Shirley Caesar

Shirley Caesar
Caesar in 1997
Caesar in 1997
Background information
Birth nameShirley Ann Caesar
Also known as
  • Pastor Shirley Caesar
  • The Queen of Gospel
  • The First Lady of Gospel
Born (1938-10-13) October 13, 1938 (age 86)
Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres
OccupationSinger
Years active1951–present
Labels
  • Artemis Gospel
  • Light Records
Website{{Pastor Shirley Caesar}}

Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams, nee Caesar, (born October 13, 1938),[1] known professionally as Shirley Caesar, is an American gospel singer. Her career began in 1951, when she signed to Federal Records at the age of 12.[2] Throughout her seven decade career, Caesar has often been referred to as the "First Lady of Gospel Music",[1] and "The Queen of Gospel Music".[3] She has won eleven Grammy Awards, fifteen Dove Awards, and fourteen Stellar Awards.

Caesar has released over forty albums. She has participated in over 16 compilations and three gospel musicals, Mama I Want to Sing, Sing: Mama 2 and Born to sing: Mama 3.

In 2009, she had sold 2.2 million albums since 1991.[4] She has made several notable appearances including the televised Live from Disney World Night of Joy, the Gospel According to VH1, and a White House performance for President George Bush. She gave a speech on the evolution of gospel music to the US Treasury Department.[5] In 2017, Caesar was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award from The Recording Academy.[6] She has received the SESAC Lifetime Achievement Award, Rhapsody & Rhythm Award from the National Museum of African American Music, and was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In 2016, Caesar was honored with a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, for her contributions in gospel music.

  1. ^ a b "Shirley Caesar: African-American Gospel Singer". Arts.gov. National Endowment for the Arts. n.d. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  2. ^ Boyer, Horace Clarence (1995). The Golden Age of Gospel. University of Illinois Press. pp. 220–. ISBN 978-0-252-06877-5.
  3. ^ Law, John (August 17, 2018). "Aretha Franklin: The Review's talk with the Queen of Soul". StCatharinesStandard.ca.
  4. ^ Trust, Gary (September 18, 2009) Ask Billboard: Madonna, Yoko Ono, Gospel. Billboard
  5. ^ "Shirley Caesar AOL Music bio". AOL Music. Archived from the original on October 19, 2008.
  6. ^ Porter, Kevin (December 21, 2016). "Shirley Caesar, 11-Time Grammy Award Winner, Receives Lifetime Achievement Award Honor". The Christian Post.