American dance music singer (1959 – 2024)
Michael Watford |
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| Birth name | Michael Wayne Watford |
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| Born | (1959-07-20)July 20, 1959
Suffolk, Virginia, U.S. |
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| Died | January 26, 2024(2024-01-26) (aged 64)
Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Genres | Dance, house |
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| Occupation(s) | Singer |
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Musical artist
Michael Wayne Watford (July 20, 1959 – January 26, 2024) was an American dance music singer, who was born in Virginia and raised in New Jersey.[1] He was best known for his gospel-influenced vocals on house records[2] throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
Biography
Watford was born in Suffolk, Virginia, on July 20, 1959, and was raised in Newark, New Jersey.[3] His mother was a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and a gospel singer, and Watford's early musical experiences came from singing in church.[3]
Watford's first single, "Holdin' On", was released in 1991.[3] Four of his singles charted on the United States Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the mid-1990s, including "So into You" which hit number one in 1994.[4] The same track peaked at No. 53 on the UK Singles Chart.[5]
Watford's career faltered after 1995, when he was dropped by his label, East West Records, amid administrative turnover.[3] He withdrew from his performing career in the years afterward, running karaoke bars in Newark before a stint working at a welfare office, though he harbored interest in returning to music.[3]
Watford died from dementia at a hospital in Newark on January 26, 2024, at the age of 64.[3][6]
