RON'S WORLD MUSIC TO REMEMBER: April 2008

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Soul balladeer Will Downing believes in the showbusiness saying the show must go on.'

And that was his attitude as he recorded his new CD, After Tonight.

He recorded most of it from a wheelchair or lying in a hospital bed.

"I needed to do this CD for my fans who have come to expect new product from me every two years as well as for me to prove to myself that I could do it," Downing told JET. "Honestly, as the illness progressed I thought that I would never sing again."

The popular singer was diagnosed in January with a rare, incurable disease known as polymyositis. Today, he is unable to walk and uses a wheelchair.

"This disease basically took away my ability to function on my own, using any of my own limbs or even the ability to walk.

"It's a muscle debilitating illness, it takes away all of your muscles from your feet to your head," he explains. "You are dependent on others to do everything for you. There was a point where I could not feed myself. My wife, Audrey, has been a real trouper throughout the whole process."

He is in physical therapy and is learning how to walk again. "Thank God I've been through the worst of what this disease has to offer. It's a very emotional disease as well. It will depress you to the worst of depth. I have been to the pity party. 'Why me?' But that's over now."

He says there were no real symptoms, that the illness appeared out of nowhere. "It just jumped on me."

He remembers feeling very weak at a Chicago concert last December at the Park West theater. "I was so tired on stage. I told the audience, 'I am just not feeling 100 percent here.'" He eventually went to the doctor when he found himself too weak to turn the steering wheel of his car. He ended up spending five months in the hospital.

The amazing thing is, Downing, who turns 44 on November 29, sounds just as vibrant as he has on his other recordings. And his new CD debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart.

Highlights on the new CD include the title track; Phyllis Hyman's No One Could Love You More, featuring Gerald Albright on sax; Bill Withers' You Just Can't Smile It Away and the gospel tune, God Is So Amazing.

"You have to do what you got to do. It was a rough recording process. The performances are extremely heartfelt. It stands up to anything I have done in the past. I am really proud of it."

He adds, "It's about perseverance, it's about surviving and giving your all at all times. That's all I did. It was a gift God gave me to sing."

Rex Rideout, co-producer of After Tonight, recalled: "I am deeply touched by the trust that Will placed in me. My job was to help make After Tonight the best possible representation of Will's artistry during this challenging space and time ... Knowing how difficult this process was becoming for him, I kept asking, 'Are you sure you can do this?' He always responded, 'Man, I got it.'"

Downing says, "God's love for me is getting me through these interesting times. I've come to deal with these circumstances but not accept them, as I know I will overcome this illness. No matter what, all things are possible to those who believe."

What Is Polymyositis?

Polymyositis (pol-e-mi-o_Sl-tis) is an uncommon, chronic disease that causes inflammation in the muscles. It affects skeletal muscles (those involved with making movement) on both sides of the body. The most noticeable characteristic is muscle weakness, especially in the muscles closest to your trunk, such as your shoulder and hip muscles. As a result it may be difficult to get out of chairs, climb stairs, brush your hair or work with your arms over your head. It can occur at any age, but it mostly affects adults in their 40s and 50s. It usually develops gradually over weeks or months, Most cases are in adults between the ages of 31 and 60. The cause is unknown. There is no cure for polymyositis, but the symptoms can be treated. Options include medication, physical therapy and exercise.

Source: MayoClinic.com and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

By Clarence Waldron

JET MAGAZINE

Will Downing

2007 Power Awards National Honoree -- Will Downing

Will Downing

Just one note… and you instantly know “That Voice.” A voice that melts like warm chocolate syrup over his growing legion of adoring female fans, who will tell you that “no one sounds like Will Downing.” Uniquely gifted with an unmatched arsenal of velvet lows and silky falsetto highs, few can challenge the growing belief that this versatile crooner is the rightful heir to the Smooth R&B throne.

Blurring the line between jazz and classic soul in a musical era that often pushes style over substance, Will Downing has amassed a timeless body of work that has never forced his listeners to make that compromise. The consistent choice of classy style over flashy trends has fueled the success of a 12-album, two-decade career, with millions of albums sold in countries all over the world. Most of today’s performers would be fortunate to have a track record only half as long. As one of the lone surviving mature male vocalists in a youth-driven market, this Brooklyn native is at the top of his game and continues to expand his fan base with each new musical chapter.

Recognized by the Grammys and the NAACP Image Awards for his excellence on the stage and in the studio, Will Downing is becoming equally well known for his talents outside of the music industry. Unbeknownst to many of his listeners, Will is a noted and equally skilled photographer. His subjects of choice are his musical contemporaries, whom he captures live on stage or in candid moments behind the curtain.

A self-published coffee table book, Unveiled, was released in late 2005 and features Downing’s shutterbug alter ego.

Will Downing also gives back to the community through his role as a spokesperson for the American Stroke Association. Will's own grandmother suffered a stroke, and he has also been impacted by the passing of others such as Luther Vandross, Ron Isley and Coretta Scott King. An avid bowler, Will has found a way to help in the fight against stroke while enjoying this hobby. While touring, Downing often conducts a charity bowling event called “Strike Against Stroke” to raise funds for greater stroke awareness and education among African Americans, who are disproportionately affected by this devastating illness.

When he’s off the road, Will Downing retreats to his family in a quiet New Jersey township. It would appear he is poised to make a much bigger musical noise everywhere else and start to command the respect and recognition he so richly deserves.