R&B/Soul singer coming to Bethesda
An artist who has been singing since childhood is coming to Bethesda.
Will Downing was born and raised in Brooklyn, where he was a member of his school choir. By the time he was 16, Downing was earning $50 an outing each time he performed for publishers on behalf of a songwriter who couldn’t sing well. He graduated from Erasmus Hall High School and spent one semester at Richmond’s Virginia Union University, but left to pursue a career in music.
He returned to New York City, where he found work as a house music group vocalist. He sang backup on albums by artists like Billy Ocean, Kool & the Gang, and Jennifer Holliday, and was signed by 4th & B’way Records in 1988. “Will Downing” was his first solo album, and it included his cover of “A Love Supreme” by John Coltrane. It climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart. In 2000 he released “All the Man You Need,” which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Album.
A review of a recent concert says:
Will Downing will be at the Bethesda theater for two performances, September 13 and 14. When venues book performances like this, they will often use poster printing to create advertisements to bring in the audience.
Will Downing was born and raised in Brooklyn, where he was a member of his school choir. By the time he was 16, Downing was earning $50 an outing each time he performed for publishers on behalf of a songwriter who couldn’t sing well. He graduated from Erasmus Hall High School and spent one semester at Richmond’s Virginia Union University, but left to pursue a career in music.
He returned to New York City, where he found work as a house music group vocalist. He sang backup on albums by artists like Billy Ocean, Kool & the Gang, and Jennifer Holliday, and was signed by 4th & B’way Records in 1988. “Will Downing” was his first solo album, and it included his cover of “A Love Supreme” by John Coltrane. It climbed to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart. In 2000 he released “All the Man You Need,” which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Album.
A review of a recent concert says:
“His distinctively rich and creamy baritone voice can hold an audience in silence for moments at a time, captivating everyone listening.”
Will Downing will be at the Bethesda theater for two performances, September 13 and 14. When venues book performances like this, they will often use poster printing to create advertisements to bring in the audience.