Vesta

Vesta Williams, known by most as Vesta, was born in 1963 in Coshocton, Ohio. Vesta is the daughter ofa disc jockey and so, got involved in music at an early age. She worked as a stand-up comic and as a singer while in high school.

During the 60s, Vesta's family moved from Ohio to Los Angeles, California. While in the city, Vesta appeared in the television show Jack and Jill with her sisters. Vesta then had a quick stint where she went to Dayton, Ohio in 1977 to work in a band, but returned to Los Angeles shortly after to try a solo career.

In California, Vesta met Ron Townsend of Fifth Dimension, and sang in his band Wild Honey. She became popular as a studio singer, working alongside Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight and Stephanie Mills.

1986 saw Vesta score a record deal with A&M records. She had met with producer David Crawford which had helped produce the fruitful deal. During that same year, she released her self-titled debut, Vesta. The album scored a hit with 'Once Bitten, Twice Shy' which reached #9 on the R&B charts. The album's second single 'Something About You' reached #46 on the R&B charts and the album's biggest hit, 'Don't Blow A Good Thing' reached #17 on the R&B charts.

Vesta's follow-up album, Vesta 4 U, came out in 1988. The album was packed with some of Vesta's biggest hits, including 'Sweet, Sweet Love' and 'Congratulations.' 'Sweet, Sweet Love' reached #4 on the R&B charts while 'Congratulations' reached #55 on the Hot 100 and #5 on the R&B charts.

Still, it wasn't until 1991 when Vesta scored her biggest charting hit. vesta released the album Special in 1991, and its title track reached #2 on the R&B charts. The album was unable to score much success thereafter and was followed by Everything-N-More which had little success.

Leaving A&M, Vesta spent the next five years looking for a new label. She signed to MCA and came back a new woman for her 1998 release, Relationships. She had lost a great amount of weight and appeared very different in her album pictures.

In 2007, Vesta released an album of remakes titled Distant Lover.