BY BILL VAUGHAN
CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST
Columbus Post

It’s been 16 years since R&B/Pop singer/songwriter Deniece Williams had a new recording out. She hasn’t been totally away though. The four time Grammy Award winner lived in London for a spell, replacing Chaka Khan in “Mama I Want To Sing” and hosting a long-running radio show. Back in L.A., there were appearances on “Elimidate;” “CelebrityDuets,” where she sang with eventual winner Alfonso Ribiero; and lastyear’s TV Land Awards, where she and Johnny Mathis did their duet from “Family Ties.” On her new release, “Love Niecy Style” on the Shanachie label, friends like her former Wonder love leader Stevie Wonder add to favorites that includes “Cherish” uniquely sung from a woman’s point of view; and “That’s How Heartaches Are Made,” the Baby Washington hit she describes as being on her heart for 30 years. Tasty Clips asked if the break from recording had an effect on her sound. “Of course the older you get the vocal chords are not as strong and as tight as they used to be,” she admitted. “The timbre changes, but I think that the changes that I hear in my voice are more from maturity than anything else. I listen to my first record “This is Niecy” and even the second, I hear a little girl. (laughs) Now I hear a woman. My feeling was that if god kept me physical, vocally and emotionally healthy, there was no reason why I couldn’t come back at some point. I’ve been around (great) artists. Sarah Vaughan invited me to her home and cooked dinner. I spoke to Ella Fitzgerald right before she passed away. I flew into New York specifically to see Lena Horne when she was doing her one-woman show. Nancy Wilson men to redme for awhile. I got an opportunity to look at artists who had been in the business a lot of years. I felt that I could be one of those.”
Q. Hip-hop producer Jazze Pha was reported to be your son.
A. “And that’s funny because I finally have his phone number. I’m going to call him. My mom Called me up one day last year and said, ‘You didn’t tell me I had another grandson.’ We got to talking and I picked up this magazine, I think it was Vibe. I believe it turned out his mom’s name is Denise Williams. Someone then assumed it was me. I’ve been accused about a lot of things but this was new.”
Q. You were rumored at one time to be dating singer Michael McDonald.
A. “Michael and I were just friends.” (laughs) “I dated a gentleman who was on my very first record. His name was George Bohannon. He was an incredible trombone player. I dated George for many, many years. He was one of the loves of my life.”
Q. Of the songs you’ve written, which one is your favorite?
A. “Wow. ‘Probably God is TrulyAmazing.’”
Q. Are there any covers of your songs you really enjoy?
A. “WillDowning did ‘Free’ and I thought it was incredible. Vesta Williams just did it and was incredible too. Will Smith did ‘I Believe’ in a song called ‘Miracles’ that had his son on it. It was very, very cute.”
Q. They covered some songs on American Idol.
A. “I don’t watch American Idol. I know a couple of times people have called me and said someone is singing one of your songs and by the time I find the channel it’s over. I just never got into it. You know it feels like work tome. (laughs) I’d rather turn on Star Trek Next Generation and watch Picard.”
Q. Are any young singers impressing you?
A. “I would say not a lot. (laughs) I like Christine Aguilera. I think she can sing. The last girl that I was absolutely in love with was Aaliyah. I thought she was tremendous. She was beautiful. I could recognize her sound above the others. I was excited about the potential of her film career and was very sad at her untimely death. She’s probably the last “new” girl that I was absolutely impressed with.”
Q. Gospel music seems to Have shifted with an emphas is on funk. Is that something positive?
A. “I’m not quite sure. Back in 1981, when Phillip Bailey and I decided to do a gospel show called Jesus at the Roxy in L.A. it was regular R&B/Pop music but with gospel lyrics. We took up the mantle of Walter Hawkins and The Hawkins Singers with ‘Oh Happy Day’ and The Clark Sisters with ‘You Are The Sunshine.’ We just took that whole approach to getting on R&B radio. It has taken off and blown up huge since our attempt. I think that it’s okay to crossover as long as you’re taking the cross with you. We can begin at some point to blend in so much that you can’t tell the difference. Then I’m concerned.”
Q. You are a native of Gary, Indiana. Do you know the city’s famous family?
A. “The Jacksons? I saw Tito and Mrs. Jackson (a few months) ago at a party.He’s probably the one I see the most. I see Jermaine every now and then. Tito had his sons with him – the 3Ts. Mrs. Jackson and my mother went to School together. The last time I saw Michael was about six years ago.”
Q. What do you see as the biggest hurdle for Michael making a comeback?
A. “People accepting him as he is and where he is. That’s a very difficult thing because I don’t think he’s going to go back to what people want him to be. He’s just at the point where he’s going to be himself.”

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