Russell Williams

The Gilded Age is an American historical drama television series created and written by Julian Fellowes for HBO that is set in the United States during the Gilded Age, the boom years of the 1880s in New York City.

With her sixth album, Harlem On My Mind, Grammy® Award-winning vocalist Catherine Russell journeys to the blue heart of the great African American songbook. Swinging forth with soulful interpretations, Russell taps the golden age of Harlem, as befits this vibrant daughter of jazz. Vocalists Ethel Waters, Billie Holiday, Etta James, and Dinah Washington provide inspiration where tunesmiths like Benny Carter, Irving Berlin, Andy Razaf and Fats Waller once ruled the roost of a renaissance which continues to reverberate. Of the title track, Russell says, “It’s about not forgetting your roots,” which also serves as her modus operandi for the entire 12 song collection. “The album is comprised of songs from artists who played at The Apollo in Harlem, where all African American artists of note appeared.”

Russell returned to the Top Forty in 1975 with “Lady Blue,” from Will O’ the Wisp. Subsequently, Russell explored his roots in country, recording a set of covers by Hank Williams and others (for which he used the pseudonym Hank Wilson) in 1976. His next album was 1978’s Americana, whose title nodded to the melting pot of homegrown influences that figured in Russell’s music (and presciently anticipated the roots-based Americana movement that would take hold in the Nineties).

"This Is Niecy" is the debut album of American R&B singer Deniece Williams released on August 13, 1976 by Columbia Records. The album got to #3 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and #33 on the Billboard 200. As well "This Is Niecy" has been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA and Silver in the UK by the BPI. Off the album came the single "Free" which got to #1 on the UK Pop Singles chart, #2 on the US Billboard Hot Soul Songs chart and #25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.