Stevie, Stones, 'Footloose': Deniece Williams visits Naples, discusses Grammy career – Naples Daily News

Deniece Williams didn’t expect to make a successful career out of singing.
“I wanted to be a nurse, I didn’t want to sing,“ she said April 30 after attending a Naples nonprofit’s fundraiser earlier that day.
Pace Center for Girls, Collier at Immokalee held its annual Crazy Pantz fundraiser April 30 at The Players Club & Spa, Naples. Men model the pants while attendees bid on them to raise money for the Center.
Williams attended and sang a couple songs, including her 1984 hit „Let’s Hear It For The Boy“ from the „Footloose“ soundtrack. and „God Is Amazing.“
“It was lovely and such an honor to be there and be a part of such an event,“ Williams said.
She grew up in Gary, Indiana, the same hometown of The Jackson 5.
“I met Michael when he was 4 or 5,“ she said, referring to Michael Jackson. “We turned into little city celebrities.“
Williams said she cut a „local record“ in Chicago in 1968, titled “Love Is Tears“ on the Toddlin‘ Town label. She said she still has the 45 (record of the single) in her safe.
She continued her plans to become a nurse and attended Morgan State University in Baltimore for about 1½ years before returning home.
„Science didn’t like me and I didn’t like it,“ she said.
She continued to pursue a music career and received her break when Stevie Wonder asked her to tour with him as a backup singer.
Williams performed on Wonder’s albums including „Talking Book,“ „Fulfillingness‘ First Finale“ and „Songs in the Key of Life,“ the 1976 album that won a Grammy for Album of the Year.
Rolling Stone magazine in its 2020 rankings of the „500 Greatest Albums of All Time“ ranked „Songs in the Key of Life“ at No. 4, between The Beatles‘ „Abbey Road“ at No. 5 and Joni Mitchell’s „Blue“ at No. 3.
“It was scary for me, the little church girl out there with Stevie,“ she said.
After three months touring, the Rolling Stones asked Wonder to open for them.
“It improved my prayer life tremendously,“ Williams said about the pressure of performing with some of the biggest names in music.
„Boy, was that interesting, such an incredible time to be a part of that.”
The four-time Grammy Award winner has other hits including „Free“ in 1976, „Too Much, Too Little, Too Late“ with Johnny Mathis in 1978, „Silly“ in 1981 and „It’s Gonna Take a Miracle“ in 1982.
Williams has been nominated for a Grammy 12 times, winning four times. Her other hits include „Free“ in 1976, „Too Much, Too Little, Too Late“ with Johnny Mathis in 1978, „Silly“ in 1981 and „It’s Gonna Take a Miracle“ in 1982.
Williams, who turns 75 in June, said she’s working to finish a book titled „Bringing Out The Queen in You” based on the Book of Esther.
She hopes to one day write her autobiography.
“I’m waiting for a few people to leave to tell the story,“ she said. „If I do it too soon, I’ll have to change the names of the guilty.“
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She hopes to record one more album with musical friends from over the years, possibly including Mathis, Michael McDonald, Fergie from Black Eyed Peas and Snoop Dogg.
Looking back, Willilams said she never envisioned such success while growing up in Gary.
„It was all a surprise to me and has been an amazing life to do the things that I have done,“ she said.
Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Contact him at dosborn@gannett.com and follow him on Instagram @lacrossewriter.

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