Lenny Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lenny Williams
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Williams CD cover, 2011
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Leonard Charles Williams |
| Born | February 16, 1945 Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1972–present |
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| Associated acts | Tower of Power |
Lenny Williams, whose full name is Leonard Charles Williams, was born on February 16, 1945. He is an American singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known for being the lead singer of the soul and funk band Tower of Power in the early 1970s. As a solo artist, Lenny Williams also created several popular songs. These include "Cause I Love You" from 1978 and "Choosing You" from 1977.
Contents
Early Life and Music Start
Lenny Williams was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. He moved to Oakland, California, when he was very young. He became interested in music by learning to play the trumpet in elementary school. His singing skills grew as he sang in gospel choirs and groups. These groups were located around the Bay Area. He also worked with famous artists like Sly Stone and Billy Preston.
Joining Tower of Power
After winning many local talent shows, Lenny Williams signed his first recording contract with Fantasy Records. A recording contract is an agreement to make music for a record company. He released two songs, called singles, for this label. These songs were "Lisa's Gone" and "Feelin Blue." John Fogerty from Creedence Clearwater Revival wrote these songs.
In 1972, Williams joined the growing funk band Tower of Power. They had many hit songs together. These included "So Very Hard to Go", "What Is Hip", and "Don't Change Horses". During his two years with the band, Williams helped create three albums. These albums were Back To Oakland, Urban Renewal, and the gold album Tower of Power. A "gold" album means it sold a lot of copies. Williams and Tower of Power traveled and performed across the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Solo Music Career
While he was still with Tower of Power, Lenny Williams recorded his first solo album. It was called Pray for the Lion and came out in 1974. At the end of 1975, Williams left the band to focus on his solo music. He first signed with Motown Records in 1975. Later, he moved to ABC Records in 1977.
Over the next four years, he had ten songs that appeared on music charts. Some of his popular songs were "Choosing You", "You Got Me Running", and "Cause I Love You". Williams recorded four more albums between 1977 and 1980. These included Choosing You, which was his first gold album, and Spark of Love.
After leaving ABC Records, Williams recorded music for other record companies. In 1986, he sang on a song called "Don't Make Me Wait For Love". This song was on a very popular album by Kenny G. The song became a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Music Samples and Acting
Lenny Williams' 1978 hit song "Cause I Love You" has been sampled by other artists. Sampling means taking a part of an existing song and using it in a new song. For example, Kanye West used parts of "Cause I Love You" in his songs "Overnight Celebrity" and "I Got A Love". Another one of his songs, "Half Past Love," was also sampled by The Coup.
Since then, Williams has continued his solo singing career. He performs in the US, Europe, and South Africa. He has also started acting in stage plays. He has appeared in plays like Love on Lay Away and What Men Don't Tell. He is also featured on a music DVD called The Big Show.
Personal Life
Lenny Williams is married to Debbie Williams.
Discography
With Tower of Power
- 1973: Tower of Power (Warner Bros. Records)
- 1974: Back to Oakland (Warner Bros. Records)
- 1975: Urban Renewal (Warner Bros. Records)
Studio Albums
- 1974: Pray for the Lion (Warner Bros. Records)
- 1975: Rise Sleeping Beauty (Motown Records)
- 1977: Choosing You (ABC Records)
- 1978: Spark of Love (ABC Records)
- 1979: Love Current (MCA Records)
- 1980: Let's Do It Today (MCA Records)
- 1981: Taking Chances (MCA Records)
- 1984: Changing (Rocshire Records)
- 1986: New Episode (Knobhill Records)
- 1989: Layin' In Wait (K-Tel Records)
- 1994: Chill (Marathon Records & Bellmark Records, 2020 Reissue by SoulMusic Records)
- 1996: Here's to the Lady (Universal Special Products)
- 2000: Love Therapy (Volt Records)
- 2004: My Way (Thump Records)
- 2007: It Must Be Love (LenTom Records)
- 2009: Unfinished Business (Lentom Records)
- 2012: Still in the Game (Music Access Inc)
- 2020: Fine (Bridle Ridge Records)
Compilation Albums
- 1993: Ooh Child (MCA Special Products)
- 2001: Ultimate Collection (Universal)
- 2002: Ten Ways of Lovin' You (Volt Records)
- 2008: You Won My Heart (Crush Records)
