BIOGRAPHY
Over the course of her illustrious four-decade career, Vanessa Williams has made her mark on stage, screen, and on record. The former Miss America, has racked up over 212 million digital streams, recorded eight albums , and has six R.I.A.A.-certified gold or platinum albums and singles to her credit. She’s earned 13 Grammy® Award nominations ( including Best New Artist, and Record of the Year). She has placed 13 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart. “Save the Best for Last” was No. 1 for five weeks in 1992. She’s also scored 15 Billboard R&B chart singles (three No. 1’s “Dreamin’,” “Save the Best for Last,” and “Running Back to You”). She’s also found a rhythm on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart with six Top Ten singles, including “The Right Stuff” and “You Are Everything .” Williams has also hit the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart with No. 1 songs, “Save the Best for Last” and “Love Is,” a duet with Brian McKnight; and the Top Ten classics, “The Sweetest Days” and “Colors of The Wind.”
Williams has been equally successful on the big and small screens. She’s done over 100 episodic television appearances on sitcoms, drama series, and variety shows. There have been a dozen telefilms such as Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer, Stompin’ at the Savoy, and Keep the Faith, Baby where she portrayed Jazz pianist, Hazel Scott. There has been another dozen theatrical films such as Soul Food (for which she won an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress), Shaft, Erasure, and Hanna Montana: The Movie. She enjoyed greater success when she was cast as Wilhelmina Slater in the ABC sitcom, Ugly Betty, for which she won three consecutive Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy series. Then, she portrayed vixen Renee Perry in Desperate Housewives and most recently as the voice of Captain Beakman in the animated series, T.O.T.S.
What’s Next….
Vanessa Williams, the legendary star of stage, screen, and the music scene, is dancing into the next phase of her dazzling career with a series of professional high kicks. She’s formed her own recording label, Mellian Group Inc., set up her first publishing entities, and signed a joint venture agreement with Mod Squad, LLC, which is distributed by GoDigiPath, LLC, in association of ADA Worldwide, a Warner Music Group company. Steven C. Beer, an industry veteran who’s worked with Lady Gaga and Britney Spears, has come on board as Williams’ legal counsel.
The first single, “Legs (Keep Dancing),” was co-written by Disney songwriter/producer Chantry Johnson; songwriter Kjersti Long; and songwriter/producer Kipper Jones who co- penned Williams’ 1991 classic, “Comfort Zone.” The pre-order launch is April 12th, and it releases to all digital streaming platforms on April 26th. “Legs (Keep Dancing)” will be available in MSQ Stereo and Dolby Atmos Immersive Audio. The release will be followed by two fiery remixes. 808 BEACH ( a duo of remix masters Bill `Peace Bisquit’ Coleman and John J-C Carr) has worked with a who’s who in the club world such as Zayn, Sia, Lizzo, Jody Watley , Ultra Naté, Tom Tom Club, and Ru Paul. They reproduced and re imagined two different incarnations of “Legs (Keep Dancing)” as the 808 Beach Mix and the Hustlin’ Club Mix. Aside from the digital streaming configurations, the remixes will be available on 12-inch vinyl. Read More..
« There’s a certain comfort in creating new works in the studio while reminiscing about how so many years in this business have brought successes, excitement, and lasting memories. Always moving forward is what drives me. Every challenge is exciting. And more new music to share with my fans is the fuel that lights my fire. »
– Vanessa Williams
« A true multi-hyphenate and savvy businesswoman, there’s not much Vanessa can’t do, »
– Cat Kreidich, President, ADA Worldwide