Died On This Date (September 22, 2011) Vesta Williams / Popular R&B Singer
themusicsover Vesta Williams
December 1, 1957 – September 22, 2011
Vesta Williams was an American R&B singer who achieved a bit of fame during the late ’80s and early ’90s. Born in Ohio, but transplanted to Los Angeles while still a child, Williams was surrounded by music from an early age no doubt thanks to a father who was a disc jockey. After launching her career when she got out of high school, Williams began finding work as a session singer – working with the likes of Joe Sample, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, and Stephanie Mills. That lead to a contract with A&M Records and the release of her debut, Vesta, in 1986. Over the next several years, Williams scored hits with records like “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” “Sweet, Sweet Love,” and “Congratulations.” Her most recent album release was 2007’s Distant Lover. According to prefixmag, Vesta Williams passed away in a Los Angeles hotel room on September 22, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released. She was 53.
What You Should Own
McKinley “Bug” Williams was a singer and percussionist who, along with Frankie Beverly, formed the influential R&B band Maze in 1976. Born in Philadelphia, it was Williams who stayed at Beverly’s side through several versions of the band. Formed out of the ashes of the Butlers as Raw Soul, the group was introduced to 
Esther Gordy Edwards was a pioneering businesswoman who is perhaps best remembered as an executive at her younger brother, Berry Gordy’s Motown Records. After graduating from Howard University in the mid ’40s, Edwards opened Gordy Printing Company with two of her brothers with whom she later started Ber-Berry Co-Op along with her husband (then Michigan state Representative, George Edwards) as a way to provide loans for family members. It was with an $800 loan from the lender that brother Berry launched Motown. Edwards soon joined the label’s management team and took charge of booking tours and artist management among other duties. Within the label, Edwards was affectionately referred to as the “Mother of Motown” due to her nurturing and encouragement, particularly of some of the younger artists. On occasion, she served as a strict chaperone on the their early Motortown Revue tours. Edwards eventually became the Senior Vice President and CEO of the Motown. She later served on the boards of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce and a local bank. During the mid ’80s, Edwards took over the day-to-day of Hitsville, USA – the Motown museum, which houses the original Motown studios among other priceless artifacts. Esther Gordy Edwards was 91 when she passed away peacefully in her home on August 24, 2011.
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