Vanessa Williams

Light Records

Seems to me, as though when you hear the term "newcomer" in the music business, that it’s really a misnomer. Newcomers in the business are a rare find. Most artists in the music industry, particularly if they're over 22, are not newcomers at all. They, quite likely, have been working at their music craft, erstwhile gainfully occupied in some other venture in efforts to provide for themselves and perhaps their dependents. Sadly, the statistics bear out that the millions of individuals who enter the industry every year, only about 1% actually go on to achieve “success” in a band or as a solo artist. Some closet solo artists may toil long and hard paying their debt to the industry in other areas such as songwriting, recording engineering, producing, management, sales, education, etc. Many find work behind the scenes, on the teams of already established major artists as background singers, musicians, stagehands and roadies. Then something kind of miraculous happens to change their station; suddenly they are thrust into the limelight and the world hails them as an “overnight sensation”.

Many established artists, gospel or otherwise, can relate to this. Artists like Dottie Peoples and Lexi or pop icon and Canadian R&B diva Deborah Cox who was a background singer for Celine Dion before she was hailed as a "newcomer". Many reading this can also relate stories of how they’ve had to work at a day job while pursuing deeper musical aspirations.

Still, it would appear artists launched into the mainstream, after having paid their dues within the industry, particularly if they have a wealth of talent and ministry to offer the world - they are the artists who have the greatest likelihood of sustaining longevity in this business.

Vanessa Williams may not be particularly fond of such pronouncements, partly because it might be way too early in the game for a declaration of this kind. Nevertheless, listening to her CD, her delivery, the range of power, passion and deep feeling, it is not a difficult conclusion to draw. A thorough investigation of the project will bear this out. Bear in mind that will mean having the CD in your hot little hands.