Vanessa Renee Williams is the first artist signed with BAJADA Records. The Detroit based label is the brainchild of Bishop Andrew and Pastor Viveca Merritt, pastors of the Straight Gate International Church. While others made suggestions, Williams says no one ever made a definite offer to record a project with such promise and faith. "Vanessa", released on May 7, 2002, debuted at  #10, and peaked at  # 7 on Billboard's gospel chart.  She says the prospect of working under the direction of producer, and musical genius Steven Ford made the decision easier. It was Ford who contacted her, at the request of Bishop Merritt, to participate in the recording of Straight Gate Mass Choir’s debut CD, “Faith In the House”, released on Integrity Records in October of 2000.

She worked with a phenomenal roster of producers on her debut CD in addition to Ford and Smallwood. Kevin Bond, Paul Allen and J. Moss of PAJAM, and Fred Hammond penned, arranged, and produced tracks. “Each one possessed his own approach, yet the continuity among them was unbelievable. The songs were personal, and healing."

Although she started singing at Washington’s Bethlehem Baptist Church in 1972, she never actively pursued formal musical training let alone a singing career. Williams is currently a member of Fort Foote Baptist Church in Fort Washington, Maryland. “Singing was simply something I liked to do. The ability to hear and harmonize with others is such a nice gift. Since I was in Kindergarten at Abram Simon Elementary, all I really wanted to do was draw and paint! In seventh grade, I played clarinet in the school band at St. Thomas More Catholic School, but it's a sculpture now", she laughs. Williams is also a painter and illustrator, whose work is currently available at Attitude Exact Gallery.

A vocalist with impressive range, she prefers the alto section. “Richard says I’m just lazy”, she laughs. “While we were recording the incredible song he wrote for the project, he said we’re going to have to talk about that alto thing!” Williams quickly honors, and defers to the success of gospel music living legend Richard Smallwood, and the phenomenal Yolanda Adams. It’s not often that a singer has the opportunity to work with two such renowned individuals simultaneously. “It was divinely ordered”, she says. “I’ll always support their ministries. Their generosity and the opportunities they’ve provided literally changed my life. Teaching children about the Mona Lisa is one thing. Being able to discuss what I’ve seen with my own eyes, as a result of the traveling their ministries afforded me, really boosts a lesson plan. " Beginning in 1994, she moved with ease between concert dates as a group member with Smallwood, and, until October of 2000, an outstanding trio with Adams that included writer/producer Raymond Reeder, and soprano Victoria Purcell.

Prior to working with Adams and Smallwood, Williams sang in and around Washington, D.C. with local groups and choirs including Steve Lawrence and Friends, the Tabernacle Echoes, Freddye Jackson’s “Agape”, and Chosen Generation.

At the close of the 1994 school year, she received a phone call from Darlene Simmons, of the Richard Smallwood Singers, concerning a position as a pit singer in a production of "Bubbling Brown Sugar", produced by Helen Hayes Award winner, Mike Malone. Not long after, a call came from Smallwood himself.

Williams began traveling with the “Richard Smallwood Singers” across the United States, and on her very first trips out of the country from Norway to Guadeloupe, Paris to Venezuela, until the group “Vision’ was formed in 1996. As a member of Smallwood’s Vision, she recorded the breathtaking “Angels” with Stellar Award winner Maurette Brown-Clark, “Oh What a Night”, with Darlene Simmons, the Dove Award nominated anthem “Holy Thou Art God”, and "I Love The Lord" on "Verity Live at The Apollo".  Williams sang background vocals on Karen Clark Sheard’s newest release, “The Heavens Are Telling”,  “Yolanda Adams: Live In Washington", the Canton Spirituals’ “Living the Dream: Live In Washington”, "A Tribute to Rosa Parks", and the Grammy award winning “Mountain High, Valley Low” single, “ Fragile Heart”. Smallwood resurrected the classic “Your Love Divine”, which features Williams, on “Persuaded: Live In Washington”

Williams can also be heard on “Love So Real”, the first  independent  release by Warner artist, John Stoddart, “Ready” with Mike McCoy and Voices United, “Eternity” by saxophonist Skip Pruitt, and the debut release by Drexel University’s Gospel Choir.

Williams was encouraged to continue her visual Art studies by Washington teacher, printmaker and calligrapher, Laurie Siegel. Upon graduation from Notre Dame Academy in 1978, Williams was accepted at Howard University's College of Fine Arts. Williams was instructed at Howard by some of the most noted artists in the country, including Malkia Roberts, Starmanda Bullock, Alfred J. Smith, Tritobia Benjamin, E.H. Sorrells-Adewale, and Michael Auld. She received a Bachelor's degree in Fine Art in 1982.

As an elementary art teacher at Patricia Roberts Harris Educational Center in Southeast Washington from 1987 until 2002, Williams served at the school as Key Coordinator for the D.C. Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative “Art for Every Student Program” and co- coordinator for the nationally acclaimed “Best Friends”, a character-building based youth development program for adolescent girls.

When asked about future plans, Williams replied, "I was a teacher and I enjoyed what I did. My classroom was my comfort zone, yet I’m open to whatever the Lord has for me musically. I do seem to be a kid magnet of sorts, though, and I don't think I'll ever put my crayons down. I was offered a wonderful opportunity to continue working as a curriculum instructor with the Best Friends Foundation. I enjoy visiting schools and mentoring students. I'm also looking forward to more travel".

Among her favorite travels was a tour of Norway in May1995, with the Richard Smallwood Singers. “We visited Kristiansand, Sandnes, Vans Kirke, Stavanger, Karmoy, and Drammen. It’s amazing how music can transcend language barriers. It was a wonderful experience.“ In 1996 she traveled to Guadeloupe, Venezuela and participated in the "Federation Francaise de Gospel / Best of Gospel on Tour" in Paris and Strasbourg, France. In 1997 Vision performed in St. Kitts, "Barbados World Gospel", and The Umbria Jazz Gospel and Soul Easter Festival. In1998 Vision was invited to sing for "Amerique: Gospel Cite de la Musique" in Paris, France, at Emmanuel Centre in London, England, and the second Umbria Jazz Gospel and Soul Easter Festival. Vanessa participated in the Glaxo Wellcome “Living Proof” Gospel tour in 1999, and the Daimler Chrysler “Shout 2000” tour as a background vocalist with Yolanda Adams. New Years Day 2000 found Vision in London once again at Kingsway International Christian Center. The 2002 Alliance Tour featured Karen Clark Sheard, Donald Lawrence, Richard Smallwood, Ted and Sheri, Maurette Brown Clark and Williams.

Williams, a resident of Washington, DC, was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on November 28, 1960, and is the daughter of Robert and the late Myrtle Washington Williams. Her father, retired from the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Federal Protective Service, is the current president of the National Baptist Deacon’s Association of America. Her mother was a secondary English and Humanities instructor with the D.C. Public Schools System. Williams is the mother of one daughter, Lisa, 21, a 2003 graduate of Philadelphia's Drexel University. She has two sisters, Robyn and Lori, and one brother, Jan.

VANESSA APPEARS ON:

1."Verity Records Presents a Tribute to Rosa Parks"- Various Artists

Richard Smallwood Singers

Alto-Background Vocals

Single:” Faith"

Released December 5, 1995 

2."Adoration: Live in Atlanta"

Richard Smallwood with Vision

Alto- Background Vocals

 Duet: "Angels" w/ Maurette Brown Clark

Released April 30, 1996

3. “Love So Real”

John Stoddart

Duet: “One More Chance”

Released 1996

 4."Verity Records: Live at the Apollo"

Richard Smallwood with Vision

Alto-Background Vocals

Solo Performance: "I Love the Lord" 

Released February 25, 1997

5."Yolanda Live in Washington"

Yolanda Adams

Alto-Background Vocals

Released May 20, 1997

6."Healing: Live in Detroit"

Richard Smallwood with Vision

Alto-Background Vocals

Solo Performance: "Holy Thou Art God"

Dove Award Nomination

Released June 1, 1999

7."Mountain High-Valley Low"

Yolanda Adams

Alto-Background Vocals, “Fragile Heart”

Released September 21, 1999

8."Get Ready: The Best of T.D. Jakes"

Bishop T.D. Jakes with the Potter's House Mass Choir

Alto-Background Vocals

Released September 19, 2000

9."Faith in the House"

Bishop Andrew Merritt and the Straight Gate Mass Choir

Solo Performance: "I Was Created to Worship", "There Is None Like You"

Released October 3, 2000

10."Persuaded: Live in D.C."

Richard Smallwood with Vision

Solo Performance: "Oh How He Loves You and Me”; "Your Love Divine"

Released August 7, 2001

11."Vanessa"

Vanessa Williams

Principal Performer/Background Vocals

Released May 7, 2002

12."2nd Chance"                                  

Karen Clark-Sheard

Alto-Background Vocals, “Secret Place”

Released July 30, 2002

13. “Eternity”

Skip Pruitt

Vocals: “Always and Forever”

Released 2002

14. “The Heavens Are Telling”

Karen Clark Sheard

Alto- Background vocals

Released November 4, 2003

15. “The Praise and Worship Songs of Richard Smallwood”

Alto-Background Vocals

Solo Performances: “Angels”, “Holy Thou Art God”

Released October 2003

click here to download Vanessa's Hit Song, "All My Help" (.mp3 1.5mb)