She could only perform on weekends due to being in school during the weekdays. She began singing as Baby Shirley Caesar all over the Carolinas as invitations poured in. JSTOR ( April 2022) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Ĭaesar first began singing and performing for family and friends.Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Caesar had a special bond with her mother and took care of her until her death in 1986. Her mother Hallie Caesar was semi-invalid due to a lame leg. Her father Jim Caesar was a well known local gospel singer but he died suddenly when Shirley was seven years old. In 2016, Caesar was honored with a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame, for her contributions in gospel music.Ĭaesar was born in Durham, North Carolina. She has also received SESAC Lifetime Achievement Award, Rhapsody & Rhythm Award from the National Museum of African American Music, as well as induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. In 2017, Caesar was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award from The Recording Academy. She gave a speech on the evolution of gospel music to the US Treasury Department. 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 has participated in over 16 compilations and three gospel musicals, Mama I Want to Sing, Sing: Mama 2 and Born to sing: Mama 3.Īccording to SoundScan, she has sold 2.2 million albums since 1991. Additionally, she has won eleven Grammy Awards, fifteen Dove Awards, and fourteen Stellar Awards.Ĭaesar has released over forty albums. Throughout her seven decade career, Caesar has often been referred to as the " First Lady of Gospel Music", and "The Queen of Gospel Music". Her career began in 1951, when she signed to Federal Records at the age of 12. Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams ( nee Caesar born October 13, 1938), known professionally as Shirley Caesar, is an American gospel singer.
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