Name: Tenitra Michelle Williams |
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Official Biography
Michelle Williams
Heart To Yours
(Music World Music/
Columbia/Integrity)
The list of recording artists who have gone from
gospel roots to urban radio is endless -- Sam
Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls, Whitney Houston
and Jodeci among them. Seldom, however,
does a successful R&B artist venture in the opposite direction. But Destiny's Child member
Michelle Williams is the exception. With the release
of Heart To Yours, her debut solo album, Michelle
hopes to strike a gospel chord with the fan base
who have made Destiny's Child R&B's best-selling
female group.
"There is a song for every one -- every age," says
Williams of her enticing collection of tightly-
synchronized harmony-driven songs ranging from
inspirational and contemporary urban gospel to deeply-
felt traditional sounds. Williams' soulful
delivery is laid back on many of the tracks,
creating a mellow fusion of lyrical and musical
testimonies pulling listeners into her
world. And though her distinctive style is impossible to pigeonhole, Williams knows precisely
where she is taking her listeners on this melodic
journey.
From the title track, "Heart To Yours," produced by
Erron Williams (Michelle's brother... the track is
also cowritten by Erron, Michelle, Kayla Parker
and Damion Washington) to the album's first
single, "Heard A Word," each of the songs in
this collection, several of which she co-wrote,
have a special meaning for Michelle.
"They were songs that healed me while I was recording
it, so I'm hoping that -- as the CD healed me and
as it is still healing me -- it touches and
blesses others," Williams says. "At first, I was
trying to be so careful to satisfy the fan base.
Should I say 'God?' Should I say 'He' or 'Him?' Should I say 'Jesus?' I was worried about it
reaching the young people," she offers, "but
they need to hear about God and what he's done for
me. As the album went on, I couldn't help but
mention His name."
Heart To Yours' lead-in track, "Heard A Word," was
produced by the Grammy-
winning team of Louis "Buster" Brown and Scott "Shavoni" Parker, whose studio
mastery has translated into chart success for Yolanda Adams, Kirk
Franklin and "The Prince of Egypt" soundtrack, among others. For Williams, who
was very much "hands on" in the production of the album from beginning to
end, "Heard A Word" establishes the tone for the album.
"God talks to us in different ways. He's your friend and He lets you know that He's
there with you and everything will be fine," Michelle explains how her
faith guided her creative process. "The whole album is about Him being there and
being my protection." The theme of trusting in God's protection recurs
throughout the CD, especially on cuts like "Everything," which she co-wrote,
and ""Rock With Me."
Guest artists on Heart To Yours include the contemporary gospel duo Mary Mary who
groove with Williams on the Warryn Campbell-produced cut "So Glad"; Isaac Carree
and Lowell Pye of Men of Standard, who back her on the rousing, quartet-
flavored "You Care For Me," and R&B crooner Carl Thomas on a CD-only bonus: a
remake of BeBe & CeCe Winans' classic "Heaven." The album also includes Michelle's duet with Shirley Caesar on the traditional "Steal Away To Jesus" (also
featured on Caesar's Grammy-winning Hymns CD) and a soul-stirring "Gospel
Medley" with Michelle backed up on "You've Been So Good"/"Now Behold The
Lamb"/"Jesus Loves Me"/"Total Praise" by Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowlands,
her "sisters" in Destiny's Child.
For Michelle Williams, a self-professed quintessential "church girl," performing
gospel music is a step forward in the evolution of her career. "Some people will
do gospel when their career fails, thinking 'well I'll go ahead and do gospel,' but I'm choosing to do gospel at the height of the popularity of Destiny's
Child," Michelle confesses. "I didn't want to do it because it was a
fad. Gospel is my roots. I wanted to do it because it's in me. It's in my
heart."
Looking back, she appreciates the insistence on the part of her parents to
involvement in the church. "We were in church every Sunday and during the week," she
remembers. "My mom would say, 'go to choir rehearsal' (she went on to direct
it) or 'you're going to be on the usher board. You're going to be on the
hospitality board."
Michelle's singing aspirations began to take form when, at the age of seven, she
delivered her first solo -- a rendition of "Blessed Assurance" -- at the St. Paul
Church of God In Christ in her native Rockford, Illinois. Inspired by the
artistry and success of those like Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Commissioned,
the Clark Sisters, Hezekiah Walker, and Marvin Winans (her
favorite all time male singer), Williams became a driving force in two church
based groups: United Harmony and Chosen Expression. But eventually resigned
herself to singing as a hobby, reasoning, "who's going to come to Rockford to
see the talent that was there?"
She went on to attend college for two years hoping ultimately to land a good job.
Then a friend called her in May 1999 and told her about auditions being held by
the R&B singer Monica, who'd scored a 1998 summer hit with "The Boy Is Mine," a
duet with Brandy. Following her audition, Michelle landed a gig with Monica and
entered the world of secular contemporary R&B. When the stint with Monica ended
in October 1999, Michelle returned home to Rockford. And then, in January
2000, destiny called. Or rather, Destiny's Child rang up Michelle Williams and
asked her if she'd be interested in joining the group. Her affirmative answer
has become musical history.
Heart To Yours is the first gospel release from the newly-launched Music World Music
imprint and is the first of many gospel albums the now-Houston-based
singer hopes to release during breaks from Destiny's Child.
"Using the platform that I have with Destiny's Child," Williams points out, "I want
to send the message of God's word out to the people who buy Destiny's Child
music as well as those who don't."
And Williams -- once considered "nerdy" by classmates -- has a message for those
experiencing trials in trying to "fit in." "Growing up, I experienced a lot of
hurts," she recalls. "When you try so hard to be accepted, before you know it,
you're being someone that you're not and that's crazy. I was ridiculed and
bullied for being a good student and person. Kids were really cruel. I was
skinny and under-developed. Everybody else was getting chosen and getting
boyfriends, but now, I'm thankful that God saw something and He chose me.
"People can call me a 'church girl.' My main thing is being who I really am and not
trying to fit in. It's time out for that."
These days, what Williams would most like to see changed is the world, and one of
her favorite tracks on the CD, "Change The World" addresses just that: You've got to
realize God has a purpose for your life/You don't have to compromise/Change the
world/ Don't let the world change you."
It's a sentiment that Michelle Williams keeps close to
her heart when she tells her fans that "When you see
all the destructive things that are going on, you
realize that it's up to you to decide whether or not
you are going to help change it or fall into it and
let it change who you are as a person. Together, we
can change the world and make a difference." - www.michellewilliamsonline.com
