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Will Downing

Will Downing Radio

Music

FEATURED SONG
Glad I Met You Tonight
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Glad I Met You Tonight
Released: Aug 24, 2010
Label: Concord Records (Canada)

General Info

  • Genre: R&B / Soul

    Location NEW YORK, Un

    Profile Views: 322746

    Last Login: 12/2/2011

    Member Since 9/21/2005

    Website http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LndpbGxkb3duaW5nLmNvbQ==

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    Women love Will Downing. And men love the women who love Will Downing. In his two decade recording career, the Brooklyn native has carved for himself a solid career as one of the leading purveyors of unapologetic, unabashed romantic music. And while this has not translated to crossover success – or even to broad urban radio success – it has gained for Downing a solid musical legacy and a rabidly loyal following of, well…women. Downing had his first national exposure as a popular backing vocalist in the 80s before signing with Island Records. He recorded two modestly successful albums and had a minor hit with a cover of "A Love Supreme" before releasing his breakout 1991 album A Dream Fulfilled. It was a marvelous disc that showed Downing not only possessed a fine baritone voice but that he was also was an excellent song stylist, deftly handling such diverse songs as War's "The World Is A Ghetto" and Paul Davis's "I Go Crazy" and providing a stunning, definitive version of Angela Bofill's "I Try." Both the "I Try" single and the album hit the Urban top 25, and critical acclaim for the disc abounded. A Dream Fulfilled began a period where Downing found his musical identity and was the first of a string of successful albums that focused on smooth, romantic music, mostly ballads. Sometimes unfairly lumped with his friend Luther Vandross, Downing was actually creating his own brand of love music that was less urban and much jazzier. And though Downing's songs were also more sensual than Vandross's, he shared Luther's sensibilities, singing to women on a truly romantic level that clearly went beyond the physical. In the 90s and early 00s, Downing recorded frequently on multiple record labels. He became a regular at the top of the contemporary jazz charts and released a number of solid albums (perhaps the best of which was his album of duets with saxophonist Gerald Albright, Pleasures of the Night) with only one miscue (All the Man You Need, his lone album on Motown and an ill-advised attempt at an "urban" sound). In early 2007, Will contracted a rare muscular disease, Polymyositis, which sidelined him for most of the year. It was a devastating attack, forcing Downing into a wheelchair for most of the year, and causing him to lose nearly 100 pounds. Despite the setback, he was determined to complete his debut album for Peak Records, After Tonight, for which he had recorded four songs prior to his illness. During the Spring of 2007, Will worked from his home putting down vocals despite severe weakness and fatigue. He would say it was "the hardest thing I've ever done," occasionally moving from chair to bed to complete a vocal piece. But out of this situation came another five wonderful songs, including the album's gem, "God Is So Amazing," a simple, melodic testimony of faith during difficult times. After Tonight became another fine addition to Downing's growing discography, and "God Is So Amazing" stood as one of the year's best songs. In 2009, fully recovered, Downing began work on Classique, a new album of originals and three cover songs, with producer Rex Rideout at the helm. The disc was released in June 2009 to positive reviews. And in 2010, he issued one of his most ambitious projects, an "audio novel" called Lust, Love and Lies, that detailed a relationship going through various stages, with spoken interludes between a very strong batch of songs. It was released to enthusiastic reviews. Looking back over the last two decades, Will Downing has established himself as one of the most consistent, soulful singers of his era and arguably, with the unfortunate death of Luther Vandross, as today's leading provider of romantic, soulful music. by Chris Rizik (read more http://www.soultracks.com/will_downing.htm)

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Stream

  1. Will Downing

    featured a new track:

    Jazzee, Eric Grover, Tatjana S and 1 Others liked this.

  2. Will Downing

    featured a new track:

    Eric Grover liked this.

  3. Will Downing

    featured a new track:

    Brenda and Tatjana S liked this.

    • Post a comment...
      • Mdu Khumalo

        Awesome track.....infact the whole album is great, i give it two thumbs up!!!!!!!! 

        1 month ago
  5. Will Downing

    commented on Dark n Lovely's profile

    "Glad I COULD HELP!!! Hope u like the new music as well "

    • Post a comment...
      • Will Downing

        Glad I COULD HELP!!! Hope u like the new music as well 

        6 months ago
        • Dark n Lovely

           thanks for your reply.i truly love your music

          5 months ago
      • PUMP THA FLAVA

        MY BEST GIFT OF ALL,
        IS HAVING YOU AS MY
        FRIEND!

        "PUMP THA FLAVA"
         RUBIN RILEY

        1 year ago
      2 of 75More

Comments

Post a comment...
  • LADY TAMARA

      

    6 months ago
  • M♥B

    Absolutely LOVE your music...Stay blessed. 

    8 months ago
  • Fardousa Jama

    I really love your music soooo much. I was just wonder to when you will come to MN. I would love you to visit my town. Mankato MN. Hopeful you pick it one day Thank you

    1 year ago
  • MsJoys

    Hi Will! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas season! God bless you! Always remember "why" we celebrate! It's ALL about Jesus!

    1 year ago
  • S�bastien Paindestre

    Thank you, nice to meet you ! www.jazzseb.com

    1 year ago
  • Dark n Lovely

    I LOVE TRULY LOVE YOU MUSIC IT MAKES ME HAPPY BEING A WOMAN

    1 year ago
  • a new year the year …

    i love ur music have all ur cd's.

    1 year ago
  • THE LOVE CAPT. D.J. SILK

    HEY! BIG W. HAVE A SENSATIONAL WEEK AHEAD AND BE BLESSED! SILK WILLIAMS 1RADIO.ORG THE LOVE ZONE AND LOVEBLUERADIO.CO.NR..CLASSIC SOUL AND R&B..

    1 year ago
  • JazzysRadio.com

    Thank you for your friendship and your support.

    www.JazzysRadio.com

    For Lovers And Others ... The Quiet Storm


    1 year ago
  • Paris Bihari

    Will Downing, you are always coming up with the classiest material, and setting in stone the definition of what it means to push talent to the highest standards. What a great memory for me to enjoy and share! Paris Bihari- musician/producer/engineer/videographer

    1 year ago
10 of 3282More

YESTERDAY,TODAY & TOMORROW New Project

Recording Artist Will Downing Launches “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow” Musical Trilogy with November 15th Release Entitled Yesterday Grammy nominated Recording Artist Will Downing follows up his 2010 release Lust, Love and Lies “audio novel” concept with an innovative “musical trilogy” entitled Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. The release represents a bold strategy to hit the moving target that is today’s music consumer, dealing with information overload and struggling to find the music they love through traditional channels. To that effect, Will Downing’s Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow trilogy represents the artist’s first independent release and will be delivered in EP (Extended Play) format, consisting of three brilliant four-song offerings that will be released over the course of a year. The first EP, “Yesterday”, due November 15, 2011, will focus on some of Will Downing’s favorite re-makes or as he refers to them, “interpretations”, of songs from yesterday. The listener will be treated to an absolute classic Quiet Storm R&B set as Downing puts his stamp on The Delfonics’ - La La Means I Love You, Smokey Robinson’s - Ooh Baby Baby, Angela Bofill’s - This Time I’ll Be Sweeter and the project’s first single, the Atlantic Starr signature slow jam - Send For Me. In hand-picking these selections, Downing insightfully notes that “each song interprets love from a different point of view”. To complete the trilogy, part two, “Today”, will arrive around Valentine’s Day 2012, with four new original songs showcasing Downing’s well earned status as the Prince of Sophisticated Soul, followed by the projected Summer 2012 release of the third and final installment, “Tomorrow”, which will feature Downing venturing slightly outside of the box. For the consumer, the uniquely staggered time-release schedule aims to keep the fresh product coming while offering the experience of focusing more deeply on fewer songs at a reduced cost to acquire. A limited quantity of product will be available in retail stores for early movers while online fulfillment will include iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and the artists’ own website www.willdowning.com. :D wdchocolate

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