Wanda Houston Explained

Wanda Houston
Birth Name:Wanda Lynn Houston[1]
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Origin:Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Instrument:Vocals
Years Active:late 1990s–present

Wanda Houston is an American singer and actress.

Biography

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] 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.[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".[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.[6] [7] 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.[8]

Houston collaborated with American progressive rock band Spock's Beard on two occasions.[9] [10] She was a featured artist on the dance single "Unity" by John Rizzo, also featuring Lisa Hunt.[11] The song peaked at number 27 on the United States Billboard Dance Club Songs.[11]

Acting career

While in Los Angeles, she starred in a few Hollywood films, including The Christmas Path, also starring Shia LaBeouf.[4] [12] Houston starred in an off-Broadway play called "A Good Swift Kick",[2] which premiered in July 1999.[13] The play wasn't warmly received.[2] However, The New York Times praised Houston's performance, calling it fantastic.[13] [2] [4] [14] In 2005 she debuted at Broadway, in a A Streetcar Named Desire, alongside John C. Reilly and Natasha Richardson.[15] [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] [16] [17] In 2006 she performed Ain't Misbehavin' at the Sharon Playhouse.[4]

Personal life

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".[18] Mahalia Jackson was her idol growing up.[2] [4]

Discography

As featured artist

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationAlbum
US
"Unity"
(John Rizzo featuring Lisa Hunt and Wanda Houston)
rowspan200827

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wanda L. Houston - biography. IMDb. 9 March 2021.
  2. Web site: The singer finds her voice: The evolution of Wanda Houston. Dworkin. Susan. 27 August 2018. Berkshire Edge. 9 March 2021. https://archive.today/20210309145426/https://theberkshireedge.com/meet-the-candidate-tahirah-amatul-wadud-running-for-congress. 9 March 2021.
  3. Web site: 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. Edelman. Emily. 16 December 2020. Berkshire Edge. 9 March 2021. https://archive.today/20210309150934/https://theberkshireedge.com/shop-local-on-etsy. 9 March 2021.
  4. Web site: 'Wanda World' takes root in Berkshires. Cassidy. Benjamin. The Berkshire Eagle. 9 March 2021. https://archive.today/20210309150306/https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/entertainment/wanda-world-takes-root-in-berkshires/article_92329e4c-3e60-50a7-87a6-285ede1228c2.html. 9 March 2021.
  5. Web site: The Joe Belmont Experience with Wanda Houston. Boston.com. 9 March 2021. https://archive.today/20210309151449/https://www.boston.com/event/the-joe-belmont-experience-with-wanda-houston-7309325. 9 March 2021.
  6. Web site: Great Barrington Celebrates Du Bois' 153rd Birthday. Landes. Josh. 23 February 2021. WAMC. 9 March 2021. https://archive.today/20210309152331/https://www.wamc.org/post/great-barrington-celebrates-du-bois-153rd-birthday. 9 March 2021.
  7. Web site: Rogovoy Report 2/19/21. Rogovoy. Seth. 19 February 2021. WAMC. 9 March 2021.
  8. Web site: BarnArts 9th Annual Masquerade Jazz and Funk Winter Music Carnival. 3 March 2021 . The Mountain Times (Vermont). 9 March 2021.
  9. Web site: Spock's Beard – Beware Of Darkness. Discogs. 9 March 2021.
  10. Web site: Spock's Beard – The Light. Discogs. 9 March 2021.
  11. Web site: Unity John Rizzo Featuring Lisa Hunt & Wanda Houston. Billboard. 7 March 2021. https://archive.today/20210307102337/https://www.billboard.com/music/wanda-houston/chart-history/DSI/song/584801. 7 March 2021.
  12. Web site: The Christmas Path (1998). IMDb. 9 March 2021.
  13. Book: New York Times Theater Reviews. The New York Times Theatre Reviews 1999-2000. 28. Taylor & Francis. 2001. 978-0-415-93697-2.
  14. News: THEATER REVIEW; Taking Potshots the Entire Audience Can Grasp. Brantley. Ben. Ben Brantley. The New York Times. 30 July 1999 . 9 March 2021.
  15. News: A Weak Erotic Charge Flickers in the New Orleans Heat. The New York Times. 27 April 2005 . 9 March 2021. Brantley . Ben .
  16. Web site: The Latest on Sisterella. Playbill. 9 March 2021. https://archive.today/20210309182409/https://www.playbill.com/article/the-latest-on-sisterella-com-70758. 9 March 2021.
  17. Book: Sisterella. WorldCat . 79394474. 9 March 2021.
  18. Web site: Playlist: We asked Wanda Houston, what's your favorite song?. Cassidy. Benjamin. 17 August 2018. The Berkshire Eagle. 9 March 2021. https://archive.today/20210309154206/https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/entertainment/playlist-we-asked-wanda-houston-whats-your-favorite-song/article_b548c91b-8968-5d74-a7bf-0b6f0af0ca75.html. 9 March 2021.