Shanice
Shanice in 2019
Born
Shanice Lorraine Wilson

(1973-05-14) May 14, 1973
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Other namesShanice Wilson
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actress
  • dancer
  • keyboardist
Years active1984–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2000)​
Children2
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Vocals
LabelsA&M (1986–1988)
Motown (1990–1997)
LaFace (1997–2000)
Imajah / PlayTyme (2005–present)
Heritage Music Group (2018–Present)

Shanice Lorraine Wilson-Knox[1] (née Wilson; born May 14, 1973) is an American singer-songwriter, actress and dancer. Shanice had the Billboard hit singles "I Love Your Smile" and "Silent Prayer" in 1991 and "Saving Forever for You" in 1993. In 1999, Shanice scored another hit song with "When I Close My Eyes", which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She is recognized for her coloratura soprano voice and her ability to sing in the whistle register.[2]

Early life

Shanice Lorraine Wilson was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and she moved to Los Angeles with her mother Crystal and her aunt Penni. Her mother and aunt went to Los Angeles in pursuit of careers in the music industry. They shifted their focus to Shanice and formed the management company Crystal Penni to cultivate and promote her talents. Shanice was age nine when she appeared in a Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial with jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald.[2] In 1984, she was part of the regular cast in the first thirteen episodes of the children's program Kids Incorporated. Shanice competed on Star Search at age eleven, and later signed with A&M Records.[3]

Recording career

In 1987, at the age of 14, A&M Records released her debut album Discovery. It produced two top-ten R&B hits: "(Baby Tell Me) Can You Dance" and "No ½ Steppin'".[3][4] Shanice signed a deal with Motown Records in the summer of 1990, releasing Inner Child in late 1991, which included her best-known hit single "I Love Your Smile". It reached the top-ten in 22 countries, including the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] The album also featured a cover of Minnie Riperton's 1974 hit "Lovin' You", a rendition that brought attention to her three-and-a-half octave vocal range.[5] In 1993, Kenny Loggins featured Shanice on his live album Outside: From the Redwoods.

In 1994, Shanice released the album 21... Ways to Grow, with producer Rhett Lawrence, a session musician and Earth Wind & Fire guitarist Dick Smith. This effort was followed by a move to LaFace Records in 1997, which later released the 1999 album Shanice. Additionally, she has contributed to various film soundtracks, such as Boomerang ("Don't Wanna Love You") and The Meteor Man ("It's for You"). Achieving success with her top-ten hit "Saving Forever for You", from the Beverly Hills 90210 Soundtrack,[4] Shanice later recorded "If I Never Knew You", a duet with Jon Secada, for the original soundtrack of Disney's 1995 film Pocahontas. While still with Motown, she also recorded a cover version of "If I Were Your Woman" by Gladys Knight & the Pips. Tami Roman and the fellow members of her R&B group quartet Female provided the backing vocals in the song, released via the Panther soundtrack on May 2, 1995, weeks before the Pocahontas soundtrack was released on May 30.

Shanice occasionally does background vocals for other artists; she can be heard on Toni Braxton's "Come on Over Here" and "Un-Break My Heart",[6] as well as Usher's "Bedtime". In 2010, she performed vocals on the track "Behind the Mask" from Michael Jackson's posthumous album Michael. She recorded the song "A Midnight Rendezvous" for the 2012 Kinect game Rhythm Party. She also performed "Love Is the Gift", the English theme song for the video game The Bouncer. Shanice returned to recording after a five-year hiatus and released her album Every Woman Dreams on her own label Imajah (named for her two children).[7] The album peaked at No. 30 on the R&B Albums Chart.[4]

In 2019, Shanice returned with the single "He Won't".[8] In 2022, she was selected to sing the theme song of the Sesame Street spinoff series Mecha Builders alongside Eric Bellinger.[9]

Acting and other appearances

In addition to singing, Shanice is also an actress, first appearing in "Rock Enroll", a season five episode of Family Matters.[10] In 2001, she made an appearance as a singer on her husband Flex's TV show One on One. That same year, she starred in the TV movie One Special Moment,[11] an adaptation of Brenda Jackson's 1998 novel of the same name.

In 1997, Shanice became the first Black performer to star in the role of Eponine in the musical Les Misérables on Broadway.[12] In 2011, she joined Niecy Nash and Frenchie Davis for the 21st Annual "Divas Simply Singing" HIV/AIDS charity event.[13] Shanice and her husband, Flex, also starred in the reality show Flex & Shanice, which premiered on the Oprah Winfrey Network on November 1, 2014.

In 2021, Shanice appeared as herself, performing on the Ladies First tour with Kelly Price and Chanté Moore during season 2 episode 10 of the TV series First Wives Club.

Personal life

On February 19, 2000, Shanice married actor and comedian Flex Alexander.[14] They have two children, daughter Imani Shekinah Knox (born August 23, 2001) and son Elijah Alexander Knox (born March 5, 2004).[15]

Discography

Studio albums

Awards

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards) — or Grammys – are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States for outstanding achievements in the music industry. The awards ceremony features performances by prominent artists, and some of the awards of more popular interest are presented in a widely viewed televised ceremony.

Year Nominated work Award Result
1993I Love Your SmileBest Female R&B Vocal PerformanceNominated

Golden Lion Award

Year Nominated work Award Result Ref
1993ShaniceBest International ArtistWon[16]

Soul Train Music Awards

The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show aired that honors the best in Black music and entertainment.

Year Nominated work Award Result
1988ShaniceBest New ArtistNominated

References

  1. ↑ Capretto, Lisa. "The Exact Moment This '90s Singer Realized Her Friend Was Actually Her Soul Mate." www.huffpost.com, July 29, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  2. 1 2 "American Music Channel: Shanice." Archived November 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  3. 1 2 "8 Artists Who Made It Big After Performing on ‘Star Search’." www.atlantablackstar.com, December 26, 2013. Retrieved October17, 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Shanice: Singles Chart History." Archived October 28, 2019, at the Wayback Machine billboard.com. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  5. ↑ Norment, Lynn. "The Lives And Loves of New Pop Divas." Ebony, November 1993. 42. Google Books. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  6. ↑ Hogan, Ed. "Toni Braxton: Un-Break My Heart" www.allmusic.com. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  7. ↑ Williams-Wheeler, Dorrie. "Shanice Wilson Interview." www.imissthe80s.com, 2006. Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Shanice Returns With New Single 'He Won't.'" www.youknowigotsoul.com, March 17, 2019. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Shanice on Instagram: "I have an exciting announcement to make! I'm singing the new theme song..." Instagram.
  10. ↑ Tracy, John (January 7, 1994), Rock Enroll, Reginald VelJohnson, Jo Marie Payton, Rosetta LeNoire, retrieved February 6, 2018
  11. ↑ "One Special Moment (2001)". IMDb. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  12. ↑ Shanice at the Internet Broadway Database
  13. ↑ "Divas Dish: Niecy Nash, Shanice Wilson and Frenchie Davis". BET. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  14. ↑ Dougherty, Steve (October 6, 2003). "Flex Appeal". People. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  15. ↑ "10 hottest couples". Ebony. February 2007. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  16. ↑ "Shanice Wilson Page". soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
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