Story and Photos by Shelah Moody
Who: Shanice
When: Saturday, September 21, 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Where: Yoshi’s San Francisco, 1330 Fillmore St., SF
Story and Photos by Shelah Moody
Shanice Wilson has a
smile, a voice and a personality that automatically makes you light up. It is
no wonder that Grammy winning drummer/producer Narada Michael Walden took her
under his wing to in 1991, to produce
her second studio album, “Inner Child,” which spawned her “Billboard” chart
topper “I Love Your Smile.”
I first experienced the power and pure soul of
Shanice Wilson soaring soprano voice in 2009,
during a production called “Let
the Sunshine In” at Davies Symphony Hall
in San Francisco. It was benefit for the Narada Michael Walden Foundation,
Chistopher Rodriguez, (a child who was
hit and paralyzed by a stray bullet while practicing the piano at his Oakland
home) and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Shanice performed with a
fantasy lineup which included Sting, Mary Wilson, Tevin Campbell, Lisa Fischer,
Earl Klugh, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. and others. As Shanice sang the
ebullient “I Love Your Smile” on stage
to Christopher, she touched everyone in the audience.
Shanice Wilson, who
goes by her first name, is a former child star turned success story. She is
currently working on a new CD and other notable projects, which she discussed
during our interview. Shanice is married
to actor Flex Alexander, and they have two children together.
Shanice and her band
perform at Yoshi’s San Francisco for the first time this weekend.
Shelah Moody: What was it like being reunited with your producer, Narada
Michael Walden at the “Let the Sunshine In” benefit in San Francisco?
Shanice: It was fun to be on stage with Narada. We still stay in touch.
As a matter of fact, I spoke with him yesterday and we are talking about doing
more music together.
SM: You have such a beautiful and powerful voice! What kind of music
will you be performing at Yoshi’s?
Shanice: Thank you! I am taking everyone back, from the beginning of my
career to the present. I’m also doing a tribute to some of the legends that
we’ve lost: Teena Marie, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson and Vesta Williams. I
will be doing “I Love Your Smile,” of course, and “Saving Forever for You.” I’m
taking you through the eighties, nineties and the millennium.
SM: How old were you when you recorded “I Love Your Smile?”
Shanice: I was 18.
SM: On that note, what was it like making the transition from teen
sensation to grown up artist?
Shanice: I think, for a minute, that transition for the public was hard,
but for me it was easy. My first single was called “Can You Dance,” and it came
out in 1987. I signed my first record deal when I was 11. I think that as I
started growing up, people still wanted to me to be that bubbly, smiling little
girl (laughs).
SM: I recently read in your bio that you did some work on the track
“Behind the Mask” on Michael Jackson’s posthumous release “Michael.”
Shanice: Yes, I sang backgrounds,
and I did some ad libs with Michael on “Behind the Mask.” I also sang
background for Siedah Garrett on one of Michael’s songs called “Keep the Faith”
on the “Dangerous” album.
SM: That’s amazing! What was it like to work with Michael?
Shanice: First of all, I’m Michael’s number one fan. My mom and I are
from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and we moved to California when I was eight years
old. Wanda Hutchinson, from the female vocal group the Emotions, picked us up
from the Greyhound bus station. When I got off of the bus, the first thing I
said was, “Where’s Michael Jackson! I wanna meet Michael Jackson!” When I did
the backgrounds for Michael, I was so nervous; I was so excited. I’ve met a lot
of entertainers, and he was the most down to earth. He was the nicest guy I’ve
ever met. It’s funny, because you meet people who are not as famous as Michael
Jackson, and they feel themselves a little bit, but Michael was so not like
that at all. When I was called to do “Behind the Mask,” it was hard, because he
had passed away. He had recorded the song years ago, and they just added my
voice. It was an honor, but it was difficult. I cried for a minute. I had to
stop for a second and get my tears out, and then I was able to sing.
SM: Did you attend Michael’s memorial service at the Staples Center?
Shanice: Yes, I did. It was so hard. We were sitting next to one of the
chefs who used to work with Michael. He was telling me that Michael’s favorite
dish was fried chicken—he loved fried chicken. Everyone—the whole aisle was
just crying. When his daughter, Paris, got up to speak, you could hear people
crying really hard all the way up in the balcony.
SM: Branford Marsalis has also performed at Yoshi’s San Francisco. What
was it like working with him on “I Love Your Smile?”
Shanice: The funniest thing is, when Branford played his saxophone part,
I wasn’t actually there. We never actually got together in the studio. I never
got a chance to actually talk to him or work with him like that. Narada called
him in, he played his part, and then he called me in on another day and I came
in and sang my part.
SM: When I met you at the benefit in 2009, I was surprised to see little
Shanice all grown up with a husband and a family! How did you meet Flex
Alexander?
Shanice: I met him in Studio City. We were living in the same apartment
building. The day he moved in, I was on my way to a Lauryn Hill concert. We got
in the elevator. I knew of him and he knew of me, but we didn’t know each other
personally. I went back to get a pen so that we could stay in touch, but when I
got back to the elevator, he was gone, because it took me forever to get the
pen. A couple weeks later, we ran into each other again and we exchanged
numbers. We started out as friends, and we had such a great friendship. The
funniest thing it that we officially dated for four months. He asked me to
marry him; and we were married three months later. That was 13 years ago.
SM: What a wonderful story! What are your children like?
Shanice: Our daughter just turned 12, and our son is nine. They are both
pretty funny; they keep me laughing. My daughter is in a singing group with LL
Cool J’s daughter and Niecy Nash’s daughter. My son just discovered that he
wants to sing; he’s always known how to sing. He also loves to direct, he
builds leggos and does animation with them. I call him Steven Spielberg
(laughs).
SM: How many people will you have in your band at Yoshi’s?
Shanice: It’s really intimate; I don’t have a big production. I have a
keyboard player, bass, drums and that’s it!
SM: Tell us about your upcoming projects.
Shanice: I am working on some new music; I’ve been working with a
producer, B Slade, who used to be a gospel singer who went under the name Tonéx. This is not a gospel project, but
he is amazing; he does everything—pop, R&B, gospel. We are doing a whole CD
together. I can’t reveal the network yet, but my husband and I are working on a
reality show about our family.
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