Although Vanessa began singing at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Southeast Washington, DC in 1972, she never actively pursued formal musical training, let alone a singing career. A professional painter and illustrator, she admits, “Singing was simply something I liked to do." From the time I was in kindergarten at Abram Simon Elementary, all I really wanted to do was draw and paint! In seventh grade, I played clarinet in the band at St. Thomas More Catholic School, but it's a sculpture now," she laughs.
Her first solo project "Vanessa," released on May 7, 2002, debuted at number 10, and peaked at number 7 on Billboard's Gospel chart. "The prospect of working under the direction of producer Steven Ford was a major incentive. I sincerely appreciate Bishop Andrew Merritt for providing the opportunity." Ford was also instrumental in her participation on Straight Gate Mass Choir's 2000 release, "Faith In the House", featuring Bishop Bruce Parham and Psalmist Dana Powell.
A vocalist with impressive range, Williams prefers the alto section. “Richard says I’m just lazy”, she laughs. She quickly honors gospel music living legend Richard Smallwood, and the phenomenal Yolanda Adams. “Meeting them was divinely ordered. I’ll always support their ministries. Their generosity, and the opportunities they've provided have enriched my life. Teaching children about the Mona Lisa from a textbook was one thing. Describing what I’d seen with my own eyes, as a result of traveling, really boosted my lesson plans."
Beginning in 1994, she moved, with ease, between concert dates as a group member with Smallwood, and, until October of 2000, an outstanding trio with Adams that included Grammy winning writer/producer Raymond Reeder, and stellar soprano, Victoria Purcell. Prior to working with Adams and Smallwood, Williams sang in and around Washington, D.C. with local groups and choirs including "Steve Lawrence and Friends," "The Tabernacle Echoes," the late Freddye Jackson’s “Agape," "Chosen Generation," and the "Benning Heights Community Singers."
On a path to a career in the visual arts, Williams was encouraged to continue her studies by teacher, printmaker and calligrapher, Laurie Siegel. Upon graduation from The Academy of Notre Dame in 1978, Williams was accepted at Howard University's College of Fine Arts. She was instructed at Howard by some of the most noted artists in the country, including the late Lucille Malkia Roberts and Jeff Donaldson, Starmanda Bullock, Alfred J. Smith, Tritobia Benjamin, E.H. Sorrells-Adewale, A. Michael Auld, and Raymond Dobard. She earned a BFA degree in 1982.
As an elementary Art teacher at Patricia Roberts Harris Educational Center in Southeast Washington from 1987 until 2002, Williams served at the school as Key Communicator for the D.C. Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative “Art for Every Student" Program and co-coordinator for the nationally acclaimed “Best Friends”, a character-building based youth development program for adolescent girls. (This year she's lending an artistic and musical hand to the first all girls public charter school in Washington,DC's Ward 8. The Excel Academy Public Charter School opened it's doors to little girls from age 3 to 5 and Vanessa is having a great time "teaching them the songs every little kid ought to know! Seeing them light up when you start singing even the simplest songs reminds me of my own experience in elementary school. My teachers sang to us and read to us. It wasn't "special", it was just a part of the program.")
The road to the Gospel music industry began at the close of the 1994 school year. Williams received a phone call from soprano Darlene Simmons, concerning a role as a pit singer in a local production of "Bubbling Brown Sugar", produced by Helen Hayes Award winner, the late Mike Malone, and under the musical direction of Raymond Reeder. Not long after, a call came from Smallwood himself. Williams began traveling with "The Richard Smallwood Singers” across the United States, and on her very first trips out of the country from Norway to Guadeloupe, Paris, France to Venezuela, until "Vision" was formed in 1996. "Richard shared his vision for an upcoming project, and asked if I would participate. My answer didn't take any thought at all!"
As a member of Smallwood’s Vision, she recorded the breathtaking “Angels” with Stellar Award winner Maurette Brown-Clark, “O What a Night," with Darlene Simmons, the Dove Award nominated anthem “Holy Thou Art God,", and "I Love The Lord" on "Verity: Live at The Apollo." Williams sang background vocals on Karen Clark Sheard’s “The Heavens Are Telling," “Yolanda Adams: Live In Washington," the Canton Spirituals’ “Living the Dream: Live In Washington," "A Tribute to Rosa Parks," and the Grammy award winning “Mountain High, Valley Low” single, “Fragile Heart." Smallwood resurrected the classic “Your Love Divine," which features Williams, on “Persuaded: Live In Washington.” She can also be heard on “Love So Real,", the first independent release by John Stoddart, "Megachurch Gospel," “Ready” with Mike McCoy and Voices United, “Eternity” by saxophonist Skip Pruitt, "Not To Us," by Drexel University’s Gospel Choir, Kim Waters' "All for Love," Anthony Walker's "Love Calling," the Shanachie compilation "Touch Me In The Morning," Rev. Nolan Williams’ “InSpiration," the 2006 releases by DC’s own El Shaddai, and jazz artist Maysa Leak. She is also featured on the recently released "Jimmy Russell and BOC Live", John Tillery's "The Next Level, and the 2008 release from Mike McCoy and Voices United."
There was a phenomenal roster of producers on her first CD- Ford, Bishop Andrew Merritt, Smallwood, Kevin Bond, PAJAM, and Fred Hammond. “Each one possessed his own approach, yet the continuity among them was unbelievable."
She teamed up with Ford and PAJAM (Paul D. Allen and J. Moss) once more, in addition to Noel Hall and Luther "Mano" Hanes on her sophomore release, "Here I Go Again." "I had amazing support from some of the finest singers, musicians, writers and engineers in the world!"
Among her favorite travels, Vanessa participated in the 1996 "Federation Francaise de Gospel/Best of Gospel on Tour" in Paris and Strasbourg, France, the "Barbados World Gospel" in 1997, the 1998 "Amerique: Gospel Cite de la Musique" in Paris, France, the "Umbria Jazz Gospel and Soul" Festivals 1 and 2 in Terni, Italy in 1997 and 1998, the Glaxo Wellcome “Living Proof” Gospel tour in 1999, the Daimler Chrysler “Shout 2000” tour, The Alliance Tour in 2002, featuring Karen Clark Sheard, Donald Lawrence, Richard Smallwood, Ted and Sheri, and Maurette Brown Clark, McDonalds' Gospelfest 2005, the 2007 Parks-King Lecture Series at Yale University, the Kingdom Powerful 2007 European Believers' Conference in Abano Terme, Italy, Coro Gospel Agua Viva featuring the Madrid Gospel Choir at the 2008 Expo Zaragoza/World's Fair in Zaragoza, Spain and the 2008 Navara Gospel Festival in Navara, Italy.
Williams, a resident of Washington, DC, was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is the daughter of Robert and the late Myrtle W. Williams. She is the very proud mother of one fantastic daughter, Lisa.
Vanessa is a worshipper at The Temple of Praise in Southeast Washington, DC, under the anointed leadership of Bishop Glen A. Staples. (visit www.thetempleofpraise.org)
Visit ATTITUDE EXACT GALLERY 739 8th Street, SE Washington, D.C. (202)546-7186. For information on Vanessa's portfolio of works on paper, see Mr. Barry Lester.
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