# Wanda Houston

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{{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](/source/Chicago%2C_Illinois), U.S.
| origin          = [Berkshire County, Massachusetts](/source/Berkshire_County%2C_Massachusetts)
| instrument      = Vocals
| genre           = {{hlist|[Blues](/source/Blues)|[soul](/source/Soul_music)|[R&B](/source/Rhythm_and_blues)|[gospel](/source/Gospel_music)|[jazz](/source/jazz)|[rock and roll](/source/rock_and_roll)|[electronic music](/source/electronic_music)}}
| years_active    = late 1990s–present
| label           =
| website         = 
}}

'''Wanda Houston''' is an American singer and actress.

==Biography==
Houston is originally from [Chicago, Illinois](/source/Chicago%2C_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](/source/West_Side%2C_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](/source/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](/source/Las_Vegas_Sands) in [Las Vegas](/source/Las_Vegas).<ref name="edge"/><ref name="eagle"/> After Los Angeles she moved to [Australia](/source/Australia) while touring with ''[Sisterella](/source/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](/source/Martha_and_the_Vandellas) and [The Platters](/source/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](/source/Berkshires), and now she performs chiefly in [New England](/source/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](/source/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](/source/sorrow_songs) of [W. E. B. Du Bois](/source/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](/source/progressive_rock) band [Spock's Beard](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Broadway_theatre), in a ''[A Streetcar Named Desire](/source/A_Streetcar_Named_Desire)'', alongside [John C. Reilly](/source/John_C._Reilly) and [Natasha Richardson](/source/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](/source/Edward_Hall_(director)) expanded Houston's role ("[The Negro Woman](/source/A_Streetcar_Named_Desire)") in this version.<ref name="eagle"/> Houston toured the world with ''[Sisterella](/source/Sisterella)'', a show produced by [Michael Jackson](/source/Michael_Jackson) where she played one of the [wicked stepsisters](/source/Ugly_sisters).<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](/source/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'](/source/Ain't_Misbehavin'_(musical))'' at the Sharon Playhouse.<ref name="eagle"/>

==Personal life==
Houston stated that her favorite jazz song is "[Nature Boy](/source/Nature_Boy)", her favorite R&B song is "[Midnight Train to Georgia](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Dance_Club_Songs)
|-
! scope="row" |"Unity"<ref name="billboard"/><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(John Rizzo featuring [Lisa Hunt](/source/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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Wanda Houston](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanda_Houston) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanda_Houston?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.