Donnie Williams

Last updated

Donnie Williams
Birth nameDonnie Williams
Born (1983-07-26) July 26, 1983 (age 39)
Origin Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Genres Contemporary R&B
Soul
Gospel
Jazz
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Years active2004–present
LabelsChump Change Records
Website Chump Change Records

Donnie Williams (born July 26, 1983) is an American soul, gospel and jazz singer-songwriter who in 2004 became a Top 32 Finalist in Season 3 of American Idol . [1] He currently resides in the Bay Area, California. [2]

Contents

Early life

He comes from a family of vocalists. His mother, Gladys Williams, performed in clubs around Baton Rouge with soul R&B singer-pianist Bobby Powell and with blues singer and harmonica player, Raful Neal. Donnie' s father, Eddie McQuarter, is a gospel singer. And the R&B-turned-gospel singer Beau Williams is a cousin. [2]

Williams made his public performing debut at age 11 at Mount Wade Baptist Church in Baton Rouge with a rendition of the Winans' "He Set Me Free." At school, he and his sister Terrell, won first place in a talent show singing Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston's "Something in Common." He made his nightclub debut at age 15 singing Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" at Raful Neal's blues bar in Baton Rouge. [2]

Before relocating to the Bay Area city of Livermore in 2000 with his mother and his four siblings, Williams made his recording debut singing hooks on a CD by the Baton Rouge hip-hop group Smoke Click. In Oakland, he did likewise for the hip-hop crew Big Bang Theory, with whom he performed locally, including opening a show for E-40. [3]

Career

Donnie was lubing cars at Wal-Mart in Livermore in 2004 when two coworkers overheard him singing as he worked and suggested he try out for American Idol. One offered to drive him to Pasadena for the audition. They arrived and Williams sang "A Song for You" for judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. Williams was quickly put through to Hollywood after receiving positive commentary from the judges. [4]

Williams made it into the Top 32 of American Idol's third season, along with Fantasia Barrino, Jennifer Hudson, and friend LaToya London. Some say he seemed a sure shot for the Top 12 but one night before he was slated to return to Hollywood for the next segment of the show, he was invited to a celebration party thrown by friends. He had too much to drink and was arrested on the way home for driving under the influence. As a result, the producers of American Idol kicked him off the show and replaced him with George Huff. [5] Donnie was distraught. He quit drinking and his sobriety is reflected in the ballad "Higher Power" on his debut album Just like Magic and particularly in the anti-substance abuse message of the video for the song. [6]

In its "Best of the East Bay 2008" issue, the East Bay Express Newspaper named him "The Best R&B or Soul Singer" next to Goapele who won "Reader’s Choice Award." [7] In 2007 The San Francisco Chronicle called him "a soul stylist of the first order" who "might have given Fantasia Barrino some serious competition on "American Idol" if he had not been bounced from the show early in 2004 after a drunken-driving arrest.” [8]

Williams credits Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, Ron Isley and Donny Hathaway as influences and also includes gospel singers Marvin Winans and Dorinda Clark-Cole among his favorites. He has sung the national anthem at an NBA Warriors basketball game. [9]

Recordings

A few years after being kicked off American Idol he returned with a fresh outlook on life. He hooked up with Park Place band leader and Bay Area based Paul Tillman Smith to begin recording his debut album Just like Magic. Smith's compositions have been recorded in past years by such singers as Phyllis Hyman, Jean Carne, Lady Bianca, Freddie Hughes, Derrick Hughes, Lenny Williams, Rosie Gaines, and the late Prince vocalist Bonnie Boyer. Multi-instrumentalist Nelson Braxton (Frank McComb, Martin Luther, Ledisi, Braxton Brothers) and Norman Connors additionally serve as co-producers of the CD.

Donnie says the lead single "Higher Power" was created to inspire a sense of hope. Guest vocalist LaToya London appears on "Send My Baby Back," a 1968 hit by Berkeley vocalist Freddie Hughes. London additionally materializes in a duet on the title track 'Just like Magic.' Several songs from "Just like Magic" are featured in the upcoming film "Tears of a Clown" featuring BET Comedian D.C. Curry which was nominated for "Best Feature Film of the Year" at the Pan African Film Festival. [10]

"Just like Magic" features Keyboardist and hip-hop MC Kev Choice (Voted by East Bay Express as "The Most Multi-Talented Musician") and who served as the musical tour director for Lauryn Hill in both 2006 and 2007. On keys Kev Choice has supported such artists as Michael Franti & Spearhead, Goapele, Too Short, Martin Luther, Jennifer Johns, DJ Quik and Zion I. Music can be heard from Keyboardist Sundra Manning who is most well known for her collaborative work alongside Grammy Nominated vocalist Ledisi on the debut album Soulsinger. Other cameos include vocalists Rosie Gaines and Bonnie Boyer (Prince), Keyboardists Michael Stanton, Rodney Franklin & Herman Jackson (musical director for Jessica Simpson, Stevie Wonder, the Isley Brothers and Marvin Gaye) Eric Daniels (musical director for Mariah Carey & Janet Jackson), Sax men Scott Mayo (Earth, Wind and Fire), Vince Lars & Charlie Spikes (Tony Toni Tone), Guitarists Carl Lockett and Tommy Oregon (Janet Jackson), drummer Brian Collier and the Oak Town Horns. [11]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fantasia (singer)</span> American R&B singer

Fantasia Monique Barrino-Taylor, known professionally by her mononym Fantasia, is an American R&B singer and actress. She rose to prominence in 2004 for her performance of the Porgy and Bess standard "Summertime" during the third season of the reality television series American Idol, and eventually became that season's winner. Following her victory, Barrino became the second woman to have their first single debut at number-one on the Billboard Hot 100, following Lauryn Hill, when her debut single "I Believe", launched atop the chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LaToya London</span> American musical artist (born 1978)

LaToya Renee London is an American R&B and soul singer and stage actress who was fourth-place finalist on the third season of American Idol. Her debut album, Love & Life, was released in September 2005 and spawned a number of moderate R&B chart hits. She has concentrated on stage work, including originating and performing the role of Nettie in the national tour of the Broadway musical The Color Purple from 2007 to 2010, for which she won an Ovation Award. She was the lead in the U.S. regional debut of The Bodyguard, a musical based on the 1992 film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donny Hathaway</span> American singer-songwriter (1945–1979)

Donny Edward Hathaway was an American soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter, backing vocalist, and arranger who Rolling Stone described as a "soul legend". His most popular songs include "The Ghetto", "This Christmas", "Someday We'll All Be Free", and "Little Ghetto Boy". Hathaway is also renowned for his renditions of "A Song for You", "For All We Know", and "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know", along with "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Get to You", two of many collaborations with Roberta Flack. He has been inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame and won one Grammy Award from four nominations. Hathaway was also posthumously honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Dutch director David Kleijwegt made a documentary called Mister Soul – A Story About Donny Hathaway, which premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam on January 28, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raphael Saadiq</span> American contemporary R&B singer

Raphael Saadiq is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He rose to fame as a member of the multiplatinum group Tony! Toni! Toné! In addition to his solo and group career, he has also produced songs for such artists as Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Stevie Wonder, Joss Stone, D'Angelo, TLC, En Vogue, Kelis, Mary J. Blige, Ledisi, Whitney Houston, Solange Knowles and John Legend. Music critic Robert Christgau has called Saadiq the "preeminent R&B artist of the '90s".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenny Neal</span> Musical artist

Kenny Neal, is an American blues guitar player, singer and band member.

Raful Neal was an American Louisiana blues singer, harmonicist and songwriter from the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tramaine Hawkins</span> American gospel singer (born 1951)

Tramaine Aunzola Richardson, known professionally as Tramaine Hawkins, is an American award–winning Gospel singer whose career spans over five decades. Since beginning her career in 1966, Hawkins has won two Grammy Awards, two Doves, and 19 Stellar Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Holliday</span> American Tony award-winning actress and singer

Jennifer Yvette Holliday is an American actress and singer. She started her career on Broadway in musicals such as Dreamgirls (1981–83), Your Arms Too Short to Box with God (1980–1981) and later became a successful recording artist. She is best known for her debut single, the Dreamgirls number and rhythm-and-blues/pop hit, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", for which she won a Grammy in 1983. She also won a 1982 Tony Award for Dreamgirls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goapele</span> American singer

Goapele Mohlabane, is an American soul and R&B singer-songwriter. Her name means to move forward in Setswana, a Southern African language.

<i>American Idol</i> (season 3) Season of television series

The third season of American Idol premiered on Monday, January 19, 2004, and continued until May 26, 2004. The third season was won by Fantasia Barrino, who defeated Diana DeGarmo by an approximate margin of 2% ; the vote total was then the highest recorded vote total in the show's history. This season also featured future EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson, who finished seventh in the competition.

Ledisi Anibade Young, better known simply as Ledisi, is an American R&B and jazz recording artist, songwriter, music producer, author and actress. Her name means "to bring forth" or "to come here" in Yoruba.

Jeff Bhasker is an American record producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles. He was awarded the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year in 2016 and nominated in 2013.

<i>Back to Me</i> (Fantasia album) 2010 studio album by Fantasia

Back to Me is the third studio album by American singer and songwriter Fantasia. It was released on August 24, 2010, by J Records. The album's title was suggested to her by comedian Steve Harvey, when Barrino visited his morning radio program. The album sold 117,000 in its first week, debuting at number two on the US Billboard 200 and at number one on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, making it Fantasia's highest-charting album as of September 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan Winans</span>

Juan Winans is an American singer/songwriter, music producer, and a third-generation member of the Winans family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leah LaBelle</span> American singer (1986–2018)

Leah LaBelle Vladowski was an American singer. She rose to prominence in 2004 as a contestant on the third season of American Idol, placing twelfth in the season finals. In 2007, LaBelle began recording covers of R&B and soul music for her YouTube channel. These videos led to work as a backing vocalist starting in 2008 and a record deal in 2011 with Epic in partnership with I Am Other and So So Def Recordings. LaBelle released a sampler, three singles, and a posthumous extended play (EP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khaya Mthethwa</span> Musical artist

Khaya Mthethwa is a South African singer-songwriter, musician, composer, arranger, and a multi-instrumentalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micah Stampley</span> American singer

Micah Keith Stampley is an American gospel singer-songwriter and actor.

"I Made It" is a song recorded by American singer Fantasia, featuring American singer-songwriter Tye Tribbett. It was written and produced by Tribbett and David Outing for Fantasia's fifth studio album, The Definition Of... (2016). Tribett developed it in collaboration with Fantasia, blending her personal testimony and his experiences with God into the lyrics. Fantasia described it as a highly personal song, explaining that it was about refusing to let people control her and moving forward from her past struggles. "I Made It" is an uptempo gospel record and its lyrics revolve around an appreciation for God and faith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quiana Lynell</span> Musical artist

Quiana Lynell is an American blues and jazz singer, arranger and songwriter.

Kristle Murden, also known as Kristle Edwards, is an American singer-songwriter, musician, music producer, author and ordained minister. Murden is the soloist on the song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from The Lion King. She made her professional debut in 1979 singing the duet "I'll Be Thinking of You" with Andraé Crouch, for which Stevie Wonder played harmonica. She signed as a solo artist with Light Records, also in 1979. She was nominated for two Grammy awards: her solo album I Can't Let Go was nominated in 1980, and in 1984, she was nominated for her solo vocal performance for "Jesus Come Lay Your Head on Me" from Andraé Crouch's No Time to Lose album. In 1981 she was nominated for a Dove Award for her I Can't Let Go album in the category of Best Soul Black Gospel album.

References

  1. ↑ "Donnie Williams pulled from 'Idol' following arrest, replaced by George Huff". Reality TV World. February 2, 2004. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Donnie Williams and Park Place". OurStage. July 2, 1983. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Donnie Williams and Park Place | Just like Magic | CD Baby Music Store". Cdbaby.com. July 2, 1983. Archived from the original on October 31, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 20, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ↑ "American Idol – Season 3, Episode 16: Group Four! Then the Wild Card!". TV.com. March 2, 2004. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  6. ↑ "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved October 31, 2016.[ dead YouTube link ]
  7. ↑ "East Bay Express". East Bay Express. June 25, 2008. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  8. ↑ Hartlaub, Peter (May 2, 2004). "'Gimme' show offers down-home alternative to the bright lights of 'American Idol'". SFGate. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Donnie Williams". ReverbNation . Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Donnie Williams and Park Place". Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
  11. ↑ "Donnie Williams". Archived from the original on August 27, 2009. Retrieved August 17, 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.