Vesta Williams was born on December 1, 1957 in Coshocton, Ohio, USA as Mary Vesta Williams. She was an actress, known for Posse (1993), Mississippi Burning (1988) and Soul Man (1986). She was married to Herman White. She died on September 22, 2011 in El Segundo, California, USA.
Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Female
Movies
Posse
Star Sign
Sagittarius
#
Quote
1
When I lost my record deal, and my phone wasn't ringing, I realized that I had to reassess who Vesta was and figure out what was going wrong. I knew it wasn't my singing ability. So it had to be that I was expendable because I didn't have the right look. (1996)
She never married, and is survived by a daughter, brother, mother and three sisters.
6
She struggled with obesity in the 1990s, and at one time lost 100 lbs. She became an advocate for programs preventing both obesity and juvenile diabetes.
7
Her father was a radio disc jockey, and she became an R&B singer, as well as an actress, who had some major hits in the 1980s, such as "Don't Blow a Good Thing" and "Congratulations". Previously, she had sung back up for Chaka Khan, Anita Baker and Sting.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Vesta: Dedicated
2010
Short
Lead
Sister, Sister
1998-1999
TV Series
Monica
Posse
1993
Vera (as Vesta)
Throb
1986
TV Series
Phoebe
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Posse
1993
performer: "Ride of Your Life", "Tell Me" - as Vesta / writer: "Tell Me" - as Vesta
Mississippi Burning
1988
performer: "Try Jesus"
Soul Man
1986
performer: "Suddenly It's Magic"
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Women of Brewster Place
1989
TV Series vocal soloist - 2 episodes
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
20th Annual Trumpet Awards
2012
TV Special in memory of - as Mary Vesta Williams
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Unsung
2012
TV Series documentary
Herself
The Mo'Nique Show
2011
TV Series
Herself
#TheFoodGroup
2009
TV Movie
Herself
BET's Comicview Awards
1994
TV Special
Host
Soul Train
1986-1992
TV Series documentary
Herself - Guest / Herself
Ebony/Jet Showcase
1989-1991
TV Series
Herself
The Arsenio Hall Show
1990
TV Series
Herself
22nd NAACP Image Awards
1990
TV Special
Herself
Showtime at the Apollo
1989
TV Series
Herself
Known for movies
Posse (1993) as Vera
Mississippi Burning (1988) as Soundtrack
Soul Man (1986) as Soundtrack
The Women of Brewster Place (1989) as Music Department
$600,000
