Marion Williams (August 29, 1927 - July 2, 1994) was a legendary American g… Read Full Bio ↴Marion Williams (August 29, 1927 - July 2, 1994) was a legendary American gospel singer, often regarded as one of the most powerful voices in American music history. A powerful singer with a preternaturally broad range, able to reach the highest registers of the soprano range without losing either purity or volume, she could also swoop down to growling low notes in the style of a country preacher. Williams' singing helped make the Ward Singers nationally popular when they began recording in 1948, and also inspired Rock 'n' Roll pioneer Little Richard's signature wail.

She was born in Miami, to a religiously devout mother and musically inclined father. As was common in the area, Williams was exposed to African American blues and jazz, alongside Caribbean calypso. Poverty caused Williams to leave school at fourteen, working with her mother at a laundry. She was singing at church and on street corners, inspired by a wide range of musicians including Sister Rosetta Tharpe and the Smith Jubilee Singers. She stuck with gospel, however, in spite of pressure to switch to popular blues tunes or the opera.

Williams was invited to join the Ward Singers when they heard her singing during a visit to her sister in Philadelphia in 1946. Williams did so in 1947, staying with them for eleven years. Her first recording with the group was "How Far Am I from Canaan" (1948), followed by the breakthrough "Surely God Is Able", which launched Williams and the rest of the group into superstardom. Their concerts were mobbed by frenzied fans.

Dissatisfied with the low pay she was receiving while starring for the group, Williams left the Ward Singers in 1958, followed by most of the rest of the group, to form the Stars of Faith. The Stars of Faith was unable, however, to reproduce the success the Ward Singers had enjoyed, as Williams retreated from the spotlight to give other members of the group more opportunity to star.

The group's career recovered, however, in 1961, when it appeared in Black Nativity, an off-Broadway production, and toured across North America and Europe. In 1965, Williams began a solo career but soon returned to Miami for her mother's funeral. While there, she felt reinspired to continue her career and began touring college campuses across the country. Her perhaps best-known hit is from this period -- "Standing Here Wondering Which Way to Go". In 1991, she performed as a gospel singer in the film Fried Green Tomatoes, though her scene is available only in the director's cut. The movie was dedicated to her. She was honored as a MacArthur Fellow in 1993 and died in 1994.

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Even Me
Marion Williams Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'Even Me' by these artists:

Crystal Aikin I don't deserve The love you've shown The blood you've she…
Darlene Mccoy I hear you callin' me (callin') Your spirit drawin' me Good …
Howard Gospel Choir feat. Victor Brice & Darrell M. Brown Lord I hear of showers of blessings Thou art scattering full…
Lonnie Hunter & The Voices Of St. Mark It's cold tonight, I heard her say. She was staring out the…
Maranatha! Gospel Lord, I hear of showers of blessing, Thou art scattering ful…
Norman Hutchins [Chorus:] Even me Lord, even me Lord. Even me Lord, even m…
Patrick Lundy & The Ministers of Music Lord, I hear of showers of blessing, Thou art scattering ful…
Yolanda Adams Lord I hear of showers of blessings Thou art scattering full…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Marion Williams:

Cool Down Yonder Cool down there along the banks, banks of Jordan It's cool…
He Ain't Heavy He's My Brother The road is long With many a winding turns That leads us…
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother The road is long With many a winding turns That leads us…
Heaven Help Us All Heaven help the child who never had a home, Heaven help…
People Got To Be Free All the world over, so easy to see People everywhere just…
Put Your Hand In The Hand Put your hand in the hand of the man Who stilled…

The Lord Will Make A Way Somehow I am tired and weary but I must toil on Till…

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS