Malcolm Williams / BIO / BlackGospel.com - Your Music Ministry Source! - March, 2006

BIO / FACT SHEET
Malcolm Williams
March 2006, BlackGospel.coM (from MALCOMWILLIAMS.COM/ABOUT)

To truly know Malcolm Williams and understand his passion for gospel music, one must revisit his childhood, for this is when Williams was first introduced to the microcosm of music. At the age of six, Malcolm was appointed the director of the junior choir at the First Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church in Waukegan Illinois. Little did Malcolm know that this move would commence a musical career that now includes multiple albums, winning major corporate sponsored choir competitions, and more than 20 of his exclusive compositions appearing on 10 new albums in the last 15 months alone.

Recordings by gospel music notables Dorinda Clark-Cole, Dottie Peoples, The Gospel Music Workshop of America Mass Choir, Rodnie Bryant, Angela Spivey as well as, LJ Reynolds of the legendary R&B group, The Dramatics all feature creative works by Malcolm Williams.

Armed with two independent albums secured under his belt, Malcolm Williams is boldly leading his existing and new fans alike toward the highly anticipated album, WALKING IN MY DESTINY. The album, Williams third recording with his newly re-christened Great Faith Choir- and first album on the new Univocal Records imprint founded by music industry impresario Shawn Tate - reflects a blazing personal calling and internal conviction that is certain to inspire the faithful and those beyond its reach.

WALKING IN MY DESTINY confidently covers every genre from praise and worship to soulful ballads and misses nothing in between. "I don't like to be boxed into one genre of music," Williams explained. "There is something on the album for everyone."

The album’s opening anthem “Everything That Has Breath” supported by a four piece horn ensemble compliments of Baltimore’s Mo Horns Company blasts forth a message of adoration to the creator. "A Chance," a soothing mid-tempo psalm of hope reinforces determination and introduces the most skeptical to the believer’s attitude about life in Christ. “This song is most dear to me," Williams said. "I wrote this song the day that I was fired from my job. I knew in that moment that I didn't have to have another reason to praise God. All I needed was a chance."

Williams invited several guests to participate on WALKING IN MY DESTINY. Kim McFarland, best known from her years with Milton Brunson’s famed Thompson Community Singers lends her soaring vocals to "Due Season." The essence of the song is that “it's just time," Williams said. "I've gone through the test, I've passed the test and now it is time to reap the harvest! I knew Kim was the right voice to communicate the message of this timely song.”

Always ready to have some church, Williams felt that no one was really recording core Sunday morning church music. Thus, he composed the hand-clapping toe tapping jam, "God Is My Everything" as a tribute to the church. "This is old-school feel good church music," Williams offered. "It’s an everyday song, and one that everybody can enjoy especially on Sundays, whether as a jam sung by the church choir or as a prep song prior to service."

Williams taps management-mate Paula Payden-Champion- a former background vocalist for Soul crooner Gerald LeVert- to provide leads vocals for the gospel ballad, "God Can," a simple song which reminds the listener that there isn't anything beyond God’s ability to handle. "Often times we try to place limits on God. But with this song, it shows that God can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that worketh in us," he said.

Williams also shares powerful duet duties with prominent Chicago pastor and national recording artist Minister DeAndre Patterson on, "Until He Saved Me." The song reveals the power and multitude of God’s Grace. "I don't know where I would be without Christ," Williams said. "This is a ballad that will effectuate change in the life of the listener."

Although Malcolm Williams and Great Faith have appeared on stage with a bevy of heavyweights from various genres including pop/country music sensation Lyle Lovett, R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass, and Hip-Hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, Williams remains true to his calling and his admiration of gospel music. "Gospel Music is who I am. This is where I'm supposed to be," Williams said. "I love gospel music and I always have a song in my heart." This focused conviction is one of the key components that catapulted Williams into mastering the art of song writing. Having penned his first song, "Feel the Spirit," in 1984 while still in high school, Malcolm was certain even then, that he was destined to have a future in the music industry. Of his first ever recorded song he offered, "I knew six chords and I wanted to put words to those chords and "Feel the Spirit" is what I came up with," he shared laughingly. "I taught that song to my choir and it was well received." Williams has since grown to learn many more chords as a consummate writer, arranger and producer. His song writing catalogue contains over 100 songs.

Consisting of contemporary infectious beats tinged with old-school traditional churchy flare, WALKING IN MY DESTINY is anchored with thirteen tracks crafted under Malcolm’s exclusive penmanship. "The Lord Never Failed," the lone track un-crafted by Williams still falls in line with the praise purpose of the recording. Songs such as the thumping "I've Got a Right" and its roof shattering compliment, “Chicago Bump II,” which features holy dance music created by Williams, gives a nod to previous albums.

Beyond the music, Williams embraces the social responsibility that comes along with the blessings of success. Having earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Northern Illinois University and a Master's degree in Child Development Education from National Louis University in Chicago, Williams' zeal to help young people is deeply rooted.

"Having worked in social services for 10 years, I see the need and opportunity to use my music ministry and formal education to empower young single parents," he said. I want to show them that no matter what life throws their way, they can rise above their circumstances." That spirit of endurance and divine art of leaning on faith resonates in “Meant To Live,” the closing cut of WALKING IN MY DESTINY.

From start to finish, WALKING IN MY DESTINY describes and embraces the notion that we all have a purpose to fulfill on earth. "I named the album WALKING IN MY DESTINY because as the song implies, I believe it embodies where we are and where we are headed," Williams shared. "It defines us."