Biographies
Kelendria "Kelly" Rowland
Born: February 11, 1981
Star Sign: Aquarius
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
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Beyonce Gisselle Knowles
Born: September 4, 1981
Star Sign: Virgo
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Tenitra Michelle Williams
Born: July 23, 1980
Star Sign: Leo
Hometown: Rockford, Illinois
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."
GROUP BIOGRAPHY
Hailing from Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child is one of the best-selling female groups in the world.
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