Music World/Columbia Records Set to Release 'Unexpected,' the New Full-Length Studio Album From Grammy-Winning Musical Artist Michelle Williams

Music World/Columbia Records will release Unexpected, the long-awaited new full-length solo album from music superstar Michelle Williams, on Tuesday, August 12.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080402/NYW052 )

With the aptly-titled Unexpected, her third solo album and first since 2004's Do You Know, Michelle Williams has moved away from the gospel flavor characterizing her debut and sophomore releases and created a bold new collection of contemporary pop/dance classics.

Executive produced by Mathew Knowles for Music World Productions and Michelle Williams, Unexpected finds Michelle collaborating with some of today's hottest producers including Jim Jonsin (Jamie Foxx featuring Ludacris, Sean Paul, Danity Kane, Trina featuring Kelly Rowland, Pretty Ricky, Lil Wayne featuring Static Major, Bow Wow and Omarion); Rico Love (Usher, Omarion, Natasha Bedingfield, Tiffany Evans featuring Bow Wow); Wayne Wilkins (Natasha Bedingfield, Kylie Minogue, Pink, No Doubt); Andrew Frampton (Natasha Bedingfield, Kylie Minogue); StarGate and more.

"We Break The Dawn," the first single from Unexpected, is produced by Wayne Wilkins and Andrew Frampton, who co-wrote the track with the singer/songwriter Solange Knowles. (The younger sister of Beyonce Knowles, Michelle's ensemble-mate and musical colleague in Destiny's Child, Solange has written songs for Beyonce, Destiny's Child, Kelly Rowland and Trinitee 5:7.)

Other stand-out tracks on Unexpected include the irresistible "Stop This Car," produced by StarGate, the Norwegian production team behind #1 hits for Ne-Yo and Rihanna as well as Beyonce's "Irreplaceable," the biggest song of the year on the Hot 100 Billboard Year End Chart 2007.

  Unexpected -- Michelle Williams
  Tracklisting

  Unexpected Intro
  Hello Heartbreak
  We Break The Dawn
  Lucky Girl
  The Greatest
  Til' The End
  Private Party
  Hungover
  Stop This Car
  Unexpected
  Thank You
  Too Young For Love

American R&B and gospel singer Michelle Williams rose to international renown after joining Destiny's Child, the top-selling female group of all time, in 2000. As a member of Destiny's Child, Michelle received three Grammy Awards and performed on several #1 hit singles by the group.

With the arrival of her debut album, the gospel-infused Heart To Yours in 2002, Michelle Williams -- who'd originally entered show business as a backing vocalist for the R&B performer Monica -- became the first member of Destiny's Child to release a solo record. Heart To Yours entered the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart at #1, peaked at #3 on the Top Contemporary Christian Albums chart and became the year's top-selling Gospel album.

Her second solo album, Do You Know, achieved similar success to her debut, peaking at #2 on the Top Gospel Albums chart and #3 on the Top Christian Albums chart following its release in 2004.

Michelle Williams made her on-stage acting debut in 2003, replacing R&B icon Toni Braxton in the title role of "Aida," the hit Broadway musical with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice.

In February 2006, Michelle made her television acting debut on the UPN comedy series, "Half & Half" and, later that year, appeared in the FOX reality series, "Celebrity Duets" performing Destiny's Child's "Say My Name" with Jai Rodriguez.

Beginning in April 2007, Michelle Williams joined the national touring company -- performing extended runs in Chicago and San Francisco with members of the original Broadway cast -- of the hit musical adaptation of The Color Purple."

  www.michellewilliamsonline.com
  www.myspace.com/michellewilliams

  www.musicworldentertainment.com

  www.columbiarecords.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080402/NYW052
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SOURCE: Music World/Columbia Records

CONTACT: Yvette Noel-Schure, Senior Vice President Media, Columbia
Records, Sony BMG Entertainment, +1-212-833-4483, Fax: +1-212-833-8536,
yvette.noel-schure@sonybmg.com

Web site: http://www.columbiarecords.com/
http://www.michellewilliamsonline.com/
http://www.myspace.com/michellewilliams
http://www.musicworldentertainment.com/