Editing Shirley Caesar

{{Short description|American gospel singer (born 1938)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = 
| image            = Shirley_Ceasar_1997.jpg
| caption          = Caesar in 1997
| background       = solo_singer
| birth_name       = Shirley Ann Caesar
| alias            = {{Ubl | Pastor Shirley Caesar | The Queen of Gospel | The First Lady of Gospel}}
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1938|10|13}}
| birth_place      = [[Durham, North Carolina]], U.S.
| genre            = {{Hlist | [[Gospel music|Gospel]] | [[Christian hip hop]]}}
| occupation       = Singer<!-- Occupation(s) as given in the lead (see [[MOS:ROLEBIO]]) -->
| years_active     = 1951–present
| label            = {{Hlist | Artemis Gospel | Light Records}}
| associated_acts  = {{Ubl | [[Albertina Walker]] | [[James Cleveland]] | [[The Caesar Singers]] | [[The Caravans]] | [[Inez Andrews]] | [[Dorothy Norwood]] | [[Patti LaBelle]]}}
| website          = {{[https://www.shirleycaesar.com/?hl=en Pastor Shirley Caesar]}}
}}

'''Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams''' ([[Birth name|née]] '''Caesar'''; born October 13, 1938),<ref name="nhf">{{cite web|url=https://arts.gov/honors/heritage/shirley-caesar|title=Shirley Caesar: African-American Gospel Singer |date=n.d. |website=Arts.gov |publisher=[[National Endowment for the Arts]] |language=en |access-date=November 9, 2023}}</ref><!-- Per MOS:REFPUNCT: Where a footnote applies only to material within parentheses, the ref tags belong just before the closing parenthesis. --> known professionally as '''Shirley Caesar''', is an American [[Gospel music|gospel]] singer. Her career began in 1951, when she signed to [[Federal Records]] at the age of 12.<ref>{{cite book |author=Boyer, Horace Clarence |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzZ7GjkQixkC&pg=PA220 |title=The Golden Age of Gospel |publisher=University of Illinois Press |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-252-06877-5 |pages=220–}}</ref> Throughout her seven decade career, Caesar has often been referred to as the "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|First Lady of Gospel Music]]",<ref name="nhf" /> and "The Queen of Gospel Music".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news-story/8843352-aretha-franklin-the-review-s-talk-with-the-queen-of-soul/|title=Aretha Franklin: The Review's talk with the Queen of Soul|first=John|last=Law|date=August 17, 2018|website=StCatharinesStandard.ca}}</ref> She has won eleven [[Grammy Awards]], fifteen [[Dove Awards]], and fourteen [[Stellar Awards]].

Caesar has released over forty albums. She has participated in over 16 compilations and three gospel musicals, ''[[Mama, I Want to Sing! (musical)|Mama I Want to Sing]]'', ''[[Mama, I Want to Sing: Part II|Sing: Mama 2]]'' and ''Born to sing: Mama 3''.

In 2009, she had sold 2.2&nbsp;million albums since 1991,<ref>Trust, Gary (September 18, 2009) [http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/267333/ask-billboard-madonna-yoko-ono-gospel Ask Billboard: Madonna, Yoko Ono, Gospel]. ''Billboard''</ref> making her one of the [[List of best-selling gospel music artists|top-selling gospel artists]]. She has made several notable appearances including the televised ''Live from Disney World Night of Joy'', the ''Gospel According to [[VH1]]'', and a [[White House]] performance for President George Bush. She gave a speech on the evolution of gospel music to the US Treasury Department.<ref name="urlShirley Caesar Biography - AOL Music">{{cite web|url=http://music.aol.com/artist/shirley-caesar/biography/1001871 |title=Shirley Caesar AOL Music bio |publisher=AOL Music |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019085901/http://music.aol.com/artist/shirley-caesar/biography/1001871 |archive-date=October 19, 2008 }}</ref> In 2017, Caesar was honored with a [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]] from [[The Recording Academy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/shirley-caesar-11-time-grammy-award-winner-receives-lifetime-achievement-award-honor-172285/|title=Shirley Caesar, 11-Time Grammy Award Winner, Receives Lifetime Achievement Award Honor|first=Kevin|last=Porter|website=The Christian Post|date=December 21, 2016 }}</ref> She has received the [[SESAC|SESAC Lifetime Achievement Award]], Rhapsody & Rhythm Award from the [[National Museum of African American Music]], and was inducted into the [[Gospel Music Hall of Fame]]. In 2016, Caesar was honored with a star on [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]], for her contributions in gospel music.

==Early life==
Caesar was born in [[Durham, North Carolina]]. She is the tenth of 13 children.<ref name="nhf" /> All of her siblings are now deceased. Her father Jim Caesar was a well known local gospel singer. He died suddenly when Shirley was seven years old.<ref name="nhf" /> Her mother Hallie Caesar was partially disabled due to a lame leg. Caesar had a special bond with her mother and took care of her until her death in 1989.

==Career==
{{BLP sources section|date=April 2022}}
Caesar first began singing and performing for family and friends. She began singing as Baby Shirley Caesar all over the Carolinas as invitations poured in. She could only perform on weekends due to being in school during the weekdays.  Her professional music career began in 1958 at 19, when she approached [[Albertina Walker]] about joining [[The Caravans]], one of the most popular gospel groups at that time. Albertina wanted the vocally talented young Caesar in her group after hearing her sing a solo. Caesar decided to halt her education to join the group.

Caesar recorded and performed with [[Albertina Walker]], Cassietta George, Inez Andrews, Delores Washington, Josephine Howard, Eddie Williams, and James Herndon while in the Caravans. Her biggest hit with the Caravans was the song "Sweeping Through the City" followed by "No Coward Soldier". After eight years with the Caravans, she decided to leave after being offered a solo recording contract with Hob Records. Her first LP on the Hob label was entitled  ''I'll Go'', backed up by the [[Institutional Radio Choir]] and includes the classics "Oh Peter, Don't Be Afraid" and "Choose Ye This Day". 

Other hits soon followed, with recordings such as "Satan, We're Gonna Tear Your Kingdom Down", "God's Not Dead, He's Yet Alive" and the classic "Don't Drive Your Mama Away". In 1971, she won her first Grammy Award for her recording of "Put Your Hand in the Hand of the Man", and in 1975 her recording of the song "No Charge" became an instant hit and her first gold record. Although she had success she wanted to reach larger audiences and felt this wasn't being achieved with Hob Records; she decided not to renew her record contract with them which ended that same year.

To reach more people with her music, Caesar signed with a secular record label called Roadshow Records in 1977 and released the debut album entitled ''First Lady''. The producer of the album titled the album ''First Lady'' because Caesar was the first female to ever record on the label. The album contained songs with strong gospel lyrics, but many within the gospel community felt that the music itself was "too worldly," and many gospel DJs refused to play it on their radio station. One song, however, "Faded Rose", later became a Caesar classic. Overall, the album sold poorly, but the "First Lady" title caught on within the gospel industry, and concert announcers, DJs and gospel promoters everywhere started introducing her as "The First Lady of Gospel Music", a title that has been associated with her ever since. 

The second and final album she recorded for Roadshow was ''From the Heart'' in 1978. It was poorly received for the same reason. Caesar searched for a gospel label and decided to sign with [[Word Records]] in 1980 and went on to win several more Grammy Awards during the next several years and beyond. She stayed with Word for many years and recorded some of the biggest hits of her career such as "God's Got It All in Control", "Hold My Mule" (which later went viral as a [[Thanksgiving]]-related [[Internet meme]] under the title "[[You Name It (song)|You Name It]]"),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/music/you-name-it-shirley-caesar-interview/|title=Shirley Caesar Cried When She Learned 'You Name It' Went Viral|first=Delenda|last=Joseph|website=Uproxx.com|date=November 17, 2016|access-date=February 13, 2020}}</ref> "He's Working It Out for You", "Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name" and "You're Next in Line for a Miracle".

She has made a name for herself on the gospel music circuit, making guest appearances on the Bobby Jones gospel show and other popular television shows. Caesar credits [[Albertina Walker]] as her mentor and "Queen of Gospel Music".

Between 1981 and 1995, she received seven [[Dove Awards]] for Black Gospel Album of the Year for ''Live at the G.M.W.A.'', ''Celebration'', ''Christmasing'', ''Sailin‘'', ''Live ... In Chicago'', ''Go'' and ''Rejoice''. She received two Black Gospel Song of the Year Awards for "He's Working It Out for You" and "Hold My Mule". She has performed with [[Patti LaBelle]], [[Whitney Houston]], [[Dorothy Norwood]], [[Faith Evans]], [[Dottie Peoples]], Arnold Houston, [[Kim Burrell]], [[John P. Kee]], [[Kirk Franklin]], [[Tonex]], and [[Tye Tribbett]], among others. 

Caesar is also an actress. She acted in movies, such as ''[[Why Do Fools Fall in Love (film)|Why Do Fools Fall in Love]]'' (1998) with [[Larenz Tate]] and [[Little Richard]], ''[[Fighting Temptations]]'' (2003) with [[Beyoncé]] and [[Cuba Gooding Jr.]], and ''The Unseen'' (2005) with [[Steve Harris (actor)|Steve Harris]]. She acted in an episode of ''[[Good News (TV series)|The Good News]]'' in 1998 as Aunt Shirley.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0122821/fullcredits|title=The Good News (TV Series 1997–1998)|publisher=IMDb}}</ref> Caesar appeared on ''[[The Parkers]]'' in 2004.

In 2014, her song "Teach Me Master", which originally appeared on her 1972 album ''Get Up My Brother'',<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Shirley Caesar |date=1972 |title=Get Up My Brother |type=LP |language=en |publisher=Hob |id=HBX 2144 |oclc=25574962}}</ref> was sampled by Dutch producer [[Bakermat]] as "[[Teach Me (Bakermat song)|Teach Me]]". It reached number 22 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/28605/bakermat/|title=Bakermat - Full Official Chart History|website=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=June 28, 2021}}</ref> In 2016, she found herself back at the very top of the gospel ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' chart with her CD release ''Fill This House''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/gospel-albums/2016-06-25|title=Top Gospel Albums - June 25, 2016|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=June 28, 2021}}</ref>

==Awards and honors==
Caesar is a recipient of a 1999 [[National Heritage Fellowship]] from the [[National Endowment for the Arts]], which is the United States' highest honor in the folk and traditional arts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/year/1999 |title=NEA National Heritage Fellowships 1999 |author=<!--Not stated-->  |website=Arts.gov |publisher=National Endowment for the Arts |access-date=December 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521115137/https://www.arts.gov/honors/heritage/year/1999 |archive-date=May 21, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

She was inducted into the [[Gospel Music Hall of Fame]] in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shirley Caesar|url=http://hof.doveawards.com/speaker-lineup/shirley-caesar/|website=Inductees Archive|date=March 2, 2014 |publisher=Gospel Music Hall of Fame|access-date=March 14, 2018}}</ref>

Caesar was inducted into the [[North Carolina Music Hall of Fame]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=2010 Inductees|url=http://northcarolinamusichalloffame.org/category/inductees/2010-inductees/|publisher=North Carolina Music Hall of Fame|access-date=September 10, 2012}}</ref> She performed for President [[Barack Obama]] and [[Michelle Obama]] at the [[White House]] in 2015, along with [[Aretha Franklin]].

In May 2016, the [[National Museum of African American Music]] honored Caesar with the Rhapsody & Rhythm Award in [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] in advance of the planned 2018 opening of the historic museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nmaam.org/2016/05/11/nmaam-hosted-successful-2016-my-music-matters-a-celebration-of-legends-luncheon/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521195902/http://nmaam.org/2016/05/11/nmaam-hosted-successful-2016-my-music-matters-a-celebration-of-legends-luncheon/|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 May 2016|title=NMAAM – The National Museum of African American Music " NMAAM Hosted Successful 2016 My Music Matters™: A Celebration of Legends Luncheon}}</ref>

In June 2016, the [[Hollywood Chamber of Commerce]] honored gospel singer Shirley Caesar with the 2,583rd star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].

==Education in later life==
After many years, Caesar finally accomplished her dream of completing her education. She had first enrolled at [[North Carolina State College]] in 1956 to study business education, but left two years later to pursue her music career.<ref name="nhf" /> She returned to school and graduated with honors from [[Shaw University]] with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1984. She also spent time studying at the Divinity School of [[Duke University]] and has received honorary doctorates from [[Shaw University]] and [[Southeastern University (Florida)|Southeastern University]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Otis |date=2021-12-14 |title=Shirley Caesar (1938- ) |url=https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/shirley-caesar-1938/ |access-date=2023-11-06 |website=Blackpast |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Caesar married [[Harold Ivory Williams (bishop) | Bishop Harold I. Williams]] in June 1983.  The couple were co-pastors of the 1,500-member Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church in [[Raleigh, North Carolina]] until his death on July 4, 2014. While she does not have children of her own, she has two stepchildren from her husband, Harold Ivory Williams Jr. and Hope Ivy Mason.

Caesar is a member of [[Delta Sigma Theta]] sorority. She cites her mother as a strong influence in her decision to give so selflessly of herself. Caesar has committed a sizable portion of all concert sales to her outreach ministries. Recently, she has cut back on preaching and has appointed an executive pastor at her church, and he provides weekly sermons to the congregation while Caesar serves as senior pastor, but Caesar continues to record and perform in concert all over the country. 

She continues to hold her annual outreach ministries conference. The outreach ministry provides food, clothing, shelter, toys for children, and financial assistance to those in need. She opened an eponymous store and uses the profits to help others during the holiday season. 

When asked what would she still like to accomplish, she says: "I would like to do more acting...."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtcalvarywordoffaith.org/wordoffaith-home/pastors.asp|title=About Our Pastors |publisher= Mt. Calvary Word of Faith Church|access-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref>

==Discography==

===Albums===
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+List of studio albums + compilation albums, with selected chart positions.
! rowspan="2" |Title
! rowspan="2" |Details
! colspan="3" |Peak chart positions
|-
!scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard 200|US]]
!scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Top Gospel Albums|US<br>Gospel]]
!scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|US<br>R&B/HH]]
|-scope="row"|'' No Charge''December 14, 1975
!scope="row"|''First Lady''
|
* Released: December 14, 1977
* Format: [[Cassette tape|Cassette]], [[LP record|LP]]
|—
|—
|36
|-
!scope="row"|''From the Heart''
|
* Released: May 1, 1978
* Format: LP
|—
|—
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name''
|
* Released: October 1983 
* Format: LP, [[CD]]
|—
|2
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Sailin'''
|
* Released: June 1984
* Format: LP, CD
|—
|1
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Celebration''
|
* Released: December 1985
* Format: LP, CD
|—
|3
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Her Very Best''
|
* Released: March 1987
* Format: LP, CD
|—
|22
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Go''
|
* Released: 1987
* Format: LP, CD
|—
|—
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Live in Chicago''
|
* Released:  March 1988
* Format: CD
|—
|1
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''I Remember Mama''
|
* Released: November 1989
* Format: CD
|—
|2
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''He's Working it Out for You''
|
* Released: December 1991
* Format: CD
|—
|1
|95
|-
!scope="row"|''Stand Still''
|
* Released: September 1993
* Format: CD
|—
|3
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Shirley Caesar Live...He Will Come''
|
* Released: July 1995
* Format: CD
|—
|6
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Christmasing''
|
* Released: November 1996
* Format: CD
|—
|37
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Just a Word''
|
* Released: July 1996
* Format: CD
|—
|—
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''A Miracle in Harlem''
|
* Released: April 29, 1997
* Format: CD
|—
|5
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Christmas with Shirley Caesar''
|
* Released: October 20, 1998
* Format: CD
|—
|13
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Hymns''
|
* Released: October 30, 2001
* Format: CD
|—
|4
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''You Can Make It''
|
* Released: August 2002
* Format: CD
|—
|7
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Greatest Gospel Hits''
|
* Released: August 26, 2003
* Format: CD
|—
|4
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Shirley Caesar & Friends''
|
* Released: September 23, 2003
* Format: CD
|—
|6
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''I Know the Truth''
|
* Released: September 6, 2005
* Format: CD
|—
|3
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''After 40 Years...Still Sweeping Through the City''
|
* Released: November 6, 2007
* Format: CD
|—
|8
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''The Definitive Gospel Collection''
|
* Released: May 20, 2008
* Format: CD
|—
|38
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''A City Called Heaven''
|
* Released: November 24, 2009
* Format: CD
|—
|8
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''The Ultimate Collection''
|
* Released: January 11, 2011
* Format: CD

|—
|4
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Giving & Sharing: A Christmas Collection''
|
* Released: September 20, 2011
* Format: CD
|—
|36
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Platinum Gospel: Shirley Caesar''
|
* Released: October 11, 2011
* Format: CD
|—
|41
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Good God''
|
* Released: March 26, 2013
* Format: CD
|168
|4
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Harvest Gospel''
|
* Released: October 15, 2013
* Format: CD
|—
|14
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''Timeless Gospel Classics: Inspirational/Gospel Vol. 2''
|
* Released: May 4, 2015
* Format: CD
|—
|17
|—
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Fill This House]]''
|
* Released: June 3, 2016
* Format: CD
|—
|1
|—
|}

===Charting singles===

====As lead artist====
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Title
! rowspan="2" |Year
! colspan="2" |Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2" |Album
|-
!scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]
!scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Hot Gospel Songs|US<br>Gospel]]
|-
|scope="row"|"No Charge"
|1975
|91
|—
|scope="row"|''No Charge
|-
|scope="row"|"[[Hold My Mule]]"
{{Small|(featuring [[Albertina Walker]] & [[Milton Brunson]])}}
|1988
|—
|1
|scope="row"|''Live in Chicago''
|-
|scope="row"|"I Know the Truth (Lies)"
|2005
|—
|10
|scope="row"|''I Know the Truth''
|-
|scope="row"|"Sweeping Through the City"
|2007
|—
|26
|scope="row"|''After 40 Years...Still Sweeping Through The City''
|-
|scope="row"|"Nobody"
{{Small|(featuring [[J. Moss]])}}
|2009
|—
|16
| rowspan="2" |''A City Called Heaven''
|-
|scope="row"|"Favor"
|2010
|—
|18
|-
|scope="row"|"God Will Make a Way"
|2013
|—
|3
|scope="row"|''Good God''
|-
|scope="row"|"It's Alright, It's Ok"
{{Small|(featuring [[Anthony Hamilton (musician)|Anthony Hamilton]])}}
| rowspan="2" |2016
|—
|7
| rowspan="2" |''[[Fill This House]]''
|-
|scope="row"|"Fill This House"
|—
|21
|}

====Guest appearances====
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Title
! rowspan="2" |Year
!Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2" |Album
|-
!scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| [[Bubbling Under Hot 100|US<br>{{Small|Bub.}}]]
|-
|scope="row"|"You Name It (#UNameIt Challenge)"
{{Small|([[DJ Suede the Remix God]] featuring Shirley Caesar)}}
|2016
|15
|{{Non-album single}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Caesar, Shirley}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American clergy]]
[[Category:20th-century Protestants]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American clergy]]
[[Category:21st-century Protestants]]
[[Category:African-American Christians]]
[[Category:American evangelists]]
[[Category:American gospel singers]]
[[Category:American Pentecostals]]
[[Category:African-American religious leaders]]
[[Category:Delta Sigma Theta members]]
[[Category:Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners]]
[[Category:Musicians from Durham, North Carolina]]
[[Category:National Heritage Fellowship winners]]
[[Category:Shaw University alumni]]
[[Category:Women evangelists]]