Deniece Williams

Growing up in Gary, Ind., Williams was heavily influenced by her strict Pentecostal church, where she sang in the choir. Eventually, her interest in music led to Stevie Wonder, who hired her to be one of his backing vocalists in the trio known as Wonderlove. This lasted several years until, guided by the hand of Earth Wind & Fire's Maurice Starr, Williams struck out on her own, adopting a smooth R&B approach that complimented her emotive vocals. Hits such as "Let's Hear It for the Boy" and "Too Much Too Little Too Late" followed, but Williams returned to her Gospel roots by 1987.