Deniece Williams

Deniece Williams is an American singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved success in the 1970s and 1980s. Williams, whose music has been influenced by soul and funk, is known for her hits such as "Free", "Let's Hear It for the Boy", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle", and for her many vocal duets with Johnny Mathis.

As Denise Chandler, she recorded for The Toddlin' Town group of labels and in the 1970s, she was a backup vocalist for Stevie Wonder as part of "Wonderlove".

Her 1976 debut album, This Is Niecy, was released. The single "Free" reached #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the British Singles chart. The album also featured "Cause You Love Me Baby" and "That's What Friends Are For". She also shared a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with pop singer Johnny Mathis in 1978 with the duet "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late". Williams also topped the dance charts with her disco single "I've Got the Next Dance". Mathis and Williams also recorded the popular theme to the 1980s sitcom Family Ties, "Without Us".

In the early 1980s where she scored the top ten R&B smash hit "Silly" in 1981. The following year, she had another #1 R&B chart-topper with her remake of The Royalettes' "It's Gonna Take a Miracle".

In 1984, Williams released the album Let's Hear It for the Boy, in which the title track reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was featured on the soundtrack to Footloose. The song would prove to be the biggest pop hit of her career. She continued releasing albums such as Hot On The Trail in 1986, Water Under The Bridge in 1987, and As Good As It Gets in 1988, which featured her last Top Ten hit to date, "I Can't Wait". In 1986, she would release her first full-length gospel album, So Glad I Know, which brought her two Grammy awards.

Williams would continue to write, record and release gospel music. In 1999, she recorded the Gospel album, This Is My Song, which brought her another Grammy award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.

After more than a decade Williams' new R&B album, Love, Niecy Style, was released in April 2007. It charted at #41 on Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. In October 2007, she released "Grateful-The Redication" with Wanda Vaughn of The Emotions and Sherree Brown.

Music Video

 * Let's Hear It for the Boy