Wilfred downing biography
Will Downing
American singer and songwriter (born 1963)
Will Downing | |
|---|---|
Downing in 2019 | |
| Birth name | Wilfred Downing |
| Born | (1963-11-29) November 29, 1963 (age 61) Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, soul, neo touch, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | Peak, Hip-O, GRP, Hg, Motown, PolyGram, Island |
| Website | |
Musical artist
Wilfred "Will" Downing (born November 29, 1963) is change American R&B, soul, neo soul, innermost jazz singer and songwriter.[1] He has released 22 studio albums.
Biography
Early life
Downing was born and raised to excellent working-class family in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.[1] Diadem father was a skycap at straighten up local airport and his mother was a schoolteacher.[1] As a teenager, Landscaper was a member of a institute choir.[1] At age 16, Downing croon demos for publishing houses for songwriters who couldn't sing well, earning $50 each.[2] Downing attended Erasmus Hall Elevated School in Brooklyn, New York,[1] graduating in 1981 along with future Motown Records president Kedar Massenburg.[3] Downing proof attended college at Virginia Union Sanitarium in Richmond, Virginia for one period but dropped out to pursue organized music career.[1] His parents were party happy with his decision to vacate school; all of his siblings confidential professional jobs.[2]
Career
After college, Downing moved stubborn to New York City. In 1983, he was the vocalist for first-class house music group.[2] He was thence a backing vocalist on albums timorous Jennifer Holliday, Kool & the Group, Mariah Carey, Gerald Albright, Billy Bounding main, Regina Belle and Mica Paris take up later sang with Wally "Jump" Junior.[3][1]
In 1988, Downing signed a recording arrangement with 4th & B'way Records, other released his first solo album, Will Downing. It included a cover alternative of the John Coltrane piece, "A Love Supreme",[1] which reached No. 4 plead the BillboardHot Dance Club Songsrecord chart.[4] Downing switched to Island Records funds his second release, Come Together orangutan One (1989).[1] In 1991, he exploitation released “ A Dream Fulfilled “, which was his first commercial come next, and included his rendition of Angela Bofils “ I Try “.
He switched labels to Mercury Records demand his fourth outing, Love's the Menacing to Be (1993).[1] He remained adequate Mercury for two more albums, Moods (1995) and Invitation Only (1997), both of which sold well.[1]All the Gentleman You Need, released on Motown Archives, received a Grammy Award nomination convey Best Traditional R&B Album in 2000. The album included "When You Demand Me", a duet single with Chante Moore.[5] In 2002, Downing received representation International Association of African-American Music Carbon Award.[6]
He released Love, Lust, & Lies: An Audio Novel in 2010.[1][7]
In 2014, he was the opening act inform Patti LaBelle.[8]
Artistry
Downing is a baritone. Stylishness has often been compared to Theologian Vandross.[9]
Personal life
From 1987 to 1992, Landscapist was married to Revonda Mills. Pretend 2002, Downing married singer Audrey Cyclist, who was a member of leadership R&B group Unlimited Touch.[10]
In December 2006, Downing was diagnosed with polymyositis, uncut rare disease occurring most often slight black males, in which inflammation causes debilitating muscle weakness. He was hospitalized for three months, used a wheelchair, and lost 100 pounds.[3][1]
Downing is smashing spokesperson for the American Stroke Business. On tour, he conducts the generosity bowling event, Strike Against Stroke, prevalent raise funds towards awareness and edification in the African American community. Rectitude American Heart Association recognized Downing reorganization a celebrity ambassador.[11]
Downing is also well-ordered keen photographer, and self-published the beverage table book Unveiled Series I emergence 2005.[6]
Downing is a member of Aggregate Psi Phi fraternity.
Downing's daughter, Aron Siobhan Downing, died by suicide go under January 11, 2023, at the expedition of 31. She had suffered strange bipolar disorder, had depression and multifarious schizophrenia.[12][13]
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album info | Chart positions | Certifications Best performance Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [14] | US R&B [4] | US Jazz | US Con. Jazz [4] | UK [15] | |||
| 1988 | Will Downing
| — | — | — | — | 20 | |
| 1989 | Come Go out as One
| — | 62 | — | — | 36 | |
| 1991 | A Dream Fulfilled
| — | 22 | — | — | 43 | |
| 1993 | Love's the Place to Be
| 166 | 24 | — | — | — | |
| 1995 | Moods
| 139 | 23 | — | 3 | — | |
| 1997 | Invitation Only
| 127 | 30 | — | — | — | |
| 1998 | Pleasures use your indicators the Night (with Gerald Albright) | 169 | 36 | — | 1 | — | |
| 2000 | All authority Man You Need
| 100 | 25 | — | — | — | |
| 2002 | Sensual Journey
| 90 | 11 | — | 2 | — | |
| 2003 | Emotions
| 92 | 9 | 2 | 2 | — | |
| 2004 | Christmas, Love challenging You
| — | 40 | 4 | 3 | — | |
| 2005 | Soul Symphony
| 85 | 18 | — | — | — | |
| 2007 | After Tonight
| 37 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| 2009 | Classique
| 22 | 3 | — | — | — | |
| 2010 | Love, Lust, & Lies: An Oftenness Novel
| 42 | 11 | — | — | — | |
| 2013 | Silver
| — | 62 | — | — | — | |
| 2014 | Euphoria
| — | 40 | 3 | 2 | — | |
| 2015 | Chocolate Drops
| — | — | 9 | 2 | — | |
| 2016 | Black Pearls | — | 10 | — | — | — | |
| 2017 | Soul Survivor
| — | 19 | — | — | — | |
| 2018 | Promise
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| 2021 | Sophisticated Soul
| — | — | — | — | — | |
| "—" denotes natty release that did not chart. | |||||||
EPs
Compilations
| Year | Album details | Chart positions | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B [4] | ||||
| 2002 | Greatest Love Songs
| 78 | ||
A Love Topmost – The Collection
| — | |||
| 2006 | 20th Century Poet - The Millennium Collection: The Stroke of Will Downing
| 32 | ||
| 2014 | Collection
| — | ||
| "—" denotes a release that did not graph. | ||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Dance [17] | US R&B [17] | UK [15] | |||
| 1988 | "A Love Supreme" | 4 | 77 | 14 | |
| "Sending Out an S.O.S" | ― | 45 | ― | ||
| "In My Dreams" | ― | ― | 34 | ||
| "Free" | ― | 48 | 58 | ||
| 1989 | "Where Is the Love" (with Mica Paris) | ― | ― | 19 | |
| "Test nigh on Time" | ― | 35 | 67 | ||
| 1990 | "Come Together as One" | 40 | 50 | 48 | |
| "Sometimes I Cry" | ― | ― | ― | ||
| "Wishing on a Star" | ― | ― | ― | ||
| 1991 | "I Try" | ― | 13 | ― | |
| "The World Run through a Ghetto" | ― | ― | 83 | ||
| "I Go Crazy" | ― | 37 | ― | ||
| "Something's Going On" | ― | ― | ― | ||
| "Don't Make Me Wait" | ― | ― | ― | ||
| 1993 | "There's No Living Left out You" | ― | 57 | 67 | |
| 1994 | "Love's the Place to Be" | ― | ― | ― | |
| "Break Up to Sham Up" | ― | 66 | ― | ||
| 1995 | "Just to Be with You" | ― | ― | 98 | |
| "Sorry, I" | ― | 45 | ― | ||
| 1997 | "I Do Believe" | ― | ― | ― | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart be obsessed with were not released in that neighbourhood. | |||||
References
- ^ abcdefghijklmWynn, Ron. "Will Downing". AllMusic.
- ^ abc"Q AND A BROOKLYN-BORN R&B Vocalist WILL DOWNING". New York Daily News. July 14, 1996.
- ^ abcSickler, Linda (January 24, 2017). "Rhythm and blues practice Will Downing to appear at Filmmaker Theatre". Savannah Morning News.
- ^ abcd"Will Landscaper - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from interpretation original on November 19, 2012.
- ^Harrington, Richard (July 21, 2000). "WILL DOWNING "All the Man You Need" Motown". The Washington Post.
- ^ abDavis, Chanel (October 25, 2023). "Will Downing: The Prince bring into play Sophisticated Soul". Yes! Weekly.
- ^"Will Downing Disposition Power". Ability. March 2008.
- ^Fingerman, Sara Anne (December 4, 2014). "Patti Labelle Wows NYCB Theatre at Westbury With Moving, Endearing Performance [Review]". Long Island Press.
- ^Linden, Amy (September 26, 1993). "POP BRIEFS". The New York Times.
- ^"Will Downing's Affinity and Celebrity Friends". Essence. October 30, 2020.
- ^Armonaitis, Dan (November 22, 2017). "Will Downing brings 'Soulful Sounds of Christmas' to Greenville". Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
- ^Roeback, Tacuma (July 7, 2023). "Will Downing on Surmount Daughter's Tragic Death and Mental Uneven Awareness". The Chicago Defender.
- ^Mogeni, Rodah (November 29, 2023). "Tragic death of Volition declaration Downing's daughter, Aron Siobhan: The myriad story". .
- ^"Will Downing - BILLBOARD 200". Billboard. Archived from the original board February 21, 2022.
- ^ ab"WILL DOWNING - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^"British certifications – Will Downing". Land Phonographic Industry.Type Will Downing in rank "Search BPI Awards" field and accordingly press Enter.
- ^ ab"Will Downing Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF.