So many people call themselves singers or vocalists but this lady is the real deal!. Little Richards credits her for his famous falsetto and Paul McCartney credits Little Richard for his. So... when you hear McCartneys famous falsetto in a Beatles song remember that it had its start with Marion Williams. Is that cool or what?
Lord I would have fallen out towards the end! Her Soprano was NOT to be played with! Marion really was Packin Up! she song it with so much conviction! SANG ON MS.WILLIAMS SANG ON!!!
I ain't a religeous man but this is the only lady who could ever make me go to church, and i would probably be the first in the cue! amazing, thank's for posting this.
I've commented in other places about Marion Williams' rhythmic genius, and there is no better example than this clip. She's essentially constrained rhythmically by the audiences' clapping on the 1 and 3. But she doesn't push against it. She uses, and sings to, their rhythm until it's time for the tag. The way she syncopates the "I'm packing up to go" and everything afterwards finally pushes against them and loosens the entire musical feel. Her showmanship is another thing altogether that contributes to the effect. She was just pure, intuitive genius.
Ok see now I don told yall to go on somewhere and leave me alone with these good old videos I can't get nothin down around the house shucks now. No but really this is what the old church was like as I surely remember in my childhood, it is a joy to go back in time and view such great memories. Thanks so much for posting this video, after all you really don't know much about where you're going if you don't know where you came from so lets all cherish this in heart as we move on into the future.
I just saw the Kennedy Center honor Marion Williams and Aretha Franklin, Little Richard and Billy Preston tore it up honoring Mrs. Williams. The whole audience including jazz great Joe Williams, Johnny Carson, Robert Goulet (all deceased) were in the spirit. Wow. Nothing can compare to or replace this. If you're interested that Y/T video is: aretha franklin little richard billy preston. Music like this is HIGH SPIRIT. I don't think po' li'l Beyonce could hit it. Shalom.
hey sweet Marion, i love your songs, especially this one........you packed up, you were ready to go, girl, i sometimes feel like packing up and going home too may you be in the Light, and may the Lord bless you love you Anna
@matthewthefine Actually she grew up in COGIC, She was an evangelist at the B.O.M. COGIC under Bishop Bruce Oakley later Pastor mother Oakley and then Pastor Gardener Thomas.
I don't know who the announcer is, but I sure appreciate that he addressed her as "Ms. Williams". Black acts in the 40s and 50s were usually addressed by their first names.
Good for you! HalleluYah!! You might like this Y/T video of Marion Williams being honored at the Kennedy Center: aretha franklin little richard billy preston. These (3) and a gospel choir had the audience which included my fav Johnny Carson and jazz great Joe Williams in the spirit. It felt good to watch.
this godess is so incredible!! i only discovered her work last week, and it really opens my eyes. (not in a religious sense) before i only knew mahalia jackson, who is also a good singer, but horror to look at. Miss williams really knew how to reach people, and she did/does it with so much happiness. It's fantastic to see her work and see how all the people join in.
I wrote this before and it disappeared, so I will try one more time. The "down" beats are beats one and three in four/four time. A lot of African-American music does ask for a stronger beat on two and four, i.e., the "upbeats", but not this number. The "white folks" here are clapping on all four beats, which is exactly what they should be doing in a "rave-up" number, as you can see by how Marion's own foot in tapping. Her performance is simply great.
Damn! Marion Williams. Amazing voice and amazing performer. Shoutout to the bass player, who is also kicking butt, and you can tell Miss Williams likes him!
European musical traditions + African rhythms (back beat) = American music (Gospel, blues, jazz, rock, funk, hip hop, etc.) The old-worlds combining to make something new.
Packing up I have to laugh that's all I have been doing for most of my life been places that were out of my mind but if I have learned a lot about packing up you only take the important things what are those you and your family but these days the concept is changing its the material things and then everything else.
