Beau Williams

Last updated

Beau Williams
Born (1950-01-06) January 6, 1950 (age 72)
Houston, Texas, United States [1]
Genres Gospel, R&B
Occupation(s)Vocalist/singer,
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1982–present
Labels Light, Capitol

Beau Williams (born January 6, 1950) [1] is an American gospel singer from Texas. Through Light Records he released an album Wonderful, which reached a number two on the Billboard Gospel charts. [2]

Contents

Musical career

Early years

Williams grew up in Houston, Texas, [1] the son of a Baptist preacher and choir director. [3] Williams began as a regular on a live television show and had a regional hit record as Bobo Mr Soul, in his hometown of Houston, Texas whilst still a teenager. He appeared on Star Search in 1984 (where he defeated the thirteen-week-long champion Sam Harris). [4]

Recording career

Williams' albums with Capitol Records include a self-titled album in 1982, Stay with Me (1983), Bodacious! (1984), No More Tears (1986). "C'est La Vie", track 3 on his 1984 album, was later covered in 1986 by singer-songwriter Robbie Nevil, who also co-wrote the song in 1984.

After his third Capitol release, Williams signed with Light Records and returned to his roots in Gospel music. Summing up ten of his career highlights in the gospel field, The Best of Beau Williams was issued in 1995. [3]

His 1989 project, "Wonderful" [5] debuted at the number nine spot on Billboard's chart, landed at two, and stayed in the top ten family for fifty eight consecutive weeks. In the meantime, it earned a Dove Award for "Song of the Year", and Grammy, [6] Stellar, and James Cleveland Award nominations.

Williams' recent releases include 2005's "Visions" & 2002's "The Greatest Gift". His other recordings include Higher, Love, Power, They Need to Know, Covenant Brothers, and This Christmas.

Other appearances

He was an anthem singer for the Los Angeles Lakers for six years, and has also performed for the Texas Rangers (MLB), Dallas Cowboys (NFL), and Houston Rockets (NBA). Beau Williams regularly appeared on Robert Tilton's Success-N-Life television program, which aired on BET from 1997 to 2007; and also appears periodically on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), a religious broadcasting network.

Discography

Albums

YearAlbumLabelPeak chart positions
US R&B
[2]
US Gospel
[2]
1982Beau Williams Capitol Records
1983Stay with Me
1984Bodacious!56
1986No More Tears48
1989Wonderful Light Records 2
1990Higher5
1992Love20
1994Power32
1995This ChristmasElbeau Records
2006The Greatest Love43
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

[7]

Singles

YearSingle US R&B
[2]
1982"If You're Ready"
"I Can't Wait 'till Summertime"
1983"Elvina"
"You've Been"
1984"Don't Say No"
"You Are the One"64
1986"There's Just Something About You"38
"All Because of You"94
"Give Me Up"
"Been Too Long"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Related Research Articles

Michael W. Smith American musician and songwriter

Michael Whitaker Smith is an American musician who has charted in both contemporary Christian and mainstream charts. His biggest success in mainstream music was in 1991 when "Place in This World" hit No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Over the course of his career, he has sold more than 18 million albums.

The Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Male or Female was an award presented at the 32nd Annual Grammy Awards in 1990 for quality soul gospel performances. The Grammy Awards, an annual ceremony that was established in 1958, and originally called the Gramophone Awards, are presented by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to: "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".

Shirley Caesar American gospel singer, evangelist

Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams, known professionally as Shirley Caesar, is an American gospel singer whose career has spanned seven decades. She has won 11 Grammys in addition to Dove Awards and Stellar Awards; Caesar is known as the "First Lady of Gospel Music" and "The Queen of Gospel Music". She began recording with Federal Records at the age of 12 in 1951.

Kirk Franklin American choir director and singer-songwriter from Texas

Kirk Dewayne Franklin is an American choir director, gospel singer, dancer, songwriter, and author. He is best known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC) among many others. He has won numerous awards, including 16 Grammy Awards. Variety dubbed Franklin as a "Reigning King of Urban Gospel", and is one of the inaugural inductees into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.

The Winans family is a U.S. family of gospel music artists from Detroit, Michigan.

Deniece Williams is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. Williams has been described as "one of the great soul voices" by the BBC. She is best known for the songs "Free", "Silly", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle" and two Billboard Hot 100 No.1 singles "Let's Hear It for the Boy" and "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late". Williams has won four Grammys with twelve nominations altogether.

CeCe Winans American singer

Priscilla Marie Winans Love, known professionally as CeCe Winans, is an American gospel singer. She rose to prominence as a member of the duo BeBe & CeCe Winans; before launching an acclaimed solo career. Winans has been awarded 15 Grammy Awards, the most for a female gospel singer; and 28 GMA Dove Awards, 16 Stellar Awards, 7 NAACP Image Awards, along with many other awards and honors to her credit. Winans is considered to be one of the greatest gospel artists of all time, the most-awarded gospel artist of all time, and is the best-selling gospel act of all time.

James Cleveland American musician

James Edward Cleveland was an American gospel singer, musician, and composer. Known as the King of Gospel, Cleveland was a driving force behind the creation of the modern gospel sound by incorporating traditional black gospel, soul, pop, and jazz in arrangements for mass choirs. Throughout his career, Cleveland appeared on hundreds of recordings and earned four Grammy Awards. He was the first gospel musician to earn a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1984. For his trailblazing accomplishments, he is regarded by many as one of the greatest gospel singers who ever lived. He is best known for his gospel classics "Lord, Help Me to Hold Out", "Peace Be Still", "I Don't Feel No Ways Tired", “Where Is Your Faith", "The Love of God", "God Has Smiled on Me", and his rendition of Gladys Knight & The Pips' "You're the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me."

The Clark Sisters are an American gospel vocal group consisting of five sisters: Jacky Clark Chisholm, Denise "Niecy" Clark-Bradford, Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark, Dorinda Clark-Cole, and Karen Clark Sheard. The Clark Sisters are the daughters of gospel musician and choral director Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. They are credited for helping to bring gospel music to the mainstream and are considered pioneers of contemporary gospel.

Kelly Price American singer

Kelly Cherelle Price is an American R&B and gospel singer. She started her singing career in 1992. Price originally garnered attention by singing backing vocals for Mariah Carey on multiple songs, including her Billboard Hot 100 number one singles: "Fantasy" and "All I Want for Christmas Is You"; before rising to greater prominence after making uncredited guest appearances on the number one single "Mo Money Mo Problems" by The Notorious B.I.G., as well as "Feel So Good" by Mase, which prompted her to release her own music. Her debut album Soul of a Woman (1998), was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Maurice White American musician, founder of Earth, Wind & Fire

Maurice White was an American singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter, and producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, and served as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey.

Yolanda Adams American gospel music singer

Yolanda Yvette Adams is an American gospel singer, actress, and host of her own nationally syndicated morning gospel show. She is one of the best-selling gospel artists of all time, having sold nearly 10 million albums worldwide. In addition to achieving multi-platinum status, she has won four Grammy Awards, four Dove Awards, five BET Awards, six NAACP Image Awards, six Soul Train Music Awards, two BMI Awards and sixteen Stellar Awards. She was the first Gospel artist to be awarded an American Music Award.

Rodney Crowell American musician

Rodney Crowell is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album Diamonds & Dirt. He has also written songs and produced for other artists.

Philip Bailey American R&B, soul, gospel and funk singer

Philip James Bailey is an American R&B, soul, gospel and funk singer, songwriter and percussionist, best known as an early member and one of the two lead singers of the band Earth, Wind & Fire. Noted for his four-octave vocal range and distinctive falsetto register, Bailey has won seven Grammy Awards. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as a member of Earth, Wind & Fire. Bailey was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame for his work with the band.

BeBe & CeCe Winans

BeBe & CeCe Winans are an American gospel music brother and sister duo. BeBe and CeCe Winans are the seventh and eighth of the Winans family's ten children, most of whom have had gospel music careers. Together, they have received several awards, including three Grammys.

Oran "Juice" Jones is an American retired R&B singer.

Dorinda Clark-Cole American Gospel Singer-Songwriter (born 1957)

Dorinda Grace Clark-Cole is an American Grammy Award-winning gospel singer, songwriter, musician, talk show host, and evangelist. Clark–Cole is best known as a member of family vocal group The Clark Sisters and as a daughter of pioneering choral director Mattie Moss Clark. As a member of The Clark Sisters, Clark–Cole has won two Grammy Awards. She is known to the music world as the "Rose of Gospel Music".

Tamela Mann American gospel singer, and actress

Tamela Jean Mann is an American gospel singer, songwriter, producer and actress. Mann began her career as a singer with the gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family. She was a featured soloist on several tracks while with Franklin's group, including "Now Behold the Lamb", and "Lean on Me", the latter of which also included Mary J. Blige, Crystal Lewis, R. Kelly, and Bono. She began her solo career by releasing the albums Gotta Keep Movin (2005), and The Master Plan (2009).

KIMBERLY Burrell is an American gospel singer from Houston, Texas.

Richard Smallwood (musician) American gospel artist (born 1948)

Richard Smallwood is an American gospel artist who formed The Richard Smallwood Singers in 1977 in Washington, DC.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Beau Williams Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Beau Williams - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Kellman, Andy. "Beau Williams Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  4. "Beau Williams Album: Bodacious (1984) Label: Capitol Records". String Kings Music. August 12, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  5. Cummings, Tony. "Review: Wonderful - Beau Williams | Cross Rhythms". www.crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  6. "Beau Williams". GRAMMY.com. November 19, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  7. "Beau Williams Albums". SoulAndFunkMusic.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.