Michelle Williams

Administrator Data inscrierii: 21/Mai/2007 Mesaje: 492

Michelle Williams (born Tenitra Michelle Williams on July 23, 1980) is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B/Gospel singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress, who was a background singer for Monica, who then rose to fame as one a member of the successful musical group Destiny's Child, the world's best-selling female group of all time. Michelle has won three Grammy Awards with Destiny's Child and is currently playing the character Shug Avery in the play "The Color Purple".

Background

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 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 while singing back-up for R&B star Monica.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 DC, and the person referred her to Michelle 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 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 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". Destiny Fulfilled is the Destiny's Child album which best displays Williams' vocals, giving her a somewhat larger singing role as oppose 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 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, 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 sophomore 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.

The lesser performance of Do You Know may have been due to the increasing criticism of Williams by some Christian groups, 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.

Other activities and ventures

* Williams received rave reviews after replacing Toni Braxton in the lead role of Aida on Broadway in November 2003.

* 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.

* Williams also made her on-screen debut in February 2006 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.

* On February 20, 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. In addition, her manager, Mathew Knowles, is also a part-owner of the Sky.

* On April 2, 2006, Williams opened World Wrestling Entertainment's WrestleMania 22 by singing "America the Beautiful".

* On August 29, 2006 Williams 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.

* 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 wrote a song for Kelly Rowland titled "You Will Win" which appears on Spirit Rising Vols. 1 & 2.

* Michelle Williams is set to play Shug Avery in the touring adaption of "The Color Purple", alongside American Idol finalist Latoya London as Nettie, which starts touring April 17,2007.

Future

Williams' manager, Matthew Knowles, confirmed that she is due to start working on her third studio album sometime in 2007 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 the end of 2007. Rumours over the Internet have suggested the name of the new album will be Phoenix but the fact that Williams has barely started work on the album so far is a clear indication that it is unlikely any kind of album title has been selected.

[edit] The Color Purple

A national tour of The Color Violet 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.

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.

Administrator Data inscrierii: 21/Mai/2007 Mesaje: 492

Michelle Williams' Discography [solo]

Heart to Yours

* Released: April 16, 2002
* Billboard 200: #2
* Billboard R&B/Hip Hop: 17
* U.S. Gospel: #1
* RIAA Certification: Gold
* WW Certification: Platinum
* U.S. sales: 480,000
* Worldwide Sales: 1,000,000

Michelle Williams Michelle Williams

Personnel

* Sean Dancy - keyboard
* Eric Darken - percussion
* Israel Embry - keyboard
* Barry Green - trombone
* John Hammond - drums
* Criss Johnson - guitar
* Chris Kent - bass
* Sam Levine - saxophone
* Michael E. Mathis - piano
* Steve Patrick - trumpet
* Maurice Rodgers - organ, keyboard
* Shavoni - bass, drums
* Eric Walls - guitar
Heart To Yours is the solo debut album by American singer Michelle Williams, released on April 16, 2002 via Sancutary/Columbia Records. The album peaked at #1 on the Billboard Gospel charts and spawned the single "Heard A Word". It's her biggest selling album to date with 480,000 copies sold in the U.S.

Administrator Data inscrierii: 21/Mai/2007 Mesaje: 492

Do You Know

Do You Know is the sophomore album by American singer Michelle Williams, released on January 26, 2004 via Sancutary/Columbia Records. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard Gospel charts and spawned a same-titled single. The album was re-released on January 24, 2005, including two new tracks. The album has so far sold nearly 150,000 copies in the U.S.

Michelle Williams Michelle Williams

Re-released edition cover
Michelle Williams Michelle Williams

Administrator Data inscrierii: 21/Mai/2007 Mesaje: 492

Heart To Yours/Do You Know: Music World Master Series

* Released: October 24, 2006
Michelle Williams Michelle Williams

Administrator Data inscrierii: 21/Mai/2007 Mesaje: 492

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