Dewayne Woods

Few artists of any genre have entered the industry with the resume of DeWayne Woods. Protégé’ of famed producer Donald Lawrence, Woods’ luminous vocals have graced recordings by some of today’s biggest talent, including mega-popstar Celine Dion, jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum and Atlantic Starr, for which he sang lead vocals on two albums. Woods has also backed some of Gospel’s finest. John P. Kee, Kurt Carr, Karen Clark Sheard and many others have sought him out for recordings and live performances. Woods, along with Grammy nominated producers PAJAM, also shared Vocal Producer duties on Byron Cage’s “An Invitation to Worship.”

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Woods received his musical education at Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts, followed by a stint with the group, Joy Unlimited. But it was his “random” meeting with John P. Kee that would define the trajectory of his musical career, as he soon after became a member of The New Life Community Choir and ended up leading the group’s hit, “Show Up.” One opportunity led to another and he began singing with Donald Lawrence & The Tri-City Singers, eventually getting his turn at the mic with “Go Get Your Life Back.”

Now, Woods moves from behind the scenes to center stage with his debut project Introducing DeWayne Woods & When Singers Meet - the first release from Donald Lawrence’s Quiet Water Entertainment under the Zomba Gospel umbrella. Although he’s been comfortable in the shadows, Woods felt now was time to release his solo recording. “I always knew that I wanted to do a solo project – probably since I was 17 years old,” Woods shares. “But I’ve learned in ministry that you have to grow. That was a season for me, doing a lot of background work; and I still do have a passion for being a background vocalist.”

But Woods’ days as a backup singer may be permanently over once listeners catch an earful of “Let Go,” the project’s lead single. Not only is the breathtakingly beautiful ballad destined to become a classic, but it’s a certain tear-jerker for anyone wrestling with a situation seemingly out of hand. Penned by noted songwriter and producer P.J. Morton, the song begs the listener to “let go and let God.”