June Deniece Williams is an American singer. She 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. She is also known for recording “Without Us”, the theme song of Family Ties.
Maurice White was an American musician, best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter and chief producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, also serving as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey.
Philip James Bailey is an American 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 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.
"Let's Hear It for the Boy" is a song by Deniece Williams that appeared on the soundtrack to the feature film Footloose. The song was released as a single from both the soundtrack and her album of the song's same name on February 14, 1984, by Columbia Records. It was written by Tom Snow and Dean Pitchford and produced by George Duke. The song became Williams' second number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on May 26, 1984, also topping the dance and R&B charts, and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, behind "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and was certified platinum in the US and gold in Canada and the UK by the Recording Industry Association of America, Music Canada and the British Phonographic Industry, respectively. The music video was released in mid-April 1984. The song features background vocals from George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam, who would go on to form the duo Boy Meets Girl.
"Free" is a song by American singer Deniece Williams that was included on her album This Is Niecy. The song was written by Williams, Hank Redd, Nathan Watts and Susaye Greene and produced by Maurice White and Charles Stepney.
This Is Niecy is the debut album of American R&B singer Deniece Williams released on August 13, 1976 by Columbia Records. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and No. 33 on the Billboard 200. The album has been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA and Silver in the UK by the BPI.
"I've Got the Next Dance" is a song by Deniece Williams issued as a single in April 1979 on ARC/Columbia Records. The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart and No. 26 on the Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart.
That's What Friends Are For is an album by American singers Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams, released in July 1978 by Columbia Records. The project was a continuation of the pairing of the artists that began on his previous LP, You Light Up My Life, which included "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late", the duet that was on its way to number one on three different charts in Billboard magazine as the recording sessions for this album got underway.
My Melody is the fifth studio album by American singer Deniece Williams, released in March 1981 by ARC/Columbia Records. The album reached No. 13 on the Billboard Top Soul LPs chart. My Melody was certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.
Niecy is an album by American singer Deniece Williams which was released in 1982 on ARC/Columbia Records. The album reached No. 5 on the Top Soul Albums chart and No. 20 on the Billboard 200.
"Silly" is a song written by Fritz Baskett, Clarence McDonald and Deniece Williams and performed by Williams. The soulful ballad was released off Williams' My Melody album in 1981 and became the most successful track off the album reaching as high as number fifty-three on the Billboard Hot 100 becoming an even bigger success on the R&B chart where it peaked at number eleven. It has since gone on to become one of Williams' most requested songs over a career that has spanned over thirty years. The song featured production by Williams and respected Philly soul producer Thom Bell. The song was recorded at Philadelphia's acclaimed Sigma Sound Studios. The song would be later covered by singer Taral Hicks nearly two decades later in 1997 and was released as the second single off Hicks' debut album becoming a hit on the R&B chart.
Let's Hear It for the Boy is the eighth studio album by American recording artist Deniece Williams, released on April 16, 1984, by Columbia Records. The album reached No. 26 on the US Billboard 200 Albums chart and No. 10 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hop-Hop Albums chart.
"Black Butterfly" is a song written by the song-writing duo Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil in 1982, and most famously recorded by American recording artist Deniece Williams. The Williams recording was released in 1984 for Columbia Records and is on her 1984 album Let's Hear it for the Boy. The B-side of the single is the song "Blind Dating", also featured on the album.
Better Together: The Duet Album is a compilation album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on October 8, 1991, by Columbia Records and featured three new songs alongside eight other pairings that were previously released.
"Baby, Baby My Love's All for You" is a song by Deniece Williams, released as a single in October 1977 by Columbia Records. The song reached No. 13 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart, No. 5 on the UK Blues & Soul Top British Soul Singles chart and No. 32 on the UK Pop Singles chart.
"That's What Friends Are For" is a song recorded by Deniece Williams, released as a single in July 1977 by Columbia Records. The single reached No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart. "That's What Friends Are For" was also certified Silver in the UK by the BPI.
From the Beginning is a gospel compilation album by American R&B singer Deniece Williams, released in 1990 on Sparrow Records. It is a collection of gospel songs Williams had recorded during her years at Columbia Records. Williams recorded one gospel song on each of her albums starting with 1976's "Watching Over" from This Is Niecy to her cover of the Michael Jackson Captain EO track "We Are Here to Change the World" from 1988's As Good As It Gets. The album also contains a live performance of "God Is Amazing" from the 27th Annual Grammy Awards, originally from her 1977 album Song Bird. From the Beginning debuted and peaked at number 35 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart.
"Never Say Never" is a song written by Michael Jeffries, Michael Boyd and Deniece Williams, and recorded by Williams for her 1987 album Water Under the Bridge. Produced by Steve Levine, the song was released as a single in 1987 by Columbia Records, reaching number six on the US Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and No. 23 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.
"What Two Can Do" is a song written and recorded by American singer Deniece Williams for her 1981 album My Melody. It was produced by Thom Bell and released as a single in 1981 by ARC/Columbia Records. It reached number 17 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.
"I Can't Wait" is a song recorded by Deniece Williams for her 1988 album As Good As It Gets. Produced by George Duke, the song was released as a single in 1988 by Columbia Records, reaching number 8 on the US Billboard Hot Black Singles chart.
