Paulette McWilliams profile picture

Paulette McWilliams

One Love That Truly Connects Us All!

About Me

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Chicago has always produced great musical talent. Paulette is absolutely no exception to that rule. What a voice!!Luther Vandross use to say it's like "liquid velvet!!!" She started singing even before she could talk, and as a child Paulette amazed her listeners with her low, deep, sultry, velvety tones and an incredibly wide range. She has quite a long and extensive musical history... The lead singer and one of the original members of Ask Rufus, and before leaving the group, she introduced them to her friend Chaka so she could audition to take her place. They sang together with Rufus for a short period and have remained close friends through the years. A little later Paulette was introduced to Quincy Jones via cassette sent by Phil Uprchurch (famous jazz guitarist).Paulette use to jam with Upchurch and Donny Hathaway at a place in Chicago called Ratsos on the North side... After hearing her tape Quincy immediately sent for her and she became his solo/lead singer for the Body Heat tour. Quincy introduced her on the "Mellow Madness" album of which she co-wrote the title song. While they toured Japan, Quincy surprised her by inviting Sarah Vaughan to join Paulette.. they shared the stage singing a duet on "Everything Must Change" while Q conducted the orchestra..Quincy told Paulette many times that she reminded him of a young "Sassie". Since then, she has recorded and/or sung live duets with Marvin Gaye (on his last tour), Johnny Mathis 2 duets on his album Different Kinda Different) and she sang a solo on Noel Pointer's last CD. Paulette has sung backups, live on tour for artists too many to mention! She also toured and recorded with Luther Vandross (whom she met when they both sang backup for Bette Midler) Paulette was a Harlette!!She continued to record with Luther on mostly all of his records and tours for over 20 years. She has also recorded with Mary J. Blige as well as recorded and appeared with Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Celine Dion, Anastacia, Whitney Houston, Patty LaBelle, Deborah Cox, Michael Jackson, David Bowie and many others. The list goes from A-Z. You don't realize it, bu you have heard her voice many times. She is the voice behind the TV commercials you hear daily such as Folgers, McDonalds, Diet Pepsi with Britney Spears, Cadillac, Cover Girl, American Express, Celebrex and the "Love Jones" by Mercedes. She is also on many movie soundtracks. She appears on and off the screen for the Emmy award winning PBS children's show, "Between The Lions." Paulette is finally doing the music she listened to and learned to love as a child. She is a gifted songwriter and is co-writing her new CD with Anne Schelle Herring.which is to be released in Japan in February 2007, She is currently joined by her good friends and partners Vincent Herring on saxophone, Nat Adderley Jr. on piano,(also producer on the CD!) Richie Goods on bass, and E.J. Strickland and Greg Hutchinson on drums. In addition to being a vocalist/songwriter/actress (Paulette studied at Stella Adler in New York and Lee Strasberg in Los Angeles and has appeared in a few movies) she is working to educate younger artists about the music industry and how to keep themselves productive and in control of their destiny.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 7/20/2005
Band Website: paulettemcwilliams.com, amiestreet.com
Band Members: I have had the privilege of working with so many incredible musicians that I absolutely love, They are all amazing..Tom Scott, Ralph McDonald, Nat Adderley Jr.,Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Scott Brown, Gary Fischer, Don Grusin, Shelly Berg, Greg Phillinganes, Patrice Rushen, Jamieson Trotter,(piano), Tinker Barfield, Fred Cash, Nathan East, Chuck Rainey,Richie Goods, Matt Clohesy, Wayne Nelson, Willie Weeks, Marcus Miller, Byron Miller (bass) Doc Powell, Paul Jackson, Eric Gale, Phil Upchurch, Phil Hamilton,Mike Campbell, Russell Malone (guitar),Ivan Hampden, Yogi Horton, Bernard Purdy, Steve Gadd, E. J. Strickland, Omar Hakim, Greg Hutchinson, Jason Brown,Buddy Williams (drums), and Vincent Herring, Myron Walden, Kirk Whalum, Seamus (saxophone)Tom Harrell, and Steve Turre.. When I play live I am blessed and privileged to have these players moving me..Nat Adderley jr. (musical director/piano)Tom Scott (saxophone), Ron Foyer( piano), Jamieson Trotter (musical director/piano), E.J. Strickland, Greg Hutchinson, Jonathan Blake, Jason Brown (drums), Matt Clohesy, Richie Goods (upright), Vincent Herring, Myron Walden (sax, flute,)Dan Lutz ( bass),Hamilton Price( bass), Will Kennedy (drums) !!I know, don't be jealous!! And I have had the privilege of singing with some of the best singers and friends on the planet!! Patti Austin, Alfa Anderson,Alex Brown, Katreese Barnes, Cydney Davis, Lynn Davis, Siedah Garrett, Sharon Bryant Gallwey, Cindy Mizelle, Brigette McWilliams, Nicki Richards, Angel Rogers, Bemshi Shearer, Robin Clark, Tawatha Agee,Elaine Caswell, Lainie Cooke, Lisa Fischer, Lilias White, Catherine Russell, Norma Jean Wright, Audrey Wheeler, Elisabeth Withers, Brenda White King, Valerie Pinkston, Janice Pendarvis,Rachel Capelli, James and Phillip Ingram, Dennis Collins,Kevin Dobson, Darryl Phennisee, Curtis King, Fonzi Thornton, Luther Vandross, John James, Keith Fluitt, Bennie Diggs, Craig Derry,Ricky MacDonald, Babi Floyd, Frank Simms, Mike Harvey,whew!! I know there's more forgive me y'all...Love you all so much!!
Influences: God!!My Mama!!My beautiful daughter Brigette, and my beautiful grandaughter Willow, My best friends!!! Life!! Love, and Happiness, Joy and Pain, Laughter, Tears! Great Musicians and Singers: Quincy Jones, Luther VanDross, Sarah Vaughan, Joni Mitchell, Barbara Streisand, Whitney Houston, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye,Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Teddy Pendagrass, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Donny Hathaway, Gladys Knight, Dinah Washington, Nancy Wilson, Morgana King, Peggy Lee, Mavis Staples. Dionne Warwick, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett.... And the great singers of today.. Also Great Leaders!! Great Authors! Great Chefs!! The list goes on and on!!
Sounds Like: Kind of a Blog......July, 5, 2008 Sooooooooo the amazing Tom Scott and I've been performing together now for over a year now and it's starting to get real good! Tom is also presenting me on a new CD . I'll fill you in on the record label in a few weeks. But it should be good .. He's a great guy, brilliant, generous musician, and an amazing friend! I feel blessed to have his constant support. And it is truly a thrill to stand on stage and sing with him playing that saxophone Whew!! That boy is bad!!!!! Along with Nat Adderley playing keys. It reallly doesn't get better than that. I'll keep you updated.. Sooon.. you'll hear more Thanks for stopping by! Much Love, Light, and Blessings Paulette.
Record Label: Columbia Music Ent. Japan
Type of Label: Major

My Blog

Tom Scott & Paulette McWilliams at The Vic

Performing for the first time together at the Vic in Santa Monica early 2007. Tom Scott and Paulette McWilliams. Boy we didn't know what we were starting and it's starting to catch on now!! Wheew! It'...
Posted by Paulette McWilliams on Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:58:00 PST

Tom Scott & Paulette McWilliams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD_b7Yj7aOs One of our first performances. Over a year ago and it's just gotten so much better... Hmmmm but this is ALRIGHT! You should see and hear us now!!...
Posted by Paulette McWilliams on Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:54:00 PST

Paulette I didn't know that was you singing the solo on Noel Pointer's last CD!!!

Paulette,I recently listened to Noel Pointer on itunes and heard"Back to Paradise" on the "Never Lose Your Heart" CD... I loved Noel Pointer's work!! Then my best friend told me that Paulette McWillia...
Posted by Paulette McWilliams on Wed, 11 Jul 2007 10:24:00 PST

Flow chosen as one of the top ten picks for all of Japan!!

In the Asahi News (equal only to the New York Times!!) on Friday February 23, Paulette McWilliams "Flow" was chosen as one of the top ten picks for the month on February in all of Japan!! Along with ...
Posted by Paulette McWilliams on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 05:29:00 PST

"Flow" is now available on amazon.com

Just type in Paulette McWilliams in the search window and go from there.. It is an import but it's been selling well this way.. I hope you love it and much as I did making it!!
Posted by Paulette McWilliams on Wed, 14 Mar 2007 05:22:00 PST

Purchasing Flow from Japan!! So many sites !! but amazon.co/jp this is a great one!!!

I am currently working on a CD for the States but I've received so many emails from wonderful friends like you who wants to purchase the one that was just released in Japan. So please do by visiting a...
Posted by Paulette McWilliams on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 03:11:00 PST