Fleming Williams

Fleming Williams (December 26, 1943 – 1992 or February 15, 1998) was an American singer known as a member of the group The Hues Corporation and as the lead singer on their hit "Rock the Boat".

Background Williams was a tenor from Flint, Michigan. An early group he was a member of was called the 21st Generation, a group that also featured James Cobbin and Ron Murray. The group recorded a single, "I Need Love" / "Hey James" that was released in 1970 on the Tri-City label. It was arranged by alto saxophonist and arranger Willie "Face" Smith and produced by Choker Smith. In the same year, he had his own composition "Poverty Child" released as the A side of a single released on the Better World record label. It was also arranged by Smith and produced by Campbell.

Williams wasn't the original lead singer of the Hues Corporation. For the first years of existence the group had Karl Russell but after their participation in the Blacula-film project he was replaced by Williams. Williams was actually discovered by Hues Corp member H. Ann Kelley. The group had a no 1 hit with "Rock The Boat" which was the first disco hit to have that distinction.

According to fellow Hues Corp bandmate St. Clair Lee, Williams initially left the group after they recorded the first album, Freedom for the Stallion, which featured "Rock the Boat," and was replaced by Tommy Brown. However, after things did not work out with Tommy, Williams was brought back on board. He had also recorded with Cannonball Adderley and George Duke on Adderley's Soul of the Bible album. He provided background vocals for Lee Garrett's Heat For The Feets album. Along with Jim Gilstrap he provided background vocals for Candi Staton's Young Hearts Run Free album.

Death Williams died at some point in the 1990s. While several early Internet sources listed September 1992 as a possible date of death, none of them have remained definitive in this assertion (in addition to inaccurately listing his year of birth as 1953), and most other sources, including the Social Security Death Index, list his death as February 15, 1998. Anecdotal comments and speculation on the web have attributed his death to causes ranging from a "long illness" to "suicide." Regardless of the actual cause of death, most sources agree that a major contributing factor was a lengthy battle with drug abuse. "Oooo....Ahhh....", (Co-written with Barry White & Jakki Milligan), Appears on the Barry White – Beware! album "A Special Love Song", Appears on the Positive Express – Changin' Times album

Discography

Solo Fleming Williams - Poverty Child / Shades Of Time - Can You Dig It - Better World – 4357 (1970)

Lead vocal

Guest David Axelrod - "The Auction" and "Freedom", appears on album: David Axelrod – The Auction Decca – DL 75355 (1972) Cannonball Adderley - "Fun In The Church", Appears on album: Cannonball Adderley Presents Nat Adderley Sextet, The* Plus Rick Holmes – Soul Of The Bible - Capitol Records – SABB-11120 (1972)

Lead singer The Hues Corporation - Freedom for the Stallion - RCA Victor – APL1-0323 (1973) The Hues Corporation - Rockin' Soul - RCA Victor – APL1-0775 (1974)

Backing vocals

Nat Adderley Sextet– Soul of The Bible - Capitol – (1972) Cannonball Adderley – Big Man: The Legend Of John Henry - Fantasy – F-79006 (1975) David Axelrod – The Auction - Decca – DL 75355 (1972) Lee Garrett - Heat For The Feets - Chrysalis – CHR 1109 (1976) Millington - Ladies On The Stage - United Artists Records – UA-LA821-G (1977) Ned Doheny - Prone - CBS/Sony – 25AP 1359 (1979) Jeff Porcaro – Session Works II - Sony Music Japan International Inc. – SICP-20388 (2012) (CD Compilation