MUSIC WtEK OCTOBER 15, 1977

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finger in every pie

DENIECE WILLIAMS is much mutual friend, John Harris, more than just a pretty voice. Wonder's right-hand man. Ms. Although the son of advance VAL FALLOON Williams had cut some singles a few publicity that caused Russell Harly TALKSTO years before, for the local Toddlin' to use the borrowed tag of "every DENIECE WILLIAMS Town and Lock labels, with the aim thinking man's Diana Ross" left her of singing to support herself through bewildered, her rapid rise to chart college. Her type of church-singing stardom, far from leaving her business." A. highly articulate lady, background and close-knit religious Deniece Williams overawed and stage-struck, has been (not one phrase of soul slang passed upbringing does not automatically watching and learning, Ms. Williams accepted with a serene approach her lips) she is willing and able to lead to life on the road with the king was to sing them herself. which surprises. That is, until it talk at length on most aspects of that of r&b. When in 1969 Harris played "I'd outgrown the situation I was is quietly observing White in the becomes apparent that Ms. Williams business. In the UK for a short one of those old 45s, Love Is in. I felt there was nothing more I studio. is also a record producer, a concert tour and tv spots, she faced Tears, to Wonder, and she was could learn, and it was time to see if "He's an excellent producer. I ve songwriter, a publisher and a the thought of eight interviews in called for audition, the decision to what I'd learned could be put to been watching him quite a bit, business woman as well as CBS's one day with calm stoicism. She has accept his offer meant, for her, a good use in the outside world." learning basic techniques. Now I've great black hope. done the Russell Harly spot, a Top painful break with tradition. Working with a legend like Wonder produced three tracks of the Lollies' "Of course it's a compliment to Of The Pops, and the Basil Brush "I couldn't possibly have foreseen must surely have provided a LP, and I'm pleased with the results. be tagged the next Diana Ross," she show. (Demands in the US prevent the result of my decision to pack up newcomer with an enormous I know I can do it. Once I've said. "Diana Ross is great. Bui pan her from going into Europe.) and join Wonderlove," she said. amount of knowledge. "Yes, of completed that album, I hope to do of the reason for titling my album She is also trying to lake life a "But at 20 I was adventurous. I had course it did. When I joined 1 was more production." 'This Is Niccy' was to prevent people little easier, having recently finished to give it a try." very shy. I just sat tight, kept quiet Her four publishing outlets — from calling me the next Minnie a seven-month tour of the US. (The Three years of recording and and observed. Sievie Wonder is a Kee-Drick, which has Free and Ripenon or whoever. With the LP is a year old, the single. Free was touring was not easy. At first she great person to learn from because e Elaine are her own, while New Bag second LP everyone should know in the UK charts four or five months took her son on the road with her, does so many things. He opened me (That's What Friends Are for) and what my own thing is, and forget after the US discovered it). She now but left the group to have her second up to so many different kinds of Rosebud are with others — resulted, about comparisons." has to go back into the studios, and child. She joined again, went back music. I was brought up with r&b she said, from the writers being Deniece Williams is very much her perhaps in the spring she will lake up on the road and back into the and gospel; he's into jazz, classical, amateurs. own woman. The advance publicity where she, left off producing a new studios. She left once more, rejoined Latin, reggae — everything. He "We were just experimenting," details her sudden rise from band called The Lollies, whose and decided finally that the music broadened my scope enormously. she said. "Every time a different suburban Chicago housewife and members' ages range from 9 to 16. business was where she was going to Buteventually it wastimetogo." By group of us wrote a song, we started mother, training to be a nurse, to a And there are her four publishing make her living. then she was much more than another publishing company. That Number One hit single artist via outlets to see to, songs to be written During the last year with Deniece Williams, backing vocalist. was trial and error, my growing Sievie Wonder's Wonderlove for herself and other people, and her Wonderlove she had started writing Because of her voice on song demo period if you like. Now Kee-Drick backing group. She should, in true two sons to take care of. songs with other members of the discs for her publishing outlets, she makes the most money, and showbiz tradition, be stunned by all All this is a long way from being a group. They decided that the thing had received several offers to go solo Rosebud is building, so I can't really this. But she is a level-headed student nurse in Chicago. The to do was have their own publishing from producers and record change things." woman, and realistic about the decision to change her settled life outlet. Gradually this built up, companies. Singing, she says, has opened so music business; "It's my job, it's the style entirely and join Wonderlove though not spectacularly, and it "After about a year of many doors to her. She has the next thing 1 do best, but I never allow was a hard one. dawned on her that the only way she concentrating on writing, I finally five years or so mapped out, then myself to forget that '\i is a The opportunity came through a was going to get her songs across got together with Maurice White. after that, when, perhaps, she'll His work is closest to what I wanted have done enough of the to do. We did the LP, leaving it to recording/touring/writing/producing/ the public and the programmers to publishing a hot act has to do, she'll FOR THE FIRST TIME AVAILABLE FROM pick the single, and Free was the go into the next phase. result." "I've an ambition to act, do 1 JANUARY 1978: Free was born in the studio, movies, musicals, comedies maybe, written with Susaye Green, Nathan something like Liza Minelli or even Watts and Hank Redd, also in Barbra Streisand," she mused. Wonderlpve. "I like to leave room She expressed an admiration for for the songs that just grow out of the UK's Marti Caine. "She's very MUSIC WEEK YEARBOOK a studio jam," she added. Last year much like Carol Burnett. That's the she had about 15 songs on her own sort of thing I'd like to do. And of and other people's records, and this course write for movies and year there are, so far, around ten television." 1978 titles on disc. Supposing the record business Lani Groves, also ex-Wonderlove, doesn't want to let go of its brightest The Music Week Record Industry Yearbook is now in preparatioa has written three of the titles on this soul hope? "I'll always sing," she is Niecy, and "Niecy" has written said firmly. "What I don't intend to The following categories will be covered: the other five. She also writes for do is work as hard at it as I have The Emotions, and they write for been doing. Road life is lough and Record Companies her. Both acts, along with Earth, you have to take care of yourself. Independent Record Producers Wind and Fire and new act The There's a lot I'd like to see Pockets, are produced by Maurice changed." Record Distributors White's Kalimba Productions. Judging by the way things have Record Importers White, leader of Earth, Wind and worked out for Ms. Williams in the Music Publishers Fire is also one of the most in- past year it seems unlikely that she demand producers in the US at the will have to wait five years to do all Cassette/8-Track moment. Following her pattern of Manufacturers-Distributors the things she wants. Concert Promoters Independent Record Promoters Marketing Services Recording Studios Booking Agents/Personal Managers" Artists Guide P.R^Companies ^ Accessory Manufacturers Custom Pressing Sleeve & Label Printers Shopfitting Equipment Display Service/Equipment Organisations If you have not already received your questionnnaire, please fill in form on page 100. All completed forms to be submitted by 10th October. All entries are free of charge. If you have any problems CONTACT LOUISE FARES AT MUSIC WEEK. TEL; 01-836 1522.

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