Cole Williams
Founder, The Greater New Orleans Citizens Relief Team
8 Black Artists Making Waves In 2024 - Symphonic
MUSICA: Queen of Soul/RnB, activist and campaigner, in conversation
“Organizing Black Power To Create Change Through Music, Drives US Singer-Songwriter-Performer Cole Williams Every Minute of Every Day"- Medium
ABOUT
“The Grande Dame Of R&B/Soul"
-Medium
The "Grande Dame of RnB/Soul”, Cole Williams is a Brooklyn native and founder of The Greater New Orleans Citizens Relief Team and is in the vanguard of the social justice movement for The Houseless community in New Orleans. Currently based in New Orleans, this Jamaican-American singer, WWOZ host, composer, actress, songwriter, producer, percussionist, and organizer, is described by Medium as ”a powerhouse of political action, motivated to help others through her music.”After releasing her single, A Better Woman in 2023, Cole gained international recognition on the UK charts and BBC6, and she received recognition in the Unsigned Only Songwriting Competition (2022) and the International Songwriting Competition (2023) as a semifinalist. Her album with her New Orleans-based collective, The Cole Williams Band, Give Power To The People (2021), incorporated elements of R&B, gospel, ska, and social justice-fueled lyrics, establishing her as a vanguard in the Freedom Movement.
“Acclaimed, genre-defying artist ."
-Grateful Web
Cole's sound is a gumbo of reggae, soul, world, and R&B genres on her early studio albums, The Basement Sessions (2007), Out Of The Basement, Out Of The Box (2012), Sin City (2016), and The Punk Empress Of African Rock: Testimony (2018), the last of which was a collection of singles and collaborations for her anniversary compilation album. During her musical career, Cole has collaborated with many artists, such as Joey Bada$$, Nickedeumus, Somi, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, and Aloe Blacc.In 2005 Cole’s single, “Anything,” was also released on two compilation CDs: Paris to Brooklyn and France’s Soul R&B Magazine (alongside Kanye West and R. Kelly). Cole is a Swedish Grammy Nominee for Best Live Performance (with Glenn Wish and The New Memphis Orchestra, 2006). In recognition of her talent, Williams received a Best of the Beat Nomination for Best Female Vocalist from OffBeat Magazine in 2017. Her debut performance at the **New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival **(2016) and Joshua Tree Music Festival (2018) with The Cole Williams Band ranks her as a staple on the live music scene.
Aside from music, Cole is known for her leadership in humanitarian causes, entrepreneurial ventures, and education. She is the founder of the nonprofit organization Worldwide Partnerships and Houseless initiative The Greater New Orleans Citizens Relief Team with support from Trader Joe’s; she is currently hosting a weekly program on WWOZ. Her monthly podcast, House The Houseless IMusic & Action is powered by Ropeadope Records.Cole has also ventured into acting, appearing in NCIS New Orleans (2020, 2019). She was appointed a leader in nonprofits by the Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) in 2017.
“...the heart of Bob Marley, the soul of Sam Cooke, and the grit of Etta James."
-Huffington Post
William's vocal performances have been featured on CoverGirl, and JCPenney: and TV shows as prominent as Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, Great Day Louisiana, and The Jools Holland Show, and her performance highlights include Joshua Tree Music Festival, World Cafe Live, BAM Cafe Live, and Blue Note NYC. Cole has been featured in publications such as Rolling Stone, HuffPost, Medium, Glide Magazine, Wax Poetics, NME, AfroPunk, New Orleans Magazine, and Offbeat Magazine.
Gallery
“...And with her velveteen vocals stroking the melody, this soulful groove is a pure delight for your ears.." - Jansen's Jamz
GIVE POWER TO THE PEOPLE &
The Greater New Orleans Citizens Relief Team
In 2020 I founded The Greater New Orleans Citizens Relief Team because of my strong belief in treating all people with dignity and respect.Under the guidance of my mentor, the late Curtis Muhammad, we demonstrated and demanded shelter for the unhoused. Along with other New Orleans-based activists, we were successful; however, our goal has always been creating a space where unhoused people can have access to long-term housing.
In the summer of 2020 organizers and unhoused partners reclaimed a city-owned blighted property in Central City, New Orleans, and began making renovations with donations and volunteer support while teaching our unhoused partners marketable skills.In December 2023, NORA, a nonprofit assigned to manage and auction blighted property and land attempted to destroy our program. They demolished the stairs we built and boarded up the door to restrict our access.
Today we continue to work with the unhoused by offering food support. To date, we have distributed over 8,000 bags of groceries to the unhoused and at-risk community in Central City, New Orleans.
"If the City of New Orleans is against gentrification, why are they hoarding and withholding land instead of using it to house The Unhoused? If the City of New Orleans is for The Culture why don’t they support The Greater New Orleans Citizens Relief Team's action and solution to the housing crisis; to continue renovating blighted homes with the unhoused persons that will live in them?"
Peaches Manifest
Believe
Organize
Occupy Yourself
A Better Woman Stoop Mix
(remix)
Who Cares For The Houseless On The Holidays
Out Of The Basement, Part 1
Out Of The Basement, Out Of The Box
He's My Man
Sin City, the mixtape
The Basement Sessions
Peaches 'N Herb
A Better Woman
The Golden Road
Give Power To The People
Shit Don't Get Happened
DISCOGRAPHY
“Just heard on Craig Charles on BBC Radido6. what a great song!"
Albums2024: How We Care For Humanity (Four Corner Records)
2024: The Basement Sessions Deluxe (Four Corner Records)
2024: Organize EP (Four Corner Records)
2019: BeLlieVe (Louisiana Red Hot Records)
2017: The Punk Empress Of African Rock: Testimony
2016: Sin City
2012: Out Of The Basement, Out Of The Box
2011: Out Of The Basement, Part 1
2007: The Basement Sessions EPSingles/EP
2024: Peaches Manifest (Four Corner Records)
2024: A Better Woman - Instrumentals (Four Corner Records)
2024: Organize EP (Four Corner Records)
2023: Who Cares For The Houseless On The Holidays (Four Corner Records)
2023: A Better Woman Humanity Mix (Four Corner Records)
2023: A Better Woman Stoop Mix (Four Corner Records)
2023: A Better Woman (Golden Rules)
2023: The Golden Road (Four Corner Records)
2022: A Better Woman/Organize Vinyl 45 (Soul Tune)
2022: How We Care For Humanity (TMWW Records)
2019: Believe (Louisiana Red Hot Records)
2018: A Change Is Gonna Come
2017: Free
2015: Peaches ‘N Herb
2013: Shit Don’t Get Happened
2012: Why
2012: The Box
2011: Little MeAppears On/Producer*/Songwriter#
2024: *Give Power To The People Deluxe (45 Records) - Cole Williams Band
2023: The Originals V3 (Golden Rules)
2022: *White On Black Crime - Cole Williams Band
2022: *Dear, Love - Cole Williams Band
2021: *Give Power To The People - Cole Williams Band
2021: Obeah Woman - Nickodemus
2021: *Sign Of The Times - Cole Williams Band feat. Corey Henry
2016: I’m In My Own Lane - Mr. Complex
2016: Baby C’mon - Corey Henry
2016: Lapeitah - Corey Henry
2016: Like Wow - Salme Dahlstrom
2015: Curry Chicken - Joey Bada$$
2015: *30th Anniversary Compilation: Rock ‘N Roll Reparations - Black Rock Coalition
2015: #Jukestone Paradise - Pimps Of Joytime
2015: #American Dreamers - People's Champs
2014: Booty Text - Pimps Of Joytime
2013: I Love Your Ooh - Salme Dahlstrom
2012: Breakfast - Chiddy Bang
2012: C’mon Y’all - Salme Dahlstrom
2011: #Let's Do it Again (Over and Over) - Great Weekend
2011: People's Champs - People's Champs
2009: Bible Belt - Diane Birch
2004: Red Soil In My Eyes - Somi
Management
Justin Thomas
(e) justin@thatsmyworldwide.com
Anthony Rowe
(e) fourcornerrecordus@gmail.com
Booking & Press
Gladys King
(e) thatsmyww@gmail.com
(e) info@thatsmyworldwide.com
Podcast
Louis Marks
(e) louis@ropeadope.com
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