Yasmeen Williams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yasmeen Betty Williams
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Sweet Honey in the Rock performing in Japan in 1980
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Betty J. Williams |
| Born | January 31, 1955 |
| Genres | A cappella, Gospel Music |
| Occupation(s) | singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | vocals |
| Associated acts | Sweet Honey in the Rock, JeffMajors |
Yasmeen Betty Williams, born on January 31, 1955, is an American gospel singer. She was a member of the famous a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock from 1976 to 1986. She is also known by other names like Betty J. Williams and Yasmeen Bheti Williams-Johnson.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Yasmeen Betty Williams grew up in Washington, D.C. Her father, Rev. Dr. Edgar L. Williams, was a Baptist preacher. Her mother was Deaconess Gladys E. Weaver Williams. Her father led the Second New St. Paul Baptist Church for about 45 years.
As a young person, Yasmeen learned a lot about gospel music. Her cousin, Dr. Shirley Ables-Starks, taught her. Her aunt, Vara Simpson, also helped. Her aunt started two gospel groups, The Service Gospel Singers and The Spiritualettes. These groups often sang on the radio.
In the mid-1970s, Williams went to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. She saw a group of Black women singing without instruments. This group was Sweet Honey in the Rock. She felt a strong connection and hoped to sing with them one day.
Joining Sweet Honey in the Rock
About a year after seeing them, Williams joined the D.C. Black Repertory Theatre Company. This was a community program led by actor Robert Hooks. Bernice Johnson Reagon, the leader of Sweet Honey in the Rock, was in charge of the theater's music.
In 1976, Bernice Johnson Reagon heard Williams sing in a class. She asked Yasmeen to try out for Sweet Honey in the Rock. Williams was accepted into the group. She sang with Sweet Honey for 20 years. Her full-time work with them ended in 1986. However, she often returned for special events and recordings until 1996. She still stays in touch with the group and sometimes sings as a substitute.
Sweet Honey in the Rock traveled all over the world. They sang and worked to help communities. A women's group called Roadwork helped them with international tours. Roadwork also created Sisterfire, a festival for women artists. Williams was part of Sweet Honey in the Rock during this time. Other members included Bernice Johnson Reagon, Evelyn Maria Harris, Patricia Johnson McQueen, and later Ysaye Barnwell.
Sweet Honey in the Rock has won many awards. This includes a Grammy for their work on Folkways: A Vision Shared – A Tribute to Woody Guthrie & Leadbelly. The group is featured in the National Museum of African American History and Culture. They are also in the National Museum of American History.
Important Recordings and Shows
Here are some major recordings and performances from when Williams was active in the group:
- When I Die Tomorrow (1999): This was an original song by Williams. Sweet Honey in the Rock recorded it on their album Feel Something Drawing.
- Twenty-Five (1998): Williams was a contributing singer on this Sweet Honey in the Rock album.
- Selections: 1976–1988 (1997): She was also a contributing singer on this album.
- Colours (1989): This was another original song by Williams. Sweet Honey in the Rock recorded it for their album In This Land.
- Drinking of the Wine (1988): This was the soundtrack for a documentary about Sweet Honey in the Rock.
- Live at Carnegie Hall (1988): A live album from a concert.
- We All Everyone of Us (1983): Williams' voice is featured on "Sweet Bird of Youth" and "We All Everyone of Us."
- Good News (1981): An album by Sweet Honey in the Rock.
- No Nukes: The Muse Concerts for a Non-Nuclear Future (1979): Sweet Honey in the Rock was part of this live album.
- Believe I'll Run On (1978): Williams' voice is featured on "Sitting on Top of the World."
- Face The Music (1977): An album with Sweet Honey in the Rock and Meg Christian.
Documentaries and TV Shows
Sweet Honey in the Rock, with Yasmeen Williams, appeared in several documentaries and TV shows:
- Wade in the Water, Vol. 3: African-American Gospel: The Pioneering Composers (1994): A recording produced by Smithsonian Folkways.
- Music of the American Civil War (1990): Produced by Ken Burns.
- Eyes on the Prize (1987): A documentary TV series.
- The Oprah Winfrey Show (1985): Sweet Honey in the Rock appeared with The Barrett Sisters.
- Gotta Make This Journey (1983): An award-winning documentary about Sweet Honey in the Rock.
Solo Career
Yasmeen Williams has recorded four solo albums. She also worked on two other albums with JeffMajors.
- Live Life (Single) (2016): Williams wrote the lyrics for this song.
- Miraculous: Original Songs of Christmas and Easter (2014): Williams wrote the lyrics.
- There Is A River (2011): Williams wrote the lyrics. This song reached #1 on the Top 30 Independent Gospel Songs Chart.
- Walking in the Way of Love (1993): Her first solo album.
- Back to Classics (1989): An album with JeffMajors.
- For Us All (Yoka Boka) (1986): She sang lead vocals on this album by JeffMajors. It includes a song named "YASMEEN."
Solo Songs
Here are some single songs released by Yasmeen Williams:
- 60 Million (2017)
- When We All Get to Heaven (2014)
- Live Life (2014)
- So Busy (2015)
- Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray (2010)
- There Is a River (2015)
What Critics Said
Mike Joyce, a writer for The Washington Post, praised Williams' voice. He said her "rich alto voice produced some sumptuous chest tones and silvery highs." He noted she sang gospel, Billie Holiday, and Bob Dylan songs.
Richard Harrington, also from The Washington Post, spoke about her work with Sweet Honey. He said her song "When I Die Tomorrow" was a "compulsive swirl of polyrhythms."
Family Life
Yasmeen Williams is the mother of Summer Williams. She also has six grandchildren.
