Alyson Williams
Alyson Williams (born May 11, 1962 in New York City, New York) is an R&B singer who had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Career
The daughter of bandleader / trumpeter Bobby Booker, she began her career by singing background vocals for various artists including, Curtis Hairston, Melba Moore (“Love’s Coming At Ya”), B. B. & Q. Band, Cashflow, Unlimited Touch, Bobby Brown and Barbara Mitchell before joining the group High Fashion, which also featured Meli’sa Morgan. After they disbanded, Alyson sang with the group The Affair before moving onto a solo career.
Her first single, “Yes We Can Can”, was first released on Profile Records in 1986; a release on the Def Jam label followed in 1987. At the label, she established herself as an in demand vocalist, duetting with many of her label mates including Chuck Stanley (“Make You Mine Tonight”) and Oran “Juice” Jones (“How To Love Again”).
Her first album release and the first R&B female singer signed to Def Jam, she released the album Raw in 1989. The album produced the singles “My Love is So Raw”, featuring female rapper Nikki D,and “Sleep Talk”. In addition, the single “Just Call My Name” was a hit on the Billboard R&B charts reaching number #4. The song, picked up by many “Quiet storm” formats, is now considered a cult classic and is still played. The album included a duet with the Blue Magic vocalist Ted Mills on “We’re Gonna Make It”. Her single “I Need Your Lovin'” was also a #8 success in the UK, as well as another R&B hit for her.
Alyson also recorded with Tashan on the track “Do You Wanna Know”, taken from his On The Horizon outing. She additionally toured with him in the United Kingdom. In 1991, Alyson recorded “She’s Not Your Fool” for the soundtrack to the movie Livin’ Large. The track was included upon her 1991 self-titled album.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions[1] | Record label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B |
UK[2] | ||||
| 1989 | Raw | 25 | 29 | Def Jam | |
| 1992 | Alyson Williams | 31 | — | Columbia | |
| 2004 | It's About Time | — | — | Three Keys Music | |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart | |||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions[3] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B |
US Dance |
UK[2] | |||
| 1986 | "Yes We Can Can" | — | — | — | |
| 1987 | "Make You Mine Tonight" (with Chuck Stanley) | 66 | — | — | |
| 1989 | "Sleep Talk" | 3 | 3 | 17 | |
| "My Love Is So Raw" (featuring Nikki D) | 12 | 28 | 34 | ||
| "Just Call My Name" | 4 | — | — | ||
| "I Second That Emotion" | — | — | 44 | ||
| 1990 | "I Need Your Lovin'" | 5 | — | 8 | |
| "Not on the Outside" | 35 | — | — | ||
| 1992 | "Can't Have My Man" | 7 | — | — | |
| "Just My Luck" | 6 | — | — | ||
| "Everybody Knew But Me" | 63 | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart | |||||
References
- ↑ "Alyson Williams US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
- 1 2 "Alyson Williams - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ↑ "Alyson Williams US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
External links
- Alyson Williams at AllMusic
- Alyson Williams on Billboard
- Alyson Williams on Soul Tracks
- Alyson Williams on Soul Walking