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Viola Wills

bvoc, voc, 1939-2009 US, Watts, Los Angeles
Singer / Musician of R&B/Soul and Dance
A.k.a. Viola Mae Wilkerson Irma Jackson Kristeen

American singer. Born: 30 December 1939 in Watts, Los Angeles, California, USA. Died: 6 May 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA (aged 69). A pre-stardom Barry White began using singer Viola Wills as a session vocalist on sides that he produced for Bob Keane's Bronco Records/Mustang Records labels. In the mid-1960s, Keane —known for hits by Ritchie Valens, the Bobby Fuller Four, and Johnny Crawford of ABC-TV's hit western "The Rifleman"— wanted to expand into soul music. In 1965, A&R director White signed Wills to Bronco as a solo artist. She recorded several sides for the label, which all failed to chart. In 1969, she recorded a single for the Bem Sole Record label that also failed to hit, titled "The First Time / You've Got My Blessings" (now a British 'Northern Soul' classic). In 1974, she replaced backup vocalist Claudia Linnear on Joe Cocker's European tour. While in the UK, Wills recorded for Goodear Records. Three years later, she signed with Arista Records. In 1979, while signed to the Hansa UK label, Wills enjoyed her biggest hit with a disco version of Patience & Prudence's 1957 hit "Gonna Get Along Without You". Recording in an uptempo dance Hi-NRG style, Wills scored dancefloor hits with "If You Could Read My Mind" and "Up On The Roof", all produced by Jerry McCabe and co-produced by Nick Straker. Wills had a Top 40 UK hit with the double-sided hit "Both Sides Now" and "Dare to Dream" on the Wide Angle label. One of her Bronco singles played an integral part in a number one R&B smash. In the mid-1970s, while working on material for the next "Love Unlimited" album, group member Glodean James suggested to producer Barry White that he use the piano introduction from Wills' "Lost Without The Love Of My Guy" on a new song. At first resistant to the idea because he didn't want to repeat himself, White relented, reused the piano chord progression from "Lost Without The Love Of My Guy" on "I Belong To You". The majestic ballad went to number one R&B in late 1974. It was included on the album "In Heat" and on "Best Of Love Unlimited". Though Wills hadn't had a mainstream US hit to date, her singles are popular in dance clubs and a number of her recordings are floating around, including "No News Is News", "House Is Not A Home", "If You Could Read My Mind", "Let's Love Now", "Take One Step Forward" (by Wills and Noel McCalla), and "Always Something There To Remind Me". Viola passed away from leukemia on 6 May 2009 8:27am Pacific Time.

     
Instruments
  • Backing Vocals
  • Vocals
  • Piano
Genres
  • R&B/Soul
  • Dance
  • Electronic
  • Pop
Plays With
The Sunergyans
Popular Tracks   
Gonna Get Along Without You Now on Gonna Get Along Without You Now by Viola Wills
Gonna Get Along Without You Now - Extended on Gonna Get Along Without You Now by Viola Wills
If You Could Read My Mind on If You Could Read My Mind by Viola Wills
Gonna Get Along Without You Now on Gonna Get Along Without You Now by Viola Wills
If You Could Read My Mind - Radio Edit on If You Could Read My Mind by Viola Wills
Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now - Extendend 12" Mix on Gonna Get Along Without You by Viola Wills
Gonna Get Along Without You Now on Look What You Made Me Do - The Bitterest Love Songs Ever by Various Artists
Gonna Get Along Without You Now on If You Could Read My Mind by Viola Wills
Dare to Dream on Dare to Dream by Viola Wills
Gonna Get Along Without You Now - 1984 Celebration Remix on If You Could Read My Mind by Viola Wills

Track list and 30sec audio provided by


Band Members
Discography



Title Artist Year Type
Hits AnthologyViola Wills2013Compil.
Stormy WeatherViola Wills2013Album
Chemical Attraction (Radio Edits)Viola Wills2012Album
The Very Best OfViola Wills2008Compil.
Enjoy YourselfViola Wills2007Album
Never Knew Love Like This BeforeViola Wills2006Single
What Now My Love? / Enjoy YourselfViola Wills2006Single
The Essential Viola WillsViola Wills2006Album
I Love To Love / Gonna Get You Alone NowTina Charles / Viola Wills1999Single
HappinessViola Wills1997Single
Get Along Without You Now (Handbaggers Remix)Viola Wills1997Single
Always Something There To Remind MeViola Wills1996Single
Stormy Weather / Up On The RoofViola Wills1995Album
Música DiscoTina Charles / Viola Wills1995Single
Gonna Get Along Without You Now / If You Could Read My MindViola Wills1995Album
DiscoViola Wills / Vikki Benson1995Single
The Best Of Viola WillsViola Wills1995Compil.
A House Is Not A HomeViola Wills1994Album
No News Is NewsViola Wills1994Single
Gonna Get Along Without You Now / People From IbizaViola Wills / Sandy Marton1994Album
Gonna Get Along Without You NowViola Wills1994Album
Gonna Get Along Without YouViola Wills1994Album
I Can See Clearly NowViola Wills1993Album
A Portrait (Greatest Hits)Viola Wills1993Compil.
Gonna Get Along Without You Now / Just One StepViola Wills / Little Milton1991Single
It's My PleasureMy Friend Sam Featuring Viola Wills1991Album
I Think I'm Falling In LoveViola Wills1990Album
Love PainsViola Wills1989Single
Don't Stop The TrainViola Wills / Phyllis Nelson1989Album
Gonna Get Along Without You NowViola Wills1989Single
Over The RainbowViola Wills1987Album
These Things HappenViola Wills1987Album
Take One Step Forward / TightropeViola Wills & Noel McCalla / Evelyn Thomas1987Single
Reggae HighViola Wills1987Album
You Are The Reason WhyViola Wills1986Single
Take One Step ForwardViola Wills, Noel McCalla1986Single
Somebody's Eyes (Extended Version)Viola Wills1986Album
Hot For You / Love TransfusionViola Wills1986Album
Dare To DreamViola Wills1986Album
Both Sides Now / Dare To DreamViola Wills1985Single
Dare To DreamViola Wills1985Album
Tune In For Lovin'Viola Wills1985Single
If These Walls Could SpeakViola Wills1984Album
SpaceViola Wills1983Album
SpaceViola Wills1983Album
Secret Love / Let Me Be Your RockViola Wills1982Single
Stormy WeatherViola Wills1982Album
The More I See You / Give My Love BackViola Wills / Vicki Sue Robinson1982Album
The More I See You / I Can't Stay Away From YouViola Wills1982Album
There's Always Something There To Remind Me / Don't Ever Stop Loving MeViola Wills1981Single
Three Of A KindAmii Stewart / Viola Wills / Precious Wilson1981Compil.
EPViola Wills1981Single
I Can't Stay Away From You / If You Leave Me NowViola Wills1981Single
Viola WillsViola Wills1980Album
Love LettersViola Wills1980Single
If You Could Read My MindViola Wills1980Album
If You Could Read My MindViola Wills1980Single
Up On The RoofViola Wills1980Single
Somebody's Eyes / If You Could Read My MindViola Wills1980Single
Gonna Get Along Without You NowViola Wills1979Single
(Gonna Get Along) Without You Now / It's OverViola Wills / Alma Faye1979Album
(Gonna Get Along) Without You Now / Sexy ThingViola Wills / Bob McGilpin1979Single
Let's Love NowViola Wills1978Single
I Believe In Miracles / Set Me FreeViola Wills1975Single
Soft CentersViola Wills1974Album
Run To The Nearest ExitViola Wills1974Single
Day In The Life Of A WomanViola Wills1974Single
I've Got News For You / SweetbackViola Wills1969Single
You're Out Of My MindViola Wills1967Single
Don't Kiss Me Hello And Mean Goodbye / Together ForeverViola Wills1967Single
It May Be Winter Outside / I Got LoveFelice Taylor / Viola Wills1967Single
I've Got To Have All Of YouViola Wills1967Single
I Got Love / Lost Without The Love Of My GuyViola Wills1966Single
My PleasureViola WillsAlbum
The First Time / You've Got My BlessingsViola Wills With The Hidden PersuadersSingle
Stormy Weather / Don't Leave Me This WayViola Wills / Thelma HoustonAlbum
Put It Where You Want It / Gonna Get Along Without You NowViola WillsSingle
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Acknowledgements
To all the music fans that are contributing on Discogs, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Thanks to Franz Flückiger for providing Storygram used to visualize band membership.
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