Shirley Caesar
Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams, known professionally as Shirley Caesar, is an American gospel singer. Her career began in 1951, when she signed to Federal Records at the age of 12. Throughout her seven decade career, Caesar has often been referred to as the "First Lady of Gospel Music", and "The Queen of Gospel Music". She has won 11 Grammy Awards, 15 Dove Awards, and 14 Stellar Awards.
Caesar has released over 40 albums. She has participated in over 16 compilations and three gospel musicals, Mama I Want to Sing, Sing: Mama 2 and Born to sing: Mama 3.
In 2009, she had sold 2.2 million albums since 1991, making her one of the top-selling gospel artists. She has made several notable appearances including the televised Live from Disney World Night of Joy, the Gospel According to VH1, and a White House performance for President George Bush. She gave a speech on the evolution of gospel music to the US Treasury Department. In 2017, Caesar was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award from The Recording Academy. She has received the SESAC Lifetime Achievement Award, Rhapsody & Rhythm Award from the National Museum of African American Music, and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In 2016, Caesar was honored with a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, for her contributions in gospel music.
Early life
Caesar was born in Durham, North Carolina. She is the 10th of 13 children. All of her siblings are now deceased. Her father Jim Caesar was a well known local gospel singer. He died suddenly when Shirley was seven years old. Her mother Hallie Caesar was partially disabled due to a lame leg. Caesar had a special bond with her mother and took care of her until her death in 1989.Career
Caesar first began singing and performing for family and friends. She began singing as Baby Shirley Caesar all over the Carolinas as invitations poured in. She could only perform on weekends due to being in school during the weekdays. Her professional music career began in 1958 at 19, when she approached Albertina Walker about joining The Caravans, one of the most popular gospel groups at that time. Albertina wanted the vocally talented young Caesar in her group after hearing her sing a solo. Caesar decided to halt her education to join the group.Caesar recorded and performed with Albertina Walker, Cassietta George, Inez Andrews, Delores Washington, Josephine Howard, Eddie Williams, and James Herndon while in the Caravans. Her biggest hit with the Caravans was the song "Sweeping Through the City" followed by "No Coward Soldier". After 8 years with the Caravans, she decided to leave after being offered a solo recording contract with Hob Records. Her first LP on the Hob label was entitled I'll Go, backed up by the Institutional Radio Choir and includes the classics "Oh Peter, Don't Be Afraid" and "Choose Ye This Day".
Other hits soon followed, with recordings such as "Satan, We're Gonna Tear Your Kingdom Down", "God's Not Dead, He's Yet Alive" and the classic "Don't Drive Your Mama Away". In 1971, she won her first Grammy Award for her recording of "Put Your Hand in the Hand of the Man", and in 1975, her recording of the song "No Charge" became an instant hit and her first gold record. Although she had success she wanted to reach larger audiences and felt this wasn't being achieved with Hob Records; she decided not to renew her record contract with them which ended that same year.
To reach more people with her music, Caesar signed with a secular record label called Roadshow Records in 1977 and released the debut album entitled First Lady. The producer of the album titled the album First Lady because Caesar was the first female to ever record on the label. The album contained songs with strong gospel lyrics, but many within the gospel community felt that the music itself was "too worldly," and many gospel DJs refused to play it on their radio station. One song, however, "Faded Rose", later became a Caesar classic. Overall, the album sold poorly, but the "First Lady" title caught on within the gospel industry, and concert announcers, DJs and gospel promoters everywhere started introducing her as "The First Lady of Gospel Music", a title that has been associated with her ever since.
The second and final album she recorded for Roadshow was From the Heart in 1978. It was poorly received for the same reason. Caesar searched for a gospel label and decided to sign with Word Records in 1980 and went on to win several more Grammy Awards during the next several years and beyond. She stayed with Word for many years and recorded some of the biggest hits of her career such as "God's Got It All in Control", "Hold My Mule", "He's Working It Out for You", "Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name" and "You're Next in Line for a Miracle".
She has made a name for herself on the gospel music circuit, making guest appearances on the Bobby Jones gospel show and other popular television shows. Caesar credits Albertina Walker as her mentor and "Queen of Gospel Music".
Between 1981 and 1995, she received seven Dove Awards for Black Gospel Album of the Year for Live at the G.M.W.A., Celebration, Christmasing, Sailin‘, Live... In Chicago, Go and Rejoice. She received two Black Gospel Song of the Year Awards for "He's Working It Out for You" and "Hold My Mule". She has performed with Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, Dorothy Norwood, Faith Evans, Dottie Peoples, Arnold Houston, Kim Burrell, John P. Kee, Kirk Franklin, Tonex, and Tye Tribbett, among others.
Caesar is also an actress. She acted in movies, such as Why Do Fools Fall in Love with Larenz Tate and Little Richard, Fighting Temptations with Beyoncé and Cuba Gooding Jr., and The Unseen with Steve Harris. She acted in an episode of The Good News in 1998 as Aunt Shirley. Caesar appeared on The Parkers in 2004.
In 2014, her song "Teach Me Master", which originally appeared on her 1972 album Get Up My Brother, was sampled by Dutch producer Bakermat as "Teach Me". It reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2016, she found herself back at the very top of the gospel Billboard chart with her CD release Fill This House.
Education in later life
After many years, Caesar finally accomplished her dream of completing her education. She had first enrolled at North Carolina College in 1956 to study business education, but left two years later to pursue her music career. She returned to school and graduated with honors from Shaw University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1984. She also spent time studying at the Divinity School of Duke University and has received honorary doctorates from Shaw University and Southeastern University.Personal life
Caesar married Bishop Harold I. Williams in June 1983. The couple were co-pastors of the 1,500-member Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church in Raleigh, North Carolina until his death on July 4, 2014. While she does not have children of her own, she has two stepchildren from her husband, Harold Ivory Williams Jr. and Hope Ivy Mason.Caesar is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. She cites her mother as a strong influence in her decision to give so selflessly of herself. Caesar has committed a sizable portion of all concert sales to her outreach ministries. Recently, she has cut back on preaching and has appointed an executive pastor at her church, and he provides weekly sermons to the congregation while Caesar serves as senior pastor, but Caesar continues to record and perform in concert all over the country.
She continues to hold her annual outreach ministries conference. The outreach ministry provides food, clothing, shelter, toys for children, and financial assistance to those in need. She opened an eponymous store and uses the profits to help others during the holiday season.
When asked what would she still like to accomplish, she says: "I would like to do more acting...."
Awards and nominations
BET Awards
The BET Awards are awarded annually by the Black Entertainment Television network. Caesar has received 3 nominations.| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
| 2007 | Best Gospel Artist | Herself | Nomitated |
| 2009 | Best Gospel Artist | Herself | Nomitated |
| 2024 | Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award | "Award All of the Glory" | Nomitated |
GMA Dove Awards
The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Caesar has received 16 awards from 32 nominations.Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Caesar has won 1 honorary award and 11 awards from 29 nominations.| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 1972 | Best Soul Gospel Performance | "Put Your Hand In The Hand Of The Man From Galilee" | Won |
| 1979 | Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary|Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary] | "Reach Out and Touch" | Nomitated |
| 1981 | Best Soul Gospel Performance, Contemporary | Rejoice | Won |
| 1982 | Best Soul Gospel Performance, Traditional | Go | Nomitated |
| 1984 | Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female | Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name | Nomitated |
| 1985 | Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female | Sailin' | Won |
| 1985 | Best Soul Gospel Performance By A Duo Or Group | "Sailin' on the Sea of Your Love" | Nomitated |
| 1986 | Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female | Martin | Won |
| 1987 | Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female | Celebration | Nomitated |
| 1987 | Best Soul Gospel Performance By A Duo, Group, Choir Or Chorus | "Jesus Is Mine" |
NAACP Image Awards
The NAACP Image Awards are awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Caesar has won 2 awards from 7 nominations.| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
| 1987 | Outstanding Gospel Artist | Herself | Won |
| 1997 | Outstanding Gospel Artist | Herself | Nomitated |
| 1999 | Outstanding Gospel Artist | Herself | Nomitated |
| 2002 | Outstanding Gospel Artist - Traditional | Herself | Won |
| 2004 | Outstanding Gospel Artist | Shirley Caesar and Friends | Nomitated |
| 2010 | Outstanding Gospel Album | A City Called Heaven | Nomitated |
| 2014 | Outstanding Gospel Album - | Good God | Nomitated |
Soul Train Awards
The Soul Train Music Awards are awarded annually. Caesar has received 1 award from 11 nominations.[Stellar Awards]
The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. Caesar has received 1 honorary award and 14 competitive awards from 26 nominations.| Year | Category | Work | Result |
| 1986 | Trailblazer Award | Herself | |
| 1987 | Traditional CD of the Year | Celebration | Won |
| 1987 | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | Celebration | Won |
| 1988 | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | What A Difference | Won |
| 1989 | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | Live In Chicago | Won |
| 1991 | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | Herself | Won |
| 1993 | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | He's Working It Out For You | Won |
| 1993 | Traditional Album of the Year | He's Working It Out For You | Won |
| 1995 | Traditional Album of the Year | Stand Still | Won |
| 1997 | Traditional Female Artist of the Year | Herself | Won |
| 1998 | Albertina Walker Female Artist of the Year | A Miracle In Harlem | Won |
| 1998 | Traditional Female Artist of the Year | A Miracle In Harlem | Won |
| 1998 | Traditional Album of the Year | A Miracle In Harlem | Won |
| 2002 | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | You Can Make It | Won |
| 2002 | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | Artist of the Year | Nomitated |
| 2002 | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | Female Vocalist of the Year | Nomitated |
| 2007 | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | I Know The Truth | Won |
| 2007 | Female Vocalist of the Year | I Know The Truth | Nomitated |
| 2009 | Female Vocalist of the Year | After 40 Years... Still Sweeping Through the City | Nomitated |
| 2011 | Traditional CD of the Year | A City Called Heaven | Nomitated |
| 2011 | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | A City Called Heaven | Nomitated |
| 2011 | Music Video of the Year | "Playground in Heaven" | Nomitated |
| 2014 | Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year | Good God | Nomitated |
| 2014 | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | Good God | Nomitated |
| 2017 | Albertina Walker Female Vocalist of the Year | Fill This House | Nomitated |
| 2017 | Contemporary CD of the Year | Fill This House | Nomitated |
| 2017 | Traditional Female Vocalist of the Year | Fill This House | Nomitated |
Miscellaneous honors
- Caesar is a recipient of a 1999 National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, which is the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.
- Caesar performed for President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at the White House in 2015, along with Aretha Franklin.