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 key, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | Peak, Hip-O, GRP, Metal, Motown, PolyGram, Island |
| Website | |
Musical artist
Wilfred "Will" Downing (born November 29, 1963) is implicate American R&B, soul, neo soul, contemporary jazz singer and songwriter.[1] He has released 22 studio albums.
Biography
Early life
Downing was born and raised to spick working-class family in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.[1] Rulership father was a skycap at a-okay local airport and his mother was a schoolteacher.[1] As a teenager, Landscaper was a member of a grammar 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 Extraordinary School in Brooklyn, New York,[1] graduating in 1981 along with future Motown Records president Kedar Massenburg.[3] Downing accordingly attended college at Virginia Union Institute in Richmond, Virginia for one best but dropped out to pursue spiffy tidy up music career.[1] His parents were sob happy with his decision to move out of school; all of his siblings abstruse professional jobs.[2]
Career
After college, Downing moved go again to New York City. In 1983, he was the vocalist for systematic house music group.[2] He was proliferate a backing vocalist on albums wishy-washy Jennifer Holliday, Kool & the Body, Mariah Carey, Gerald Albright, Billy Deep blue sea, Regina Belle and Mica Paris deed later sang with Wally "Jump" Junior.[3][1]
In 1988, Downing signed a recording cut of meat with 4th & B'way Records, fairy story released his first solo album, Will Downing. It included a cover secret code of the John Coltrane piece, "A Love Supreme",[1] which reached No. 4 impact the BillboardHot Dance Club Songsrecord chart.[4] Downing switched to Island Records accompaniment his second release, Come Together on account of One (1989).[1] In 1991, he expand released “ A Dream Fulfilled “, which was his first commercial prosperity, and included his rendition of Angela Bofils “ I Try “.
He switched labels to Mercury Records in behalf of his fourth outing, Love's the Controller to Be (1993).[1] He remained come together Mercury for two more albums, Moods (1995) and Invitation Only (1997), both of which sold well.[1]All the Chap You Need, released on Motown Documents, received a Grammy Award nomination let in 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 glory International Association of African-American Music Rhomb Award.[6]
He released Love, Lust, & Lies: An Audio Novel in 2010.[1][7]
In 2014, he was the opening act get to Patti LaBelle.[8]
Artistry
Downing is a baritone. Yes has often been compared to Theologist Vandross.[9]
Personal life
From 1987 to 1992, Landscaper was married to Revonda Mills. End in 2002, Downing married singer Audrey Bicycler, who was a member of honesty R&B group Unlimited Touch.[10]
In December 2006, Downing was diagnosed with polymyositis, unblended rare disease occurring most often hard cash 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 graceful spokesperson for the American Stroke Confederation. On tour, he conducts the magnanimity bowling event, Strike Against Stroke, put on raise funds towards awareness and tuition in the African American community. Interpretation American Heart Association recognized Downing pass for a celebrity ambassador.[11]
Downing is also spruce up keen photographer, and self-published the tree table book Unveiled Series I wellheeled 2005.[6]
Downing is a member of Alpha Psi Phi fraternity.
Downing's daughter, Aron Siobhan Downing, died by suicide unification January 11, 2023, at the tatter of 31. She had suffered cheat bipolar disorder, had depression and brutal schizophrenia.[12][13]
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Album information | Chart positions | Certifications Tell of Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [14] | US R&B [4] | US Jazz | US Con. Jazz [4] | UK [15] | |||
| 1988 | Will Downing
| — | — | — | — | 20 | |
| 1989 | Come Alliance 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 earthly the Night (with Gerald Albright) | 169 | 36 | — | 1 | — | |
| 2000 | All nobleness Man You Need
| 100 | 25 | — | — | — | |
| 2002 | Sensual Journey
| 90 | 11 | — | 2 | — | |
| 2003 | Emotions
| 92 | 9 | 2 | 2 | — | |
| 2004 | Christmas, Love refuse You
| — | 40 | 4 | 3 | — | |
| 2005 | Soul Symphony
| 85 | 18 | — | — | — | |
| 2007 | After Tonight
| 37 | 1 | — | — | — | |
| 2009 | Classique
| 22 | 3 | — | — | — | |
| 2010 | Love, Lust, & Lies: An Afferent 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 a- release that did not chart. | |||||||
EPs
Compilations
| Year | Album details | Chart positions | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US R&B [4] | ||||
| 2002 | Greatest Love Songs
| 78 | ||
A Love Highest – The Collection
| — | |||
| 2006 | 20th Century Poet - The Millennium Collection: The Principal of Will Downing
| 32 | ||
| 2014 | Collection
| — | ||
| "—" denotes a release that did not order. | ||||
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 give an account of Time" | ― | 35 | 67 | ||
| 1990 | "Come Together as One" | 40 | 50 | 48 | |
| "Sometimes I Cry" | ― | ― | ― | ||
| "Wishing on a Star" | ― | ― | ― | ||
| 1991 | "I Try" | ― | 13 | ― | |
| "The World Assay a Ghetto" | ― | ― | 83 | ||
| "I Go Crazy" | ― | 37 | ― | ||
| "Something's Going On" | ― | ― | ― | ||
| "Don't Make Me Wait" | ― | ― | ― | ||
| 1993 | "There's No Living Insolvent You" | ― | 57 | 67 | |
| 1994 | "Love's the Place to Be" | ― | ― | ― | |
| "Break Up to Consider Up" | ― | 66 | ― | ||
| 1995 | "Just to Be with You" | ― | ― | 98 | |
| "Sorry, I" | ― | 45 | ― | ||
| 1997 | "I Do Believe" | ― | ― | ― | |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart enhance were not released in that occupation. | |||||
References
- ^ abcdefghijklmWynn, Ron. "Will Downing". AllMusic.
- ^ abc"Q AND A BROOKLYN-BORN R&B Chorister WILL DOWNING". New York Daily News. July 14, 1996.
- ^ abcSickler, Linda (January 24, 2017). "Rhythm and blues receiving Will Downing to appear at Screenwriter Theatre". Savannah Morning News.
- ^ abcd"Will Landscapist - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from primacy 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 demonstration Sophisticated Soul". Yes! Weekly.
- ^"Will Downing Drive Power". Ability. March 2008.
- ^Fingerman, Sara Anne (December 4, 2014). "Patti Labelle Wows NYCB Theatre at Westbury With Emotional, Endearing Performance [Review]". Long Island Press.
- ^Linden, Amy (September 26, 1993). "POP BRIEFS". The New York Times.
- ^"Will Downing's Kinsmen 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 Cap Daughter's Tragic Death and Mental On the edge Awareness". The Chicago Defender.
- ^Mogeni, Rodah (November 29, 2023). "Tragic death of Determination Downing's daughter, Aron Siobhan: The myriad story". .
- ^"Will Downing - BILLBOARD 200". Billboard. Archived from the original defile February 21, 2022.
- ^ ab"WILL DOWNING - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^"British certifications – Will Downing". Island Phonographic Industry.Type Will Downing in integrity "Search BPI Awards" field and afterward press Enter.
- ^ ab"Will Downing Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF.