Friday, July 03, 2026
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Show 6pm | Doors 5:15pm
$50.15 to $61.15
GENERAL ADMISSION: $61.15
BABY GRAND MEMBER TICKETS: $50.15
BABY GRAND MEMBER TICKETS: $50.15
Craft cocktails and small plates begin at 5:15pm. General Admission seating available on a first-come basis, with preferred seating for our Baby Grand members.
“First Lady of Def Jam.”
ALYSON WILLIAMS
WATCH
Alyson Williams is a multi-talented powerhouse whose career has spanned R&B, jazz, and hip-hop, earning her the historic title of the “First Lady of Def Jam.” As an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and radio host, she remains a formidable presence in the entertainment industry, known for a sophisticated vocal style that blends soul, jazz, and gospel into what many describe as a “hauntingly pure” experience.
Her historical significance was cemented as the first female R&B artist signed to Russell Simmons’ legendary Def Jam label, where her 1989 debut album, Raw, achieved Gold status and spent over a year on the Billboard charts. Before her solo success, she was a highly sought-after session singer for icons like Melba Moore and Evelyn “Champagne” King, eventually becoming the quintessential “hook girl” for early rap and hip-hop through her extensive work with Kurtis Blow.
Beyond the recording studio, Williams is a seasoned actress who has starred in over a dozen Broadway and stage productions, including The Wiz and Menopause the Musical, and she continues to reach audiences as the host of “Love Notes with Alyson Williams” on WHCR-FM.
Her enduring contributions to music were officially recognized with her induction into the Soul Music Hall of Fame in 2020. Throughout her career, Alyson Williams has been shaped by and collaborated with a prestigious roster of heavyweights including John Lewis, Christian McBride, Kirk Whalum, Arthur Mitchell, and more.
This lifelong dedication to her craft—rooted in her early training with the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the influence of her father, jazz trumpeter Bobby Booker—is why she remains a celebrated and “bankable brand” defined by an experience of love, light, and music.
