Paulette McWilliams

Paulette McWilliams is an American singer and songwriter. She began her career singing with the bands The American Breed and Rufus, and has appeared as a backing vocalist on recordings and on tour for numerous artists. She worked with Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross, Aretha Franklin, The Jacksons, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones and as a member of Bette Midler's backing group the Harlettes, among many others.

Early life Paulette McWilliams grew up on Chicago's South Side. From an early age, perhaps as young as three or four, she had decided on a career as a singer. Along with two older sisters, from whom she developed an appreciation of live music, she attended shows at various clubs and outdoor block parties from an early age.

She was frequently asked to perform for family and friends and had her first public exposure at age 11 when she appeared on the television show Little Stars, in which she performed alongside Sammy Davis Jr. and sang "Catch a Falling Star". Her early musical influences include Sarah Vaughan, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee, and Curtis Mayfield, among others.

Career

At 12 years old, she got her first agent and began to sing professionally, signing with Don Talty, who managed soul singer Jan Bradley. Her first recording, a song she wrote herself originally titled "He’s Nothing but a Teenage Dropout", came out as the B-side on a Jan Bradley single. It was later released under the title "Teenage Dropout" for her own singing group, Paulette and the Cupids. She continued to work sporadically through high school, first attending Loretto Academy and, for her senior year, Harlan High School. Two years after graduating, she gave birth to her only child, a daughter.

In 1977, she recorded and released her first solo album, Feel Good All Over, released by Fantasy Records, though she was disappointed with her performance, and the album failed to become a hit. In the late 1970s, she became a duet partner with Johnny Mathis, performing with him for several years and appearing on his 1980 album Different Kinda Different. Over the same time period, she continued to work with Quincy Jones, appearing on the Michael Jackson album Off the Wall and its hit single "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough". After working with Mathis, she auditioned for an open spot in Bette Midler's backing group the Harlettes, which she got, and ended up touring in support of her stage show The Divine Miss M, including an eight-week run on Broadway. Through Midler, she became introduced to Luther Vandross, whom she would work with from 1982 until 2002, singing on every album he recorded during this period.

Personal life

McWilliams has a daughter, Brigette, a former singer and interior designer.

Discography

Never Been Here Before (1977) Flow (2007) Telling Stories (with Tom Scott) (2012) A Woman's Story (2020) These Are The Sweet Things (2023)