Biography
Willie Norwood, father of Pop/R&B standouts Brandy and Ray J, has long demonstrated his own vocal and instrumental command, revealing the source of the siblings' abilities. His entry into professional music began at Jackson State University in the 1970s, where a band scholarship placed him in the soul ensemble the Composers. Serving as the group's lead singer and trumpeter, Norwood helped build its reputation across Mississippi club venues before the act opened shows for Rufus and Chaka Khan as well as Lou Rawls. The Composers eventually relocated to Hollywood, cultivating a dedicated audience there.
The rapid tempo of Hollywood life pulled Norwood away from his faith-based roots, prompting him and his wife, Sonja, to return to McComb, MS, in the late '70s so they could raise a family and restore their priorities. Years later California reentered the picture when Norwood took up choral work with community ensembles in Los Angeles while pursuing postgraduate studies at California State University. Those choir sessions gave young Brandy and Ray J early chances to develop their own musical inclinations.
Once his children's careers were successfully under way, Norwood finally stepped forward after three decades, issuing his debut Atlantic Records album, 'Bout It, in 2001. Working with Sonja and producers Victor and Cedric Caldwell through a two-year selection process, he assembled a project that included family contributions from Brandy, Ray J, and his father W.T. Norwood.
The rapid tempo of Hollywood life pulled Norwood away from his faith-based roots, prompting him and his wife, Sonja, to return to McComb, MS, in the late '70s so they could raise a family and restore their priorities. Years later California reentered the picture when Norwood took up choral work with community ensembles in Los Angeles while pursuing postgraduate studies at California State University. Those choir sessions gave young Brandy and Ray J early chances to develop their own musical inclinations.
Once his children's careers were successfully under way, Norwood finally stepped forward after three decades, issuing his debut Atlantic Records album, 'Bout It, in 2001. Working with Sonja and producers Victor and Cedric Caldwell through a two-year selection process, he assembled a project that included family contributions from Brandy, Ray J, and his father W.T. Norwood.
Albums
Singles
