UB Celebrates 35th Anniversary of Legendary Alyson Williams

One of our favorites, Emmy winner, Alyson Williams, the First Lady of Def Jam is celebrating the 35th Anniversary of her debut single and album.

Born in Harlem, Alyson Williams was greatly influenced by her father, Bobby Booker a jazz trumpeter who worked with such greats as Count Basie. She began training as a dancer at the age of 4 and turned her attention to singing during her high school years.

Alyson was inspired to study dance under the supervision of, Arthur Mitchell, founder of The Dance Theatre of Harlem. She also studied with Alvin Ailey and performed with numerous other dance companies with the determination to enhance her skills.

Starting her professional career in 1982, Alyson Williams was featured singing lead on the hit single “Action,” by Orange Krush. The single was the first session that was produced by RAL/Def Jam founder, Russell Simmons. After the single died out, she became a member of the group High Fashion under Capitol Records.

Which featured R&B songstress Meli’sa Morgan and Eric McClinton. While a member of the group, she was given background work on a large majority of Simmons‘ groups including Whodini, Kurils Blow, and Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde.

At this point, she was recognized as an artist and followed up working with the likes of legends like Melba Moore, the Commodores and Evelyn “Champagne” King.

In 1985 Russell Simmons recognized her talent and invited her to sing backup for Whodini and Kurtis Blow, on the classic “If I Ruled the World.”

In 1986 Russell Simmons began working with recording artists Oran “Juice” Jones, Chuck Stanley and Tashan, who were signed to his newly formed OBR (Original Black Records) label.

With Simmons believing in her abilities, Alyson Williams recorded duets with each of his OBR artists.

As a result, a year later, she went on tour in Europe with OBR’s “Soul Songs” tour, staging, choreographing and arranging vocals for the show. She also participated in the tour singing solos and duets with Stanley and Tashan.

She gained attention in Europe when she teamed up with them for a 1987 tour.

Her debut solo album “Raw,” was released in February of 1989. “Sleep Talk,” quickly climbed up the charts and reached the #3 on the Billboard R&B charts. “Sleep Talk” reunited Alyson Williams with Oran “Juice” Jones, whose spoken voice can be heard on the song.

“My Love Is So Raw,” an up-tempo smash, which featured female rapper Nikki D, was the next single to be released. The single to follow, “Just Call My Name,” literally exploded on the scene, and even though it didn’t pass “Sleep Talk” on the charts (only by one spot), R&B listeners everywhere were swept off their feet by this super-smooth release.

To-date “Just Call My Name,” is Alyson Williams signature song. Alyson performed a show-stopping electrifying version of the song on “Showtime at the Apollo” in 1992, that features a Donny Hathaway interlude for “A Song For You.” Watch that classic performance below.

Public Enemy and Slick Rick were maintaining Def Jam‘s sales profile in 1988. During contract renegotiations with Columbia, Def Jam‘s owner and president, Russell Simmons, noted that the subsidiary entitled, Original Black Records was launched with Alyson Williams’ “Raw” album, proving very successful in the U.K. as well as establishing her domestically

Alyson stated to Billboard in 1992; “There was initially some confusion because “Sleep Talk” and “My Love Is Raw” were hip-hop oriented tunes. When “Just Call My Name” came out, my album was at #98 on the charts. It started climbing and it was on the strength of that one song that the album stayed on the charts for seventy weeks! I think the company wanted to put it out as a first single, but they were a little afraid of what the response might be. The fact is that it’s become like an anthem for me and has legitimized me as a performer because people now know I can sing!”

“I Need Your Lovin’” moved up to #5 on the charts and also became a big hit in the U.K. Alyson Williams released a remake of the Moments‘ “Not On The Outside,” in the summer of 1990. It was the last single to be released off the “Raw” album.

Alyson Williams now established as a solo artist worldwide.

After touring throughout the world, she returned to the studio to start work on her second album in early 1991. Next she was out on the road again in February on a 70-city tour with a leading role in the musical “Wicked Ways.” Keeping herself busy, she kept working on her album and finished it in November.

Her sophomore effort, the self-titled Alyson Williams, dropped in 1992 and had comparable charting success. The album’s singles, “Just My Luck” and “Can’t Have My Man” reached #6 and #7 on the R&B charts respectively.

Although still signed to Def Jam, Alyson Williams continued to explore her many other talents. She starred in more than a dozen musical stage plays that toured across the country.

Alyson has also appeared on Broadway in “Rollin on the TOBA”, “One Mo Time” and the “25th Anniversary Revival of the Wiz” directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner, George Faison. A consummate performer, her comedic talents landed her a gig at the country’s most renowned comedy club, Caroline’s as well as the starring role of “Power Woman” in ”Menopause the Musical.”

In 1996, Alyson Williams portrayed her friend Phyllis Hyman in a musical play entitled “Thank God, The Beat Goes On.”

Never one to let grass grow under her feet, Alyson left Def Jam and began to collaborate with award winning producer, Marcus Johnson. Together they produced Alyson’s third solo album entitled, “It’s About Time” in 2004.

Alyson and her band are a favorite of the Royal King of Morocco and have had the honor of performing at five New Year’s Eve Galas and six Royal birthday celebrations for His Majesty Hassan II. The culmination was an invitation to perform at the private inaugural fete of His Majesty Mohamad VI.

Alyson had the honor of being mentored by the late Dr. Maya Angelou. Dr. Angelou gave Alyson the nickname, “Song Bird” and requested her presence to perform for private parties at her homes as well as major events worldwide. Following Dr. Angelou’s death in 2014, Alyson was asked by her family to perform at several memorials that were given in her honor.

In 2020 Alyson released the single “Summer Nights In Harlem,” and in 2022 joined legendary Najee on “Valentine Love.”

Alyson Williams launched her own production company, A.W.P, A Woman’s Prerogative. A.W.P. allows Alyson to write musical stage plays, books, television treatments, produce concert series and more.

In 2023, Alyson Williams was a featured artist on musicians, Skip Martin and David L Cook project entitled, “People Get Ready” – Legends Unite For St. Jude, which won the 2023 Emmy for Best Arrangement/Composition.

Last year she also launched “The Alyson Williams Experience,” a set of shows in Baltimore.

Having studied Communications Broadcasting for radio and television, Alyson has embraced her communication roots and become an on-air radio personality on WHCR 90.3 FM The Voice of Harlem. Her show is called In the Chill Zone, “Love Notes w/ Alyson Williams” Alyson’s show airs Tuesday’s from 8pm to 10pm.

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane With The Soulful Sounds of Alyson Williams!