Soul Strutter: Will Downing

Wilfred Downing was born on this day in 1963 in Brooklyn, NYC, and is therefore celebrating his 59th birthday today. He is married to singer Audrey Wheeler, who was a member of Unlimited Touch and also released two solo albums in 1987 and 1991.

He graduated from high school with Kedar Massenburgh who was later to become president of Motown. Downing released one of his 26 albums "All The Man You Need" on Motown in 2000. Other alumni from his high school include Clive Davis, Stephanie Mills and Barbara Streisand.

Before embarking on a solo career he worked with the likes of The O'Jays, Gerald Albright, Regina Belle, Rachelle Ferrell, Rose Royce, Jennifer Holliday, Kool & The Gang, Nona Hendryx, Mica Paris, Billy Ocean, Mariah Carey, Billy Joel. His career began to take off when he met producer Arthur Baker in the mid 80s and became a member of Wally Jump Junior & The Criminal Element who had a few minor hits in the UK but not in US.

His first solo, self-titled, album arrived in 1988 after singing to Island Records which produced his first hit, a cover of Deniece Williams' "Free" which was followed by his biggest hit so far with a version of John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" which reached #4 on US Dance Chart and #14 on the UK pop chart. I think it may be fair to say that his music seems to be more popular this side of the Atlantic as he has so far had 9 UK national pop chart entries whilst, unbelievably non of his US R&B entries have crossed over onto the Billboard Hot 100!

To date, according to his website, he has released 25 albums with his 26th, "Pieces", due on Valentines Day 2023. I guess they must be classifying his 3 EP's from 2011/12 Yesterday, Tomorrow, Today as an album.

Album Discography

1988 - Will Downing

1989 - Come Together as One

1991 - A Dream Fulfilled

1993 - Love's the Place to Be #166

1995 - Moods #139

1997 - Invitation Only #127

1998 - Pleasures of the Night with Gerald Albright #169

2000 - All the Man You Need #100

2002 - Sensual Journey #90

2003 - Emotions #92

2004 - Christmas, Love and You

2005 - Soul Symphony #85

2007 - After Tonight #37

2009 - Classique #22

2010 - Love, Lust, & Lies: An Audio Novel #42

-2011 - Yesterday

-2012 - Tomorrow

-2012 - Today

2013 - Silver

2014 - Euphoria

2015 - Chocolate Drops

2015 - Black Pearls

2017 - Soul Survivor

2018 - The Promise

2020 - Romantique (Part Two)

2021 - The Song Garden

2021 - Sophisticated Soul

2023 - Pieces

Hit Singles Discography

NB up to 2012 as it is problematic finding info after then but I'm sure there must be others since 2012. Those preceded with an asterisk are not available on Spotify but all others are included in playlist below. First position is US R&B followed where applicable by UK chart position in brackets.

02/1988 - Free (Will Downing) #48 (#58 UK)

04/1988 - A Love Supreme (Will Downing) #77 (#14 UK)

05/1988 - Sending Out an S.O.S. (Will Downing) #45

06/1988 - In My Dreams (Will Downing) (#34 UK)

01/1989 - Where Is The Love with Mica Paris (#19 UK)

10/1989 - Test of Time #35 (Come Together As One) #35 (#67 UK)

02/1990 - Come Together As One (Come Together As One) #50 (#48 UK)

03/1991 - The World Is a Ghetto (A Dream Fulfilled) (#83 UK)

03/1991 - I Try (A Dream Fulfilled) #13

07/1991 - I Go Crazy (A Dream Fulfilled) #37

07/1993 - *There's No Living (Love's the Place to Be) #57 (#67 UK)

12/1993 - *Do You Still Love Me (Love's the Place to Be) #69