Wanda Houston
Wanda Houston | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Wanda Lynn Houston[1] |
| Born | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Origin | Berkshire County, Massachusetts |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | late 1990s–present |
Wanda Houston is an American singer and actress.
Biography
[edit]Houston is originally from Chicago, Illinois.[2][3] She started singing in gospel choirs of West Side, Chicago.[2] She was born to John and Bessie, the oldest of four.[2][4] Houston comes from a creative family.[4] Her father was an actor, and her mother was both an actress and a singer.[4][2] Her father ran a theatre company.[2] Houston studied chemistry in college, but eventually switched to music, getting her degree in music with a focus on opera.[2][4] After college she ended up in Los Angeles, spending two decades there.[4] At this time, Houston starred in some Hollywood films, and went on to sing at the Sands in Las Vegas.[2][4] After Los Angeles she moved to Australia while touring with Sisterella.[4][2] She spent a year in Australia, and considered staying there forever.[4][2]
In the 2000s, Houston toured with Martha and the Vandellas and The Platters.[2] She lived and performed throughout the United States, Australia and Europe.[5][3] In 2001[2] she settled in the Berkshires, and now she performs chiefly in New England.[5] In the Berkshires she is considered a diva.[2] Her current group plays "a mix of mid-20th century jazz and rhythm-and-blues".[6][3]
In February 2021 she sang the sorrow songs of W. E. B. Du Bois at the 2021 Du Bois Legacy Festival, commemorating the civil rights activist's 153rd birthday.[7][8] Her own parents were deeply involved in the civil rights movement.[2] She performed at the BarnArts Masquerade Jazz and Funk Winter Music Carnival on more than one occasion.[9]
Houston collaborated with American progressive rock band Spock's Beard on two occasions.[10][11] She was a featured artist on the dance single "Unity" by John Rizzo, also featuring Lisa Hunt.[12] The song peaked at number 27 on the United States Billboard Dance Club Songs.[12]
Acting career
[edit]While in Los Angeles, she starred in a few Hollywood films, including The Christmas Path, also starring Shia LaBeouf.[4][13] Houston starred in an off-Broadway play called "A Good Swift Kick",[2] which premiered in July 1999.[14] The play wasn't warmly received.[2] However, The New York Times praised Houston's performance, calling it fantastic.[14][2][4][15] In 2005 she debuted at Broadway, in a A Streetcar Named Desire, alongside John C. Reilly and Natasha Richardson.[16][2] Show director Edward Hall expanded Houston's role ("The Negro Woman") in this version.[4] Houston toured the world with Sisterella, a show produced by Michael Jackson where she played one of the wicked stepsisters.[4][17][18] In 2006 she performed Ain't Misbehavin' at the Sharon Playhouse.[4]
Personal life
[edit]Houston stated that her favorite jazz song is "Nature Boy", her favorite R&B song is "Midnight Train to Georgia", and her favorite song to perform live is her group's version of "On and On".[6] Mahalia Jackson was her idol growing up.[2][4]
Discography
[edit]Singles
[edit]As featured artist
[edit]| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Certification | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | ||||
| "Unity"[12] (John Rizzo featuring Lisa Hunt and Wanda Houston) | 2008 | 27 | Non-album single |
References
[edit]- ^ "Wanda L. Houston - biography". IMDb. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Dworkin, Susan (27 August 2018). "The singer finds her voice: The evolution of Wanda Houston". Berkshire Edge. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ a b c Edelman, Emily (16 December 2020). "Bits & Bytes: Pink Martini livestream; Wanda Houston at Egremont Barn; 'Runnin' to Grace'; award for Wynn; winter help for families - Wanda Houston Band to perform at the Egremont Barn". Berkshire Edge. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Cassidy, Benjamin. "'Wanda World' takes root in Berkshires". The Berkshire Eagle. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ a b "The Joe Belmont Experience with Wanda Houston". Boston.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ a b Cassidy, Benjamin (17 August 2018). "Playlist: We asked Wanda Houston, what's your favorite song?". The Berkshire Eagle. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ Landes, Josh (23 February 2021). "Great Barrington Celebrates Du Bois' 153rd Birthday". WAMC. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ Rogovoy, Seth (19 February 2021). "Rogovoy Report 2/19/21". WAMC. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "BarnArts 9th Annual Masquerade Jazz and Funk Winter Music Carnival". The Mountain Times (Vermont). 3 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "Spock's Beard – Beware Of Darkness". Discogs. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "Spock's Beard – The Light". Discogs. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ a b c "Unity John Rizzo Featuring Lisa Hunt & Wanda Houston". Billboard. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "The Christmas Path (1998)". IMDb. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ a b New York Times Theater Reviews (2001). The New York Times Theatre Reviews 1999-2000. Taylor & Francis. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-415-93697-2.
- ^ Brantley, Ben (30 July 1999). "THEATER REVIEW; Taking Potshots the Entire Audience Can Grasp". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ Brantley, Ben (27 April 2005). "A Weak Erotic Charge Flickers in the New Orleans Heat". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "The Latest on Sisterella". Playbill. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ Sisterella. OCLC 79394474. Retrieved 9 March 2021 – via WorldCat.