Even though Grammy winner Deniece Williams gets home for family visits to her Gary roots from time to time, she’s not always booked to be in the spotlight for a concert appearance.
“Valentine’s Soul Jam Featuring The Whispers and Deniece Williams” is the themed performance next month at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana’s Hard Rock Live venue Saturday, Feb. 14. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $63. The show is all reserved seating and only available for ages 21 and up available at the box office at Hard Rock Live at 5400 West 29th Ave. in Gary, or call 219-228-2383, or visit www.hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com.
Born June Deniece Williams, she has been described as “one of the great Soul voices” and best known for the songs “Free,” “Silly,” “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle” and two Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles, “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” from the 1984 “Footloose” soundtrack, as well as “Too Much, Too Little, Too Late” with Johnny Mathis. She has won four Grammys with 12 nominations and is part of the shared vocals for “Without Us,” the TV theme song of “Family Ties,” which she recorded with Johnny Mathis.
Her last visit to Gary was in August for a dedication ceremony for a new mural that was painted in her honor. Chicago-based artist Max Sansing created the piece titled “Songbird,” which stands as a prominent focal point on the corner of 25th Avenue and Broadway.
Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana has “enshrined” Williams by showcasing several pieces of her memorabilia, including a stunning black and silver dress displayed in one of the large casino floor cases and the artwork from her hit single “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” in the local Gary, Indiana tribute exhibit in the gaming area adjacent to the Fresh Harvest restaurant.
“I’ve only done one other live concert event with The Whispers, which was earlier last year, so this is a rare treat to be back sharing the stage with them for Valentine’s Day at Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana,” said Williams, when she was a call-in guest from her home in Las Vegas for my weekly Of Notoriety radio show on 1230 AM WJOB in Hammond.
The Whispers are best known for their two number-one R&B singles, “And the Beat Goes On” in 1979 and “Rock Steady” in 1987. They have earned two platinum and five gold albums by the RIAA.
My last time chatting with Williams was in May 2021, when she joined the Jackson Brothers and other music luminaries for the opening day of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana.
“When I was first starting out, I remember being so in awe of all of the legends you see on the walls of the Hard Rock Casino, and my career was just beginning,” Williams said.
“One of my biggest first-time encounters was when I was with my mom backstage at an awards show, and I saw Cissy Houston, Whitney’s mom, and I was speechless. I grew up listening to Cissy sing. I think I about knocked over poor Whitney to get to her mom, Cissy. I was the same way the first time I met Aretha Franklin, too.”
Denise has no career regrets, she said, adding, “But maybe I should have a couple regrets looking back.”
“There are a few opportunities I passed on, and shouldn’t have,” Williams said.
“Because I don’t like to live in the past, I won’t say what those offers were at the time. I’m lucky that at my career stage, I can pick and choose what I want to do.”
Currently, there is one television series she “loves” and says she’d love to have her agent’s telephone ring with an invite.
“I just love that FOX show ‘The Masked Singer,’” she said.
“If I was called and asked to put on a costume and do that show, I would do it in an instant.”
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and weekly radio host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at philpotempa@gmail.com.
