alyson williams just call my name released

When they refer to me as “The First Lady Of Def Jam” it makes me smile.Īlyson Williams: Def Jam is the label that launched my solo career. I have wonderful memories of the Harlem that I grew up in and those memories keep me connected even though Harlem has become something very different. New York, in general, is just so different. Harlem has gone thru and continues to go thru many changes.

NYT: Is Harlem still Harlem to you? So much has changed in Harlem.Īlyson Williams: To tell you the truth, not really. Harlem means taking pride in who you are and in what you do and always striving for excellence. Being raised in Harlem has prepared me to be able to live anywhere on the planet and thrive. New York Trend (NYT): What does Harlem mean to you?Īlyson Williams: Harlem is where I was born and raised. Williams gave the 411 on “Summer Nights In Harlem,” her new projects, and life to The New York Trend. And, she has a memoir coming out and her reality/talk television show, “The Gig, The Grind.” Now as she is enjoying her latest release, Williams is also hosting a weekly radio show, Love Notes With Alyson Williams – In The Chill Zone on WHCR.90.3FM. She sang the hook on classic Kurtis Blow rap tracks – “Basketball” and “If I Ruled the World.”īesides building a successful recording career, Williams enjoyed acting and singing in both on and off Broadway productions, including “One Mo Time” and the “25th Anniversary Revival of the Wiz.” The self-titled release released two top-ten hits, “Just My Luck” and “Can’t Have My Man.” She released two more albums, in 2004 and then in 2010.īefore reaching success as a solo artist, Williams sang background for Melba Moore, Evelyn Champagne King, and Kurtis Blow. Williams’s first album, “Raw,” spun out several top 5 singles, including “Just Call My Name.” The album spent over a year on the Billboard charts.Īfter Def Jam, Williams began to record for Columbia records (now Sony) and released her second album. Her hit song “Just Call My Name” recently celebrated its’ 30th anniversary.

Williams she was the first R&B singer signed to Russell Simmons’ hip-hop dominated Def Jam Records during the 1980s. “Summer Nights In Harlem” has a full jazzy vibe and is accompanied by the “flip-side” ballad “The Romance Of You.”

Alyson williams just call my name released