Bodied | Beyoncé |
| 2004 | Do You Know | Michelle Williams |
| 2002 | Whats going on | Various artists [Destiny's Child] |
| 2002 | Heard A Word | Michelle Williams |
| 2001 | Izzo (H.O.V.A.) | Jay-Z |
Endorsements
- 2005:Gap
- 2005:Walmart (With Destiny's Child)
- 2005:McDonald's (With Destiny's Child)
- 2008:"My Illinois" campaign
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.
External links
- Michelle's myspace
- Michelle Williams Online (Official)
- Destiny's Child (Official)
- 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
- "My Illinois" campaign
- 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
- Members of girl groups