Deniece Williams

Deniece Williams' soaring, four-octave soprano voice made her one of the most distinctive talents to arrive during the soul era. Although she made her recorded debut in 1968 -- the same year as fellow Gary, Indiana natives the Jackson 5 -- it wasn't until the '70s that Williams truly established herself, first as part of Stevie Wonder's Wonderlove, then as a songwriter, and finally as a solo artist who could also produce and arrange her own material while partnering with R&B and jazz giants such as Maurice White, Ray Parker, Jr., Thom Bell, and George Duke. This Is Niecy (1976...