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R&B singer Vesta Williams has died. Ms. Williams was from Coshocton, Ohio and came onto the music scene in 1986 with Vesta. “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” from that project became her first Top Ten R&B hit. Her sophomore album, Vesta4U became her most popular because of “Sweet Sweet Love”, “4 U” and the histrionic lost-love anthem “Congratulations.” She released a total of 6 albums with her most recent output being 2007’s Distant Lover. Williams also had a cameo in the film “Posse” as a saloon singer and a regular role on the TV show “Sister Sister.” Throughout her singing career she had done session work for Chaka Khan, Stephanie Mills, Anita Baker, Gladys Knight, Bobby Womack, Sting, and The Jacksons among others. Williams was a powerhouse soul singer from the ’80’s who was a part of a canon of singers noted for their vocal strength and church roots. She along with Phyllis Hyman, Regina Belle, Anita Baker, Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan made the insistence that a singer really had to sing when making R&B in the ’80’s.
