Deniece Williams
Deniece Williams came to the attention of Soul fans towards the tail end of 1976, with the release of her excellent album, 'This Is Niecy'.
During her childhood, Deniece sang in a Pentecostal Gospel Choir.
By the late 1960's she was recording for the Chicago based Toddlin' Town label under the name of Deniece Chandler.
'I Don't Wanna Cry'
Her debut 45 was 'Love Is Tears' b/w 'Walking Away', others included the ballad, 'I Don't Wanna Cry' b/w 'Good Bye, Cruel World' (Toddlin Town 118) in 1969.
She also recorded for the Lock imprint at that time.
In addition to her musical activities, Deniece trained for the medical profession as a nurse at Baltimore's Morgan State College.
Spotted by Stevie Wonder she was hired by him, in 1972, joining his Wonderlove vocal backing group.
Deniece added her vocal input to four of the man's albums before departing that stable in order to pursue a solo career.
Signing to Columbia, she released, the aforementioned, 'This Is Niecy', an album produced by Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire, for his Kalimba imprint.
The album included the U.K. hits 'That's What Friends Are For' and the number 1 song 'Free' (part penned by ex Supreme Susaye Green) which was later revived in 1990 by British group BEF for their 'Music Of Quality & Distinction Vol II' album of cover versions.
In 1977, the album 'Song Bird' was released, and featured the number 13 single 'Baby, Baby My Love's All for You.'
The following year, Deniece teamed up with Johnny Mathis for the ballad 'Too Much, Too Little, Too Late'.
This was followed by an album of duets by the couple entitled, 'That's What Friends Are For'.
Deniece then relocated to Maurice White's own label, ARC, for two releases.
In 1981, 'My Melody' contained the ballad 'Silly' and 'It's Your Conscience', which were highly popular amongst Soul fans.
She then recorded her own version of the 1965 song 'It's Gonna Take A Miracle', produced by Thom Bell, returning her to the U.S. Top 10 in 1982 (taken from the album 'Niecy' on CBS).
1983 saw the release of the album 'I'm So Proud', the set being produced by the Fusion artist George Duke.
Deniece then recorded the song, 'Let's Hear It For The Boy', a track originally made for the soundtrack of the 1984 film 'Footloose', the song topping the charts that year.
Deniece left secular music from time to time, appealing mainly to the R & B audience's.
During her childhood, Deniece sang in a Pentecostal Gospel Choir.
By the late 1960's she was recording for the Chicago based Toddlin' Town label under the name of Deniece Chandler.
'I Don't Wanna Cry'
Her debut 45 was 'Love Is Tears' b/w 'Walking Away', others included the ballad, 'I Don't Wanna Cry' b/w 'Good Bye, Cruel World' (Toddlin Town 118) in 1969.
She also recorded for the Lock imprint at that time.
In addition to her musical activities, Deniece trained for the medical profession as a nurse at Baltimore's Morgan State College.
Spotted by Stevie Wonder she was hired by him, in 1972, joining his Wonderlove vocal backing group.
Deniece added her vocal input to four of the man's albums before departing that stable in order to pursue a solo career.
Signing to Columbia, she released, the aforementioned, 'This Is Niecy', an album produced by Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire, for his Kalimba imprint.
The album included the U.K. hits 'That's What Friends Are For' and the number 1 song 'Free' (part penned by ex Supreme Susaye Green) which was later revived in 1990 by British group BEF for their 'Music Of Quality & Distinction Vol II' album of cover versions.
In 1977, the album 'Song Bird' was released, and featured the number 13 single 'Baby, Baby My Love's All for You.'
The following year, Deniece teamed up with Johnny Mathis for the ballad 'Too Much, Too Little, Too Late'.
This was followed by an album of duets by the couple entitled, 'That's What Friends Are For'.
Deniece then relocated to Maurice White's own label, ARC, for two releases.
In 1981, 'My Melody' contained the ballad 'Silly' and 'It's Your Conscience', which were highly popular amongst Soul fans.
She then recorded her own version of the 1965 song 'It's Gonna Take A Miracle', produced by Thom Bell, returning her to the U.S. Top 10 in 1982 (taken from the album 'Niecy' on CBS).
1983 saw the release of the album 'I'm So Proud', the set being produced by the Fusion artist George Duke.
Deniece then recorded the song, 'Let's Hear It For The Boy', a track originally made for the soundtrack of the 1984 film 'Footloose', the song topping the charts that year.
Deniece left secular music from time to time, appealing mainly to the R & B audience's.
Tracklisting:
A1 Do What You Feel (4:24)
A2 I'm So Proud (3:55)
A3 So Deep In Love (4:22) Featuring - Johnny Mathis
A4 I'm Glad It's You (3:28)
B1 Heaven In Your Eyes (4:54)
B2 They Say (7:10)
B3 Love, Peace And Unity (5:36)
B4 It's Okay (5:26)
A2 I'm So Proud (3:55)
A3 So Deep In Love (4:22) Featuring - Johnny Mathis
A4 I'm Glad It's You (3:28)
B1 Heaven In Your Eyes (4:54)
B2 They Say (7:10)
B3 Love, Peace And Unity (5:36)
B4 It's Okay (5:26)
