Wanda Houston

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Wanda Houston

| image =

| caption =

| image_size =

| birth_name = Wanda Lynn Houston{{cite web|title=Wanda L. Houston - biography|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2494395/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm|publisher=IMDb|access-date=9 March 2021}}

| alias =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

| origin = Berkshire County, Massachusetts

| instrument = Vocals

| genre = {{hlist|Blues|soul|R&B|gospel|jazz|rock and roll|electronic music}}

| years_active = late 1990s–present

| label =

| associated_acts = {{flatlist|

Robert Kelly
Jeff Stevens
Jay Bradley
Lisa Hunt
Spock's Beard
Martha and the Vandellas

}}

| website =

}}

Wanda Houston is an American singer and actress.

Biography

Houston is originally from Chicago, Illinois.{{cite web|title=The singer finds her voice: The evolution of Wanda Houston|last= Dworkin|first=Susan|date= 27 August 2018|url=https://theberkshireedge.com/the-singer-finds-her-voice-the-evolution-of-wanda-houston/|publisher=Berkshire Edge|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210309145426/https://theberkshireedge.com/meet-the-candidate-tahirah-amatul-wadud-running-for-congress|archive-date=9 March 2021}}{{cite web|title=Bits & Bytes: Pink Martini livestream; Wanda Houston at Egremont Barn; 'Runnin' to Grace'; award for Wynn; winter help for families - Wanda Houston Band to perform at the Egremont Barn|last= Edelman|first=Emily|date= 16 December 2020|url=https://theberkshireedge.com/bits-wanda-houston-at-egremont-barn-runnin-to-grace-award-for-wynn-winter-help-for-families/|publisher=Berkshire Edge|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210309150934/https://theberkshireedge.com/shop-local-on-etsy|archive-date=9 March 2021}} She started singing in gospel choirs of West Side, Chicago. She was born to John and Bessie, the oldest of four. Houston comes from a creative family.{{cite web|title='Wanda World' takes root in Berkshires|last= Cassidy|first=Benjamin|url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/entertainment/wanda-world-takes-root-in-berkshires/article_92329e4c-3e60-50a7-87a6-285ede1228c2.html|publisher=The Berkshire Eagle|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210309150306/https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/entertainment/wanda-world-takes-root-in-berkshires/article_92329e4c-3e60-50a7-87a6-285ede1228c2.html|archive-date=9 March 2021}} Her father was an actor, and her mother was both an actress and a singer. Her father ran a theatre company. Houston studied chemistry in college, but eventually switched to music, getting her degree in music with a focus on opera. After college she ended up in Los Angeles, spending two decades there. At this time, Houston starred in some Hollywood films, and went on to sing at the Sands in Las Vegas. After Los Angeles she moved to Australia while touring with Sisterella. She spent a year in Australia, and considered staying there forever.

In the 2000s, Houston toured with Martha and the Vandellas and The Platters. She lived and performed throughout the United States, Australia and Europe. In 2001 she settled in the Berkshires, and now she performs chiefly in New England.{{cite web|title=The Joe Belmont Experience with Wanda Houston|url=https://www.boston.com/event/the-joe-belmont-experience-with-wanda-houston-7309325|website=Boston.com|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210309151449/https://www.boston.com/event/the-joe-belmont-experience-with-wanda-houston-7309325|archive-date=9 March 2021}} In the Berkshires she is considered a diva. Her current group plays "a mix of mid-20th century jazz and rhythm-and-blues".

In February 2021 she sang the sorrow songs of W. E. B. Du Bois at the 2021 Du Bois Legacy Festival, commemorating the civil rights activist's 153rd birthday.{{cite web|title=Great Barrington Celebrates Du Bois' 153rd Birthday|last= Landes|first=Josh|date= 23 February 2021|url=https://www.wamc.org/post/great-barrington-celebrates-du-bois-153rd-birthday|publisher=WAMC|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210309152331/https://www.wamc.org/post/great-barrington-celebrates-du-bois-153rd-birthday|archive-date=9 March 2021}}{{cite web|title=Rogovoy Report 2/19/21|last= Rogovoy|first=Seth|date= 19 February 2021|url=https://www.wamc.org/post/rogovoy-report-21921|publisher=WAMC|access-date=9 March 2021}} Her own parents were deeply involved in the civil rights movement. She performed at the BarnArts Masquerade Jazz and Funk Winter Music Carnival on more than one occasion.{{cite web|title=BarnArts 9th Annual Masquerade Jazz and Funk Winter Music Carnival|date=3 March 2021 |url=https://mountaintimes.info/barnarts-9th-annual-masquerade-jazz-and-funk-winter-music-carnival/|publisher=The Mountain Times (Vermont)|access-date=9 March 2021}}

Houston collaborated with American progressive rock band Spock's Beard on two occasions.{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard – Beware Of Darkness|url=https://www.discogs.com/Spocks-Beard-Beware-Of-Darkness/release/2627407|website= Discogs|access-date=9 March 2021}}{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard – The Light|url=https://www.discogs.com/Spocks-Beard-The-Light/release/2730413|website= Discogs|access-date=9 March 2021}} She was a featured artist on the dance single "Unity" by John Rizzo, also featuring Lisa Hunt.{{cite web|title= Unity John Rizzo Featuring Lisa Hunt & Wanda Houston|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/wanda-houston/chart-history/dsi/|publisher=Billboard|access-date=7 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210307102337/https://www.billboard.com/music/wanda-houston/chart-history/DSI/song/584801|archive-date=7 March 2021}} The song peaked at number 27 on the United States Billboard Dance Club Songs.

=Acting career=

While in Los Angeles, she starred in a few Hollywood films, including The Christmas Path, also starring Shia LaBeouf.{{cite web|title=The Christmas Path (1998)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264483/|publisher=IMDb|access-date=9 March 2021}} Houston starred in an off-Broadway play called "A Good Swift Kick", which premiered in July 1999.{{cite book|author=New York Times Theater Reviews|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CcVciO--PkgC|title=The New York Times Theatre Reviews 1999-2000|page=28|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2001|isbn=978-0-415-93697-2}} The play wasn't warmly received. However, The New York Times praised Houston's performance, calling it fantastic.{{cite news|title=THEATER REVIEW; Taking Potshots the Entire Audience Can Grasp|last=Brantley|first=Ben|author-link1=Ben Brantley|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/30/movies/theater-review-taking-potshots-the-entire-audience-can-grasp.html|work=The New York Times|date=30 July 1999 |access-date=9 March 2021}} In 2005 she debuted at Broadway, in a A Streetcar Named Desire, alongside John C. Reilly and Natasha Richardson.{{cite news|title=A Weak Erotic Charge Flickers in the New Orleans Heat|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/27/theater/reviews/a-weak-erotic-charge-flickers-in-the-new-orleans-heat.html?|work=The New York Times|date=27 April 2005 |access-date=9 March 2021|last1=Brantley |first1=Ben }} Show director Edward Hall expanded Houston's role ("The Negro Woman") in this version. Houston toured the world with Sisterella, a show produced by Michael Jackson where she played one of the wicked stepsisters.{{cite web|title=The Latest on Sisterella|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/the-latest-on-sisterella-com-70758|website=Playbill|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210309182409/https://www.playbill.com/article/the-latest-on-sisterella-com-70758|archive-date=9 March 2021}}{{cite book|title=Sisterella|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/79394474|via=WorldCat |oclc=79394474|access-date=9 March 2021}} In 2006 she performed Ain't Misbehavin' at the Sharon Playhouse.

Personal life

Houston stated that her favorite jazz song is "Nature Boy", her favorite R&B song is "Midnight Train to Georgia", and her favorite song to perform live is her group's version of "On and On".{{cite web|title=Playlist: We asked Wanda Houston, what's your favorite song?|last= Cassidy|first=Benjamin|date= 17 August 2018|url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/entertainment/playlist-we-asked-wanda-houston-whats-your-favorite-song/article_b548c91b-8968-5d74-a7bf-0b6f0af0ca75.html|publisher=The Berkshire Eagle|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210309154206/https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/entertainment/playlist-we-asked-wanda-houston-whats-your-favorite-song/article_b548c91b-8968-5d74-a7bf-0b6f0af0ca75.html|archive-date=9 March 2021}} Mahalia Jackson was her idol growing up.

Discography

=Singles=

=As featured artist=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+ List of singles as featured artist and year released ! scope="col" rowspan="2" \| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" \| Year ! scope="col" colspan="1" \| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" \| Certification ! scope="col" rowspan="2" \| Album
style="width:2.5em; font-size:90%"\|US
scope="row" \|"Unity" (John Rizzo featuring Lisa Hunt and Wanda Houston) \| rowspan\|2008 \|27 \| \| {{n/a\|Non-album single}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of singles as featured artist and year released

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year

! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Certification

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album

style="width:2.5em; font-size:90%"|US

scope="row" |"Unity"
(John Rizzo featuring Lisa Hunt and Wanda Houston)

| rowspan|2008

|27

| {{n/a|Non-album single}}