Vanessa Williams, the legendary star of stage, screen, and the music scene, is dancing into the next phase of her dazzling career with a series of professional high kicks. She’s formed her own recording label, Mellian Music, set up her first publishing entities, and signed a joint venture agreement with Mod Squad, LLC, which is distributed by GoDigiPath, LLC, in association with ADA Worldwide, Warner Music Group’s independent label and artist services arm. Steven C. Beer, who’s worked with Lady Gaga and Britney Spears, has come on board as Williams’ strategic lawyer/management consultant.
“What a joy it is to be making new music behind the mike again with old friends,” Williams adds. “There’s a certain comfort in creating new works in the studio while reminiscing about how so many years in this business have brought successes, excitement, and lasting memories. Always moving forward is what drives me. Every challenge is exciting. And more new music to share with my fans is the fuel that lights my fire.”
“A true multi-hyphenate and savvy businesswoman, there’s not much Vanessa can’t do,” says Cat Kreidich, President, ADA Worldwide. “We’re looking forward to supporting this exciting next chapter of her career, connecting her with fans who are eagerly awaiting her return to music, and introducing a whole new generation to the magic that is Vanessa Williams.”
Williams is putting the final touches on her first non-seasonal album in 15 years. It releases later this year. The project was executive produced by Mellian Music, Mod Squad, LLC, and Christopher Todd Hall. “This is an album that surrounds Vanessa’s vocal gifts and performances with stellar acoustic and electronic performances by real musicians, real writers, real producers; a real music album,” says Mod Squad CEO, Tony Prendatt. “This album is for all genres. It will touch on all of Vanessa’s experiences in the Pop, R&B, Latin, Jazz, and Dance genres. Vanessa is re-introducing herself by her design; we’re all committed and excited to be a part of it.”
The first single, “Legs (Keep Dancing),” was co-written by Disney songwriter/producer Chantry Johnson; songwriter Kjersti Long; and songwriter/producer Kipper Jones who co-penned Williams’ early classics, “The Comfort Zone” and “The Right Stuff.” Pre-orders began April 12th, and it releases to digital streaming platforms on April 26th. “Legs (Keep Dancing)” will be available in MSQ Stereo and Dolby Atmos Immersive Audio. Williams has also produced a feel-good music video that will premiere on her official YouTube channel @TherealVanessaWilliams on the same day.
The “Legs (Keep Dancing)” release will be followed by two fiery remixes. 808 BEACH ( a duo of remix masters Bill `Peace Bisquit’ Coleman and John J-C Carr) has worked with a who’s who in the club world such as Zayn, Sia, Lizzo, Jody Watley , Ultra Naté, Tom Tom Club, and Ru Paul. They reproduced and re-imagined two different incarnations of “Legs (Keep Dancing)”as the 808 Beach Mix and the Hustlin’ Club Mix. Aside from the digital streaming configurations, the remixes will be available on 12-inch vinyl.
“Earlier in my career, at PolyGram, I had the immeasurable honor to work Vanessa Williams’ releases in many positions,” says Leighton Singleton, Senior VP Distribution, Operations, Sales, and Managing Partner of GoDigiPath, LLC. “In my experience, then and now, she’s one of the most professional and talented individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of representing. On behalf of GoDigiPath, we are extremely happy to be associated with Vanessa Williams, her iconic multi-talented world-class artistry, and we are truly appreciative of her business acumen.”
Music isn’t the only thing on Williams’ mind. She’s currently in rehearsals to star as the fictional fashion queen Miranda Priestlyin London, England’s West End stage production of The Devil Wears Prada. There are preview performances at the Theatre Royal Plymouth July 6- August 21st. The official opening takes place on October 24th at the city’s Dominion Theatre. The musical features an original score by Sir Elton John and lyrics by Shania Taub. The book is by Kate Wetherhead. It’s directed and choreographed by 3-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde, Pretty Woman).
In the past, Williams has served as executive producer for various projects such as the telefilm, The Courage to Love, and her own televised Christmas specials. She’s continuing that enterprising practice as part of the producer team for A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical, a play about the life of the iconic jazz trumpeter known as Satchmo, that will make its Broadway debut this fall at the Roundabout Theatre’s Studio 54 in New York City. The production will star James Monroe Inglehart who is best-known for his Tony Award winning role as Genie in the original Broadway production of Aladdin.
“You can call it a comeback, a full circle moment, or just plain serendipity,” says songwriter Kipper Jones who’s history with Williams dates to her The Right Stuff album debut in 1988. “But I call it a blessing to be creating more history with the iconic force of nature that is Vanessa Williams. If past is indeed prologue, we’re about to give ‘em hell again!”
ABOUT VANESSA WILLIAMS
Over the course of her illustrious four-decade career, Vanessa Williams has made her mark on stage, screen, and on record. The former Miss America, has racked up over 212 million digital streams, recorded eight albums , and has six R.I.A.A.-certified gold or platinum albums and singles to her credit. She’s earned 13 Grammy® Award nominations ( including Best New Artist, and Record of the Year). She has placed 13 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart. “Save the Best for Last” was No. 1 for five weeks in 1992. She’s also scored 15 Billboard R&B chart singles (three No. 1’s “Dreamin’,” “Save the Best for Last,” and “Running Back to You.” She’s also found a rhythm on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart with six Top Ten singles, including “The Right Stuff” and “You Are Everything .” Williams has also hit the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart with No. 1 songs, “Save the Best for Last” and “Love Is,” a duet with Brian McKnight; and the Top Ten classics, “The Sweetest Days” and “Colors of The Wind.”
Williams has been equally successful on the big and small screens. She’s done over 100 episodic television appearances on sitcoms, drama series, and variety shows. There have been a dozen telefilms such as Perry Mason: The Case of the Silenced Singer, Stompin’ at the Savoy, and Keep the Faith, Baby where she portrayed Jazz pianist, Hazel Scott. There has been another dozen theatrical films such as Soul Food (for which she won an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress), Shaft, Eraser, and Hanna Montana: The Movie. She enjoyed greater success when she was cast as Wilhelmina Slater in the ABC sitcom, Ugly Betty, for which she won three consecutive Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy series. Then, she portrayed vixen Renee Perry in Desperate Housewives and most recently as the voice of Captain Beakman in the animated series, T.O.T.S.
Williams has also enjoyed great success on the stage. She made her Broadway debut as Aurora (a role originated by Chita Rivera) in the 1994 musical, Kiss of the Spider Woman. She won a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress (Musical) for reprising Bernadette Peters’ iconic role as The Witch in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods. She co-starred as Jessie Mae Watts in the 2013 revival of Horton Foote’s Trip to Bountiful alongside Cicely Tyson, and she starred in the musical, After Midnight, in 2014. She’s also starred in theatrical productions of Sondheim on Sondheim, Anyone Can Whistle, and Showboat. Williams received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.
ABOUT MOD SQUAD, LLC
Mod Squad, LLC is a consortium of creative and executive professionals dedicated to the development and commercial release of music for all audiences. Our team is a collective of Grammy® and Emmy nominees and recipients, platinum and gold RIAA sales award recipients, career music scholars as well as corporate executives from the entertainment industry. The New York/New Jersey-based label, music production, and consultation company was created by former Mercury/Polydor A&R executive and 2x Grammy® Award winning Album of the Year and R&B Album of the Year recipient, Tony Prendatt . His history includes productions with Lauryn Hill, Carlos Santana, Isaac Hayes, Kool & The Gang, Wu Tang Clan, Gwen Guthrie, Marlena Shaw, Chaka Khan, Irene Cara, as well as, filmmakers John Singletonand Spike Lee, to name a few.