Marion Williams

Marion Williams (born August 29, 1927 in Miami , † July 2, 1994 in Philadelphia ) was an American gospel singer who first made a career as a member of gospel groups, then as a soloist.

Live and act

Williams was born into a religious family; she received music lessons from her father, who died when she was nine years old. Poverty led Williams to drop out of school early to work in her mother's laundry and as a nurse. She not only sang in church, but also as a street musician . In 1946 she performed in Philadelphia in front of an audience that included Gertrude and Clara Ward . They recognized her talent and offered her a job: a year later she became part of the Famous Ward Singers , of which she was a member until 1958. Her natural demeanor and the enthusiasm for the performance earned her the nickname "Miss Personality". Her debut album Somebody Bigger Than You And I was released in 1958. In the following year she founded the Stars of Faith together with other members of the Ward band , with whom she appeared in the gospel musical Black Nativity and went on tour across the Atlantic. In 1965 Williams began her solo career. With the Yale University as a starting point Williams began a series of college campus tours, which gave her the opportunity to the public in North America with their interpretations of songs like Jesus Is All and its biggest solo hit, Standing Here Wondering Which Way to Go to inspire. For the next 15 years she toured Europe (where she also performed at jazz festivals), Africa (1966) and the Caribbean. Although she had been on dialysis since 1988 , she continued to appear. In 1991 she sang Amazing Grace on a public television program . In 1992 she starred in the film Green Tomatoes , which was dedicated to her. In the same year she appeared as a guest soloist in the world premiere of Wynton Marsalis ' suite "In This House / On This Morning".

Musicians such as Keith Jarrett , Hank Jones , Joe Zawinul and Ray Bryant were involved in their recordings . Her album Prayer Changes Things won the French Grand Prix du Disque in 1976. Her recording of How I Got Over sold more than a million copies.

meaning

Williams has performed with great grace, a powerful yet lyrical voice, and unsurpassed improvisational skills; she interrupted her vocal performance with growls, moans, gasps, exultant screams and falsettos , which, according to Allmusic , made her one of the most influential singers in gospel music. As early as the 1950s, her unique vocal style inspired artists like Little Richard and the Isley Brothers to emulate her. In her heyday, some critics hailed her as one of the greatest singers in America. Williams was supported by the MacArthur Foundation in 1993 for having "one of the last surviving relationships in the golden age of gospel and one of the most eclectic singers of her generation"; the same year she honored the Kennedy Center .

Web links

• Appreciation (Kennedy Center)
• Obituary (New York Times)
• Marion Williams at Allmusic (English)
• Marion Williams at Discogs (English)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Mitchell and Williams Receive Kennedy Center Honors in December . In: Jet . 84, No. 22, September 27, 1993, ISSN  0021-5996 , p. 36. Retrieved August 6, 2018.