Marion Williams was an American gospel singer whose voice, the New York Times
said, was distinctive for "pure sustained tones, swooping phrases and deep
growls", and stars such as Little Richard, Aretha Franklin and Billy Preston
acknowledged her influence. She sang with the top 1950s gospel group the Clara
Ward Singers before a solo career that led to international acclaim, popular
recordings and major awards including a genius grant from the MacArthur
Foundation and the Kennedy Center Honors.
Born in Florida, she sang in church as a child and after she joined the Clara
War...