The Pace Report: The Paulette McWilliams Interview

If you own any record, cassette, or cd over the last 40 years you've probably bought music with a background vocalist by the name of Paulette McWilliams somewhere on the credits or liner notes. Miss. Williams has recorded and toured with the likes of Patti LaBelle, Quincy Jones, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Bette Midler, Aretha Franklin, Billy Idol, Marvin Gaye, Johnny Mathis, Celine Dion, Barry White, Mary J. Blige and other endless notable pop and soul artists. She's also in addition to being a in-demand background vocalist, Paulette has also lent her voice to many commercials and jingles. With all this talent and extensive background you might be asking why she hasn't broken out and become a household name like many of her contemporaries? Well, the demands of the industry has placed her in a place where she's been able to pick and choose what kinds of music she wants to record and who she wants to record with. Her latest CD, Tom Scott Presents Paulette McWilliams-Telling Stories" is a personal project that now reintroduces many old and new music fans that she's on the scene and letting the jazz world that she's ready and able to bring the elegant and classy jazz vocals back like her musical idols Shirley Horn, Sarah Vaughan, and Nancy Wilson. "Telling Stories" features her dear friend and former music director for the late Luther Vandross, Nat Adderely, Jr. The two, along with the legendary Tom Scott, chose many classic jazz standards from the great American songbook let Paulette let loose. The Chicago, Illinois native was exposed to music at an early age by her mother. It was her mother that pushed and encouraged her to pursue music. She used to perform at the legendary Ratsos where she met her mentor, guitarist, Phil Upchurch. It was also where she caught the ear of many advertising executives where she began a long career backing and singing vocals for commercials and jingles. It was Phil who submitted a demo to producer Quincy Jones where he eventually asked her to record for him. In addition to her new CD, Paulette performs in a intimate club setting in a show she and her musical director created entitled "Telling Stories" where she talks about her career through her music to rave reviews. To find out Paulette's upcoming club performances or to order her latest CD, please her website at paulettemcwilliams.com.