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Vesta Williams | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mary Vesta Williams[1] |
| Born | December 1, 1957 Coshocton, Ohio, U.S.[1] |
| Died | September 22, 2011 (aged 53) El Segundo, California, U.S.[1] |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1985–2011 |
| Labels | |
Mary Vesta Williams (December 1, 1957 – September 22, 2011)[2] was an American singer-songwriter, who performed across genres such as soul, funk, R&B, Quiet storm, jazz soul and Urban Contemporary. Originally credited as Vesta Williams, she was simply known as Vesta beginning in the 1990s.[3] She was known for her four–octave vocal range.[4][5] She once sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the Los Angeles Lakers game opener using all four of those octaves.
Although Williams never had any albums certified gold nor any top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, she scored six top 10 hits on the United States Billboard R&B chart from the mid–1980s to the early–1990s that included "Once Bitten, Twice Shy"[3] (1986), "Sweet Sweet Love" (1988), "Special" (1991), and her 1989 single and signature song,[6] "Congratulations".[7]
- ^ a b c "R&B Singer Vesta Williams Found Dead at 53". ABC News. Associated Press. September 23, 2011. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011.
- ^ "Audio Exclusive: Norwood Young Details Vesta's Final Days". EURweb. September 23, 2011. Archived from the original on June 21, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
- ^ a b Wynn, Ron. "Vesta Williams Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved September 23, 2011.
- ^ "Stacia L. Brown: Vesta Williams 'Unsung': An Uplifting, Heartbreaking Look At An R&B Dynamo". Huffingtonpost.com. January 2, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
- ^ "Breaking News: R&B Singer Vesta Williams Found Dead In L.A. Hotel Room | Praise 1300". Praisecleveland.com. September 23, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
- ^ "Funeral arrangements for Vesta Williams set | SoulTracks - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews". SoulTracks. September 29, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
- ^ "Vesta Williams, R&B Singer and Actress, Dies at 53". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 24, 2011.