Artist:Deniece Williams
Song:That's What Friends Are For
Album:This Is Niecy
In retrospect, Deniece Williams' 1984 smash Let's Hear It For The Boy probably wasn't the best thing for her singing career. It made her a pop singer and that's not who she is. She was born June Deniece Chandler June 3, 1951 in Gary, IN. She grew up singing in church and also studied jazz singers Carmen McRae & Nancy Wilson. Her cousin John Harris was Stevie Wonder's valet and got her an audition to be a backup singer. She worked for Stevie several years. If you think Deniece sounds like Minnie Ripperton, that's not an accident. Deniece was a huge fan and sang backup on the Wonder produced Loving You. She also learned a lot from Stevie's wife Syreeta Wright. Deniece sent a demo to Maurice White & Charles Stepney of Earth Wind & Fire and they signed her to their new label. This Is Niecy was her 1976 debut album. It's a great album and is really an EWF album but with a female lead singer. Free was a big hit and so was That's What Friends Are For. Columbia released This Is Niecy in 2005 with a bonus track. Her subsequent records took a more pop oriented direction probably because Charles Stepney died of a heart attack in 1976. After her big pop success in the 80s, she signed with Contemporary Christian label Sparrow. She has four kids so hasn't been that active in recent years. But a new CD was released in April called Love, Niecy Style on Shanachie Records. Stevie Wonder & George Duke guest star and the CD was produced by veteran guitarist Bobby Eli. I like Deniece Williams' early music but I don't like her 80s stuff. This Is Niecy is recommended. Here's Deniece Williams singing Amazing on Motown Live.
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