{{short description|American singer and actress}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Wanda Houston | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Wanda Lynn Houston<ref name="imdb">{{cite web|title=Wanda L. Houston - biography|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2494395/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm|publisher=IMDb|access-date=9 March 2021}}</ref> | alias = | birth_date = | birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | origin = Berkshire County, Massachusetts | instrument = Vocals | genre = {{hlist|Blues|soul|R&B|gospel|jazz|rock and roll|electronic music}} | years_active = late 1990s–present | label = | website = }}
'''Wanda Houston''' is an American singer and actress.
==Biography== Houston is originally from Chicago, Illinois.<ref name="edge">{{cite web|title=The singer finds her voice: The evolution of Wanda Houston|last= Dworkin|first=Susan|date= 27 August 2018|url=https://theberkshireedge.com/the-singer-finds-her-voice-the-evolution-of-wanda-houston/|publisher=Berkshire Edge|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210309145426/https://theberkshireedge.com/meet-the-candidate-tahirah-amatul-wadud-running-for-congress|archive-date=9 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="edge1">{{cite web|title=Bits & Bytes: Pink Martini livestream; Wanda Houston at Egremont Barn; 'Runnin' to Grace'; award for Wynn; winter help for families - Wanda Houston Band to perform at the Egremont Barn|last= Edelman|first=Emily|date= 16 December 2020|url=https://theberkshireedge.com/bits-wanda-houston-at-egremont-barn-runnin-to-grace-award-for-wynn-winter-help-for-families/|publisher=Berkshire Edge|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210309150934/https://theberkshireedge.com/shop-local-on-etsy|archive-date=9 March 2021}}</ref> She started singing in gospel choirs of West Side, Chicago.<ref name="edge"/> She was born to John and Bessie, the oldest of four.<ref name="edge"/><ref name="eagle"/> Houston comes from a creative family.<ref name="eagle">{{cite web|title='Wanda World' takes root in Berkshires|last= Cassidy|first=Benjamin|url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/entertainment/wanda-world-takes-root-in-berkshires/article_92329e4c-3e60-50a7-87a6-285ede1228c2.html|publisher=The Berkshire Eagle|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210309150306/https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/entertainment/wanda-world-takes-root-in-berkshires/article_92329e4c-3e60-50a7-87a6-285ede1228c2.html|archive-date=9 March 2021}}</ref> Her father was an actor, and her mother was both an actress and a singer.<ref name="eagle"/><ref name="edge"/> Her father ran a theatre company.<ref name="edge"/> Houston studied chemistry in college, but eventually switched to music, getting her degree in music with a focus on opera.<ref name="edge"/><ref name="eagle"/> After college she ended up in Los Angeles, spending two decades there.<ref name="eagle"/> At this time, Houston starred in some Hollywood films, and went on to sing at the Sands in Las Vegas.<ref name="edge"/><ref name="eagle"/> After Los Angeles she moved to Australia while touring with ''Sisterella''.<ref name="eagle"/><ref name="edge"/> She spent a year in Australia, and considered staying there forever.<ref name="eagle"/><ref name="edge"/>
In the 2000s, Houston toured with Martha and the Vandellas and The Platters.<ref name="edge"/> She lived and performed throughout the United States, Australia and Europe.<ref name="boston.com"/><ref name="edge1"/> In 2001<ref name="edge"/> she settled in the Berkshires, and now she performs chiefly in New England.<ref name="boston.com">{{cite web|title=The Joe Belmont Experience with Wanda Houston|url=https://www.boston.com/event/the-joe-belmont-experience-with-wanda-houston-7309325|website=Boston.com|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210309151449/https://www.boston.com/event/the-joe-belmont-experience-with-wanda-houston-7309325|archive-date=9 March 2021}}</ref> In the Berkshires she is considered a diva.<ref name="edge"/> Her current group plays "a mix of mid-20th century jazz and rhythm-and-blues".<ref name="eagle2"/><ref name="edge1"/>
In February 2021 she sang the sorrow songs of W. E. B. Du Bois at the 2021 Du Bois Legacy Festival, commemorating the civil rights activist's 153rd birthday.<ref name="WAMC">{{cite web|title=Great Barrington Celebrates Du Bois' 153rd Birthday|last= Landes|first=Josh|date= 23 February 2021|url=https://www.wamc.org/post/great-barrington-celebrates-du-bois-153rd-birthday|publisher=WAMC|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210309152331/https://www.wamc.org/post/great-barrington-celebrates-du-bois-153rd-birthday|archive-date=9 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="WAMC1">{{cite web|title=Rogovoy Report 2/19/21|last= Rogovoy|first=Seth|date= 19 February 2021|url=https://www.wamc.org/post/rogovoy-report-21921|publisher=WAMC|access-date=9 March 2021}}</ref> Her own parents were deeply involved in the civil rights movement.<ref name="edge"/> She performed at the BarnArts Masquerade Jazz and Funk Winter Music Carnival on more than one occasion.<ref name="mt">{{cite web|title=BarnArts 9th Annual Masquerade Jazz and Funk Winter Music Carnival|date=3 March 2021 |url=https://mountaintimes.info/barnarts-9th-annual-masquerade-jazz-and-funk-winter-music-carnival/|publisher=The Mountain Times (Vermont)|access-date=9 March 2021}}</ref>
Houston collaborated with American progressive rock band Spock's Beard on two occasions.<ref name="discogs1">{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard – Beware Of Darkness|url=https://www.discogs.com/Spocks-Beard-Beware-Of-Darkness/release/2627407|website= Discogs|access-date=9 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="discogs2">{{cite web|title=Spock's Beard – The Light|url=https://www.discogs.com/Spocks-Beard-The-Light/release/2730413|website= Discogs|access-date=9 March 2021}}</ref> She was a featured artist on the dance single "Unity" by John Rizzo, also featuring Lisa Hunt.<ref name="billboard">{{cite web|title= Unity John Rizzo Featuring Lisa Hunt & Wanda Houston|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/wanda-houston/chart-history/dsi/|publisher=Billboard|access-date=7 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210307102337/https://www.billboard.com/music/wanda-houston/chart-history/DSI/song/584801|archive-date=7 March 2021}}</ref> The song peaked at number 27 on the United States ''Billboard'' Dance Club Songs.<ref name="billboard"/>
===Acting career=== While in Los Angeles, she starred in a few Hollywood films, including ''The Christmas Path'', also starring Shia LaBeouf.<ref name="eagle"/><ref name="imdb Christmas">{{cite web|title=The Christmas Path (1998)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264483/|publisher=IMDb|access-date=9 March 2021}}</ref> Houston starred in an off-Broadway play called "A Good Swift Kick",<ref name="edge"/> which premiered in July 1999.<ref name="new york">{{cite book|author=New York Times Theater Reviews|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CcVciO--PkgC|title=The New York Times Theatre Reviews 1999-2000|page=28|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2001|isbn=978-0-415-93697-2}}</ref> The play wasn't warmly received.<ref name="edge"/> However, The New York Times praised Houston's performance, calling it fantastic.<ref name="new york"/><ref name="edge"/><ref name="eagle"/><ref name="times1">{{cite news|title=THEATER REVIEW; Taking Potshots the Entire Audience Can Grasp|last=Brantley|first=Ben|author-link1=Ben Brantley|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/07/30/movies/theater-review-taking-potshots-the-entire-audience-can-grasp.html|work=The New York Times|date=30 July 1999 |access-date=9 March 2021}}</ref> In 2005 she debuted at Broadway, in a ''A Streetcar Named Desire'', alongside John C. Reilly and Natasha Richardson.<ref name="times">{{cite news|title=A Weak Erotic Charge Flickers in the New Orleans Heat|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/27/theater/reviews/a-weak-erotic-charge-flickers-in-the-new-orleans-heat.html?|work=The New York Times|date=27 April 2005 |access-date=9 March 2021|last1=Brantley |first1=Ben }}</ref><ref name="edge"/> Show director Edward Hall expanded Houston's role ("The Negro Woman") in this version.<ref name="eagle"/> Houston toured the world with ''Sisterella'', a show produced by Michael Jackson where she played one of the wicked stepsisters.<ref name="eagle"/><ref name="playbill">{{cite web|title=The Latest on Sisterella|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/the-latest-on-sisterella-com-70758|website=Playbill|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210309182409/https://www.playbill.com/article/the-latest-on-sisterella-com-70758|archive-date=9 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="worldcat">{{cite book|title=Sisterella|oclc=79394474}}</ref> In 2006 she performed ''Ain't Misbehavin''' at the Sharon Playhouse.<ref name="eagle"/>
==Personal life== Houston stated that her favorite jazz song is "Nature Boy", her favorite R&B song is "Midnight Train to Georgia", and her favorite song to perform live is her group's version of "On and On".<ref name="eagle2">{{cite web|title=Playlist: We asked Wanda Houston, what's your favorite song?|last= Cassidy|first=Benjamin|date= 17 August 2018|url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/entertainment/playlist-we-asked-wanda-houston-whats-your-favorite-song/article_b548c91b-8968-5d74-a7bf-0b6f0af0ca75.html|publisher=The Berkshire Eagle|access-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210309154206/https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/entertainment/playlist-we-asked-wanda-houston-whats-your-favorite-song/article_b548c91b-8968-5d74-a7bf-0b6f0af0ca75.html|archive-date=9 March 2021}}</ref> Mahalia Jackson was her idol growing up.<ref name="edge"/><ref name="eagle"/>
==Discography== ===Singles=== ===As featured artist=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ List of singles as featured artist and year released ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Year ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Certification ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |- ! style="width:2.5em; font-size:90%"|US |- ! scope="row" |"Unity"<ref name="billboard"/><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(John Rizzo featuring Lisa Hunt and Wanda Houston)</span> | rowspan|2008 |27 | | {{n/a|Non-album single}} |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2494395/ Houston at IMDb]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Houston, Wanda}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century American women singers Category:21st-century American singers Category:Broadway theatre people Category:American musical theatre actresses Category:American film actresses Category:American soul singers Category:American blues singers Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century American actresses