Frank D. Williams
Encyclopedia
Franklin Delano Williams (June 27, 1947 in Smithdale, Mississippi
- in Savannah, Georgia
) was an American Gospel music
singer.
. With Malaco they recorded Legendary Gentlemen (1979), Touch of Class (1981), and Down Home (1982). They won several awards during the 1980s. In 1979, while with the Jackson Southernaires, Frank became the executive producer and director of Gospel promotions at Malaco.
Five weeks after this album was released, Billboard magazine licensed it as the Number 1 Spiritual album in America and it stayed on the Billboard charts for an uninterrupted 45 weeks, setting a new record for gospel recordings at that time. At the 9th annual James Cleveland GMWA Awards, the Mississippi Mass won the Choir of the Year-Contemporary, and Best New Artist of the Year-Traditional. They also took home 4 Stellar Awards
in 1989.
Smithdale, Mississippi
Smithdale is a small unincorporated community in Amite County, Mississippi, United States, located 13 miles from the county seat of Liberty. The ZIP code for Smithdale is 39664; the community has a post office . Major highways in Smithdale are Mississippi State Route 569, Mississippi State Route...
- in Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
) was an American Gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer.
Musical career
As a child and during his early teens he joined the Southern Gospel Singers and later, The Williams Brothers.The Jackson Southernaires
He teamed up with his brother Huey Williams in 1964, as part of The Jackson Southernaires. After their debut release, Too Late, they signed with ABC/Dunhill Records in 1972 and where they recorded Look Around and Save My Child. Later the Southernaires signed to Malaco RecordsMalaco Records
Malaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
. With Malaco they recorded Legendary Gentlemen (1979), Touch of Class (1981), and Down Home (1982). They won several awards during the 1980s. In 1979, while with the Jackson Southernaires, Frank became the executive producer and director of Gospel promotions at Malaco.
The Mississippi Mass Choir
Williams formed The Mississippi Mass Choir while serving as director of Gospel promotions at Malaco. With the company's support he began calling in personnel, including David R. Curry, who became Mississippi Mass Choir’s music director. The choir's first album and video, The Mississippi Mass Choir, Live, were recorded on under the leadership of Williams.Five weeks after this album was released, Billboard magazine licensed it as the Number 1 Spiritual album in America and it stayed on the Billboard charts for an uninterrupted 45 weeks, setting a new record for gospel recordings at that time. At the 9th annual James Cleveland GMWA Awards, the Mississippi Mass won the Choir of the Year-Contemporary, and Best New Artist of the Year-Traditional. They also took home 4 Stellar Awards
Stellar Awards
The Stellar Awards is the first Gospel Music Awards show in the country, honoring Gospel Music Artists, writers, and industry professionals for their contributions to the Gospel Music Industry. The Stellar Awards ranks high in status as the only Gospel Music television awards program syndicated in...
in 1989.