2: Gospel singer MARION WILLIAMS. She died on Saturday at the age of 66. Her trademark, a long-lasting high A-flat "whooo," has been adopted by most gospel singers and soul singers like Little Richard and Aretha Franklin. A pioneer of gospel music, she started singing with the Clara Ward Singers, the first gospel group to perform outside the church. A self- proclaimed "Holy Roller", in 1993 WILLIAMS received the MacArthur Foundation grant and the Kennedy Center Honars Award in Washington for her lifetime achievement in the arts. She recorded ten albums, and her music was used in the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes," which was dedicated to her, and in the film "Mississippi Masala." Her last album was "Can't Keep It To Myself" (Sanachie). (REBROADCAST FROM 12
Copyright 1994 Fresh Air