Wanda L. Houston

Houston is originally from Chicago, Illinois. She started singing in gospel choirs of West Side, Chicago. She was born to John and Bessie, the oldest of four. Houston comes from a creative family. Her father was an actor, and her mother was both an actress and a singer. Her father ran a theatre company. Houston studied chemistry in college, but eventually switched to music, getting her degree in music with a focus on opera. After college she ended up in Los Angeles, spending two decades there. At this time, Houston starred in some Hollywood films, and went on to sing at the Sands in Las Vegas. After Los Angeles she moved to Australia while touring with Sisterella. She spent a year in Australia, and considered staying there forever.In the 2000s, Houston toured with Martha and the Vandellas and The Platters. She lived and performed throughout the United States, Australia and Europe. In 2001 she settled in the Berkshires, and now she performs chiefly in New England. In the Berkshires she is considered a diva. Her current group plays "a mix of mid-20th century jazz and rhythm-and-blues".In February 2021 she sang the sorrow songs of W. E. B. Du Bois at the 2021 Du Bois Legacy Festival, commemorating the civil rights activist's 153rd birthday. Her own parents were deeply involved in the civil rights movement. She performed at the BarnArts Masquerade Jazz and Funk Winter Music Carnival on more than one occasion.Houston collaborated with American progressive rock band Spock's Beard on two occasions. She was a featured artist on the dance single "Unity" by John Rizzo, also featuring Lisa Hunt. The song peaked at number 27 on the United States Billboard Dance Club Songs.