Shirley Caesar

Shirley Caesar
Caesar in 1997
Background information
Birth name	Shirley Ann Caesar
Also known as	Pastor Shirley Caesar The Queen of Gospel The First Lady of Gospel
Born	(1938-10-13) October 13, 1938 (age 86) Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres	Gospel Christian hip hop
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1951–present
Labels	Artemis Gospel Light Records
Website	{{Pastor Shirley Caesar}}

Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams, nee Caesar, (born October 13, 1938),^[1] 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.^[2] Throughout her seven decade career, Caesar has often been referred to as the "First Lady of Gospel Music",^[1] and "The Queen of Gospel Music".^[3] She has won eleven Grammy Awards, fifteen Dove Awards, and fourteen Stellar Awards.

Caesar has released over forty 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,^[4] 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.^[5] In 2017, Caesar was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award from The Recording Academy.^[6] 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 tenth of 13 children.^[1] 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.^[1] 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 eight 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" (which later went viral as a Thanksgiving-related Internet meme under the title "You Name It"),^[7] "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 (1998) with Larenz Tate and Little Richard, Fighting Temptations (2003) with Beyoncé and Cuba Gooding Jr., and The Unseen (2005) with Steve Harris. She acted in an episode of The Good News in 1998 as Aunt Shirley.^[8] 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,^[9] was sampled by Dutch producer Bakermat as "Teach Me". It reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart.^[10] In 2016, she found herself back at the very top of the gospel Billboard chart with her CD release Fill This House.^[11]

Awards and 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.^[12]

She was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000.^[13]

Caesar was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010.^[14] She performed for President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at the White House in 2015, along with Aretha Franklin.

In May 2016, the National Museum of African American Music honored Caesar with the Rhapsody & Rhythm Award in Nashville in advance of the planned 2018 opening of the historic museum.^[15]

In June 2016, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored gospel singer Shirley Caesar with the 2,583rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Education in later life

After many years, Caesar finally accomplished her dream of completing her education. She had first enrolled at North Carolina State College in 1956 to study business education, but left two years later to pursue her music career.^[1] 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.^[16]

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.

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...."^[17]

Discography

Albums

List of studio albums + compilation albums, with selected chart positions.

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		US	US Gospel	US R&B/HH
First Lady	Released: December 14, 1977 Format: Cassette, LP	—	—	36
From the Heart	Released: May 1, 1978 Format: LP	—	—	—
Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name	Released: October 1983 Format: LP, CD	—	2	—
Sailin'	Released: June 1984 Format: LP, CD	—	1	—
Celebration	Released: December 1985 Format: LP, CD	—	3	—
Her Very Best	Released: March 1987 Format: LP, CD	—	22	—
Go	Released: 1987 Format: LP, CD	—	—	—
Live in Chicago	Released: March 1988 Format: CD	—	1	—
I Remember Mama	Released: November 1989 Format: CD	—	2	—
He's Working it Out for You	Released: December 1991 Format: CD	—	1	95
Stand Still	Released: September 1993 Format: CD	—	3	—
Shirley Caesar Live...He Will Come	Released: July 1995 Format: CD	—	6	—
Christmasing	Released: November 1996 Format: CD	—	37	—
Just a Word	Released: July 1996 Format: CD	—	—	—
A Miracle in Harlem	Released: April 29, 1997 Format: CD	—	5	—
Christmas with Shirley Caesar	Released: October 20, 1998 Format: CD	—	13	—
Hymns	Released: October 30, 2001 Format: CD	—	4	—
You Can Make It	Released: August 2002 Format: CD	—	7	—
Greatest Gospel Hits	Released: August 26, 2003 Format: CD	—	4	—
Shirley Caesar & Friends	Released: September 23, 2003 Format: CD	—	6	—
I Know the Truth	Released: September 6, 2005 Format: CD	—	3	—
After 40 Years...Still Sweeping Through the City	Released: November 6, 2007 Format: CD	—	8	—
The Definitive Gospel Collection	Released: May 20, 2008 Format: CD	—	38	—
A City Called Heaven	Released: November 24, 2009 Format: CD	—	8	—
The Ultimate Collection	Released: January 11, 2011 Format: CD	—	4	—
Giving & Sharing: A Christmas Collection	Released: September 20, 2011 Format: CD	—	36	—
Platinum Gospel: Shirley Caesar	Released: October 11, 2011 Format: CD	—	41	—
Good God	Released: March 26, 2013 Format: CD	168	4	—
Harvest Gospel	Released: October 15, 2013 Format: CD	—	14	—
Timeless Gospel Classics: Inspirational/Gospel Vol. 2	Released: May 4, 2015 Format: CD	—	17	—
Fill This House	Released: June 3, 2016 Format: CD	—	1	—

Charting singles

As lead artist

Title	Year	Peak chart positions		Album
		US	US Gospel
"No Charge"	1975	91	—	No Charge
"Hold My Mule" (featuring Albertina Walker & Milton Brunson)	1988	—	1	Live in Chicago
"I Know the Truth (Lies)"	2005	—	10	I Know the Truth
"Sweeping Through the City"	2007	—	26	After 40 Years...Still Sweeping Through The City
"Nobody" (featuring J. Moss)	2009	—	16	A City Called Heaven
"Favor"	2010	—	18
"God Will Make a Way"	2013	—	3	Good God
"It's Alright, It's Ok" (featuring Anthony Hamilton)	2016	—	7	Fill This House
"Fill This House"		—	21

Guest appearances

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		US Bub.
"You Name It (#UNameIt Challenge)" (DJ Suede the Remix God featuring Shirley Caesar)	2016	15	Non-album single

References

1. "Shirley Caesar: African-American Gospel Singer". Arts.gov. National Endowment for the Arts. n.d. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
2. Boyer, Horace Clarence (1995). The Golden Age of Gospel. University of Illinois Press. pp. 220–. ISBN 978-0-252-06877-5.
3. Law, John (August 17, 2018). "Aretha Franklin: The Review's talk with the Queen of Soul". StCatharinesStandard.ca.
4. Trust, Gary (September 18, 2009) Ask Billboard: Madonna, Yoko Ono, Gospel. Billboard
5. "Shirley Caesar AOL Music bio". AOL Music. Archived from the original on October 19, 2008.
6. Porter, Kevin (December 21, 2016). "Shirley Caesar, 11-Time Grammy Award Winner, Receives Lifetime Achievement Award Honor". The Christian Post.
7. Joseph, Delenda (November 17, 2016). "Shirley Caesar Cried When She Learned 'You Name It' Went Viral". Uproxx.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
8. "The Good News (TV Series 1997–1998)". IMDb.
9. Shirley Caesar (1972). Get Up My Brother (LP). Hob. OCLC 25574962. HBX 2144.
10. "Bakermat - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
11. "Top Gospel Albums - June 25, 2016". Billboard. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
12. "NEA National Heritage Fellowships 1999". Arts.gov. National Endowment for the Arts. Archived from the original on May 21, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
13. "Shirley Caesar". Inductees Archive. Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
14. "2010 Inductees". North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
15. "NMAAM – The National Museum of African American Music " NMAAM Hosted Successful 2016 My Music Matters™: A Celebration of Legends Luncheon". Archived from the original on May 21, 2016.
16. Alexander, Otis (December 14, 2021). "Shirley Caesar (1938- )". Blackpast. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
17. "About Our Pastors". Mt. Calvary Word of Faith Church. Retrieved July 30, 2012.