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Alphonso Williams

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This article is about the soul singer. For the retired American football player, see Al Williams (gridiron football).

Alphonso Williams
Williams in 2017
Williams in 2017
Background information
Also known asMr. Bling Bling
Born(1962-07-20)20 July 1962
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died12 October 2019(2019-10-12) (aged 57)
Hamburg, Germany
GenresSoul
OccupationSinger
Years active1980s–2019
LabelsUniversal Music Germany

Alphonso Williams (20 July 1962 – 10 October 2019) was an American soul singer, active in Germany. He won the fourteenth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar. During his participation in DSDS, he came up with the stage name Mr. Bling Bling, which he then continued to use.

Biography

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Williams was the youngest of twelve children. His father Archie Williams was a Baptist minister. Even as a child, Alphonso spent a large part of his free time in his father's church, where he came into contact with music at an early age. He sang in the gospel choir with his siblings. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Army and was transferred to the Lucius D. Clay barracks in Garlstedt near Bremen in 1980. His tenure ended in 1983. He was married and the father of two children.

Musical career

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With his son Raphael, who was born in Oldenburg in 1987, he founded the duo "Father & Son". The record company Jay Kay Records released the song "Footsteps in My Heart" in 2005 with the duo. In 2008, they took part in Das Supertalent. In 2014, the two went their separate ways musically.[1] In 2012, Alphonso Williams took part in the impersonator talent show My Name Is, where he presented George McCrae's song Rock Your Baby.

Deutschland sucht den Superstar

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In 2017, Williams was able to convince the jury at the casting of the fourteenth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar with Let's Get it On by Marvin Gaye. Although he received good reviews from the jury in the recall in Dubai, RTL announced his departure one day before the live shows. When his departure from the first motto show was left without a reason, a shitstorm developed in the social networks, prompting RTL to issue a wildcard.[2] Williams won the online voting with 91 percent of the votes. On 5 May 2017 he released his Idol finale song What Becomes of the Broken Hearted, a cover version of Jimmy Ruffin's song.[3] The following day, he was voted the show's winner by viewers with 40.54% of the calls. The prize money was 500,000 euros. In addition, he received a record deal with Universal Music.[4]

At 54, Williams was the oldest ever winner of Deutschland sucht den Superstar. With the 15th season in the following year, the upper age limit for candidates was lowered back to 30 years.

After DSDS

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In March 2018, Williams released his first original song, Everything Changes. In August, he took part in the sixth season of Promi Big Brother[5] and placed third.[6]

The Christmas single Christmas in Our Hearts was released in November 2018. In December, Williams completed several performances in Las Vegas; producer John Stuart had offered him corresponding shows two months earlier.[7]

Illness and death

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In January 2019, Williams had to undergo emergency surgery due to kidney failure.[8] He thanked those who gave him the support he needed at the time with the single "Thanks for Sending Love", which was released at the end of May 2019. His return to the stage after the break due to illness and further career steps in Las Vegas, which took place in June 2019, were documented in the Sat.1 program Promis Privat.[9][10]

Williams died of prostate cancer in Hamburg on 12 October 2019, at the age of 57.[citation needed] In November 2021, the posthumously published autobiography, Born in the USA, was published by NIBE Media.

Discography

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Albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUT
[11] 		GER
[12] 		SWI
[13]
Mr. Bling Bling Classics 14 15 30

Singles

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  • 2005: Footsteps in My Heart (as part of "Father & Son")
  • 2017: What Becomes of the Broken Hearted
  • 2018: Everything Changes
  • 2018: Christmas in Our Hearts (as "Mr. Bling Bling")
  • 2019: Thanks for Sending Love

Filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "Wiefelsteder Bei Dsds Vor dem Auftritt völlig aus dem Häuschen". nwzonline.de. 25 February 2017.
  2. ^ "RTL unter Druck nach Protesten: Regeländerung für Kandidat Alphonso" (in German). stern.de. 16 April 2017.
  3. ^ Tonia Marie Hysky (8 May 2017). "Alphonso Williams Gewinnt Bei DSDS. "Die Luft brennt"". Nordwest-Zeitung. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Alphonso Williams ist "DSDS"-Gewinner". Focus.de.
  5. ^ "Alphonso Williams zieht ins "Promi Big Brother"-Haus" (in German). Augsburger Allgemeine.
  6. ^ "Promi Big Brother". Facebook (in German). Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  7. ^ "DSDS-Sieger Alphonso Williams will in Las Vegas durchstarten" (in German). Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  8. ^ "DSDS"-Sieger in Notaufnahme gebracht". Stern.de. 29 January 2019.
  9. ^ "Promis Privat 2019: Alphonso Williams". Sat1.de. Archived from the original on 14 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Promis Privat". Fernsehserien.de.
  11. ^ "Alphonso Williams". Austrian Charts. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Alphonso Williams". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Alphonso Williams". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
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