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
04/1994 - *Break Up to Make Up (Love's the Place to Be) #66
06/1994 - Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This with Rachelle Ferrell
#72
10/1995 - Sorry, I (Moods) #45
02/1996 - Just to Be with You (Moods) (#115 UK)
11/1997 - All About You (Invitation Only) #63
06/1999 - *You Sure Love to Ball (Marvin Is 60: A Tribute Album)
#111
07/2000 - When You Need Me featuring Chante Moore (All The Man You
Need) #107
12/2000 - Tired Melody (All The Man You Need) #121
06/2001 - *Is This Love featuring Lee Ritenour #106
05/2002 - Cool Water (Sensual Journey) #117
11/2003 - A Million Ways (Emotions) #58
07/2004 - Rhythms of You and Me (Emotions) #116
11/2005 - Crazy Love (Soul Symphony) #73
11/2007 - After Tonight (After Tonight) #56
05/2008 - Fantasy (Spending Time with You) (After Tonight) #103
06/2009 - Something Special (Classique) #86
08/2009 - Love Suggestions (Classique) #69
09/2010 - Glad I Met You Tonight (Lust, Love & Lies (An Audio
Novel)) #58
05/2012 - Send for Me (Silver) #123
