Shirley Ann Caesar-Williams was born on the 13th October 1938, in Durham, North Carolina USA, and is best known for being a Gospel musician – singer and songwriter – the “First Lady of Gospel Music”, who has won 11 Grammy Awards. Beside that, Shirley is an actress as well. Her career has been active since 1951.
So, have you ever wondered how rich Shirley Caesar is, as of early 2016? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that the total sum of Shirley’s net worth is currently over $16 million. The main source of this amount of money is not only her successful career as a musician, but also as a pastor. Additional to these, she has appeared in several commercials for MCI Communications as well as in several films, which have also added a lot to her net worth. [divider]
Shirley Caesar Net Worth $16 Million
[divider] Shirley Caesar was brought up by parents in her hometown of Durham. Her father James was a tobacco worker and the lead singer in the Just Came Four, a gospel quartet, thus, under the influence of her father, Shirley started singing gospel music at the age of 10. Two years after, although her father passed away, Shirley continued to sing with evangelist LeRoy Johnson. Parallel with that, she attended high school, and later Shaw University, from which she graduated with a BA degree in Business Administration in 1984. Then, she earned doctorates from Southeastern University and Shaw University, too.
Shirley’s professional career began in the 1950s at the age of 12, when she recorded her first song entitled “I’d Rather Have Jesus”. Later in 1958, when she was 18 years old, she joined the Caravans, a popular gospel group,.firstly approachingAlbertina Walker, who was impressed by Shirley’s talents, and soon brought her into the group, and she stayed with them until 1966.
After eight years of touring and recording with the group, Shirley left to pursue a solo career. In no time, she released two albums, with help from the Institutional Radio Choir, “My Testimony”, and the second one “I’ll Go”. Ever since then her career has gone only upwards, and so has her net worth. So far she has released 20 studio albums, including “Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name” (1983), “Just A Word” (1996), “You Can Make It” (2000), “Hymns” (2001), “Still Sweeping Through The City After 40 Years” (2008), “A City Called Heaven” (2009), and “Good God” (2013). Most recently she has released a single “It’s Alright It’s Okay” (2016), which has also increased her net worth.
Over the course of her career, she has collaborated and performed with several other notable musicians, such as Whitney Houston, Patty LaBelle, Dorothy Norwood, and Kim Burrell, among others. Thanks to her successful career, Shirley has received numerous prestigious awards, and recognitions, including 18 Dove Awards, 11 Grammy Awards, and 14 Stellar Awards. Furthermore, she won the SEAC Lifetime Achievement Award, NAACP Achievement Award, and she was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010, and also inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Shirley’s net worth has benefited also from her acting talents, as she has appeared in such productions as “The Unseen” (2005), and “The Parkers” (2003), among others. Other than that, she has also performed in gospel musicals on Broadway, including “Mama I Want To Sing”, “Sing: Mama 2”, and “Born To Sing: Mama 3”.
If to talk about her personal life, Shirley Caesar was married to Bishop Harold I. Williams from 1983 to 2004, when he passed away. Her current residence is in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she is also recognized as a Pastor of Mount Calvary Word of Faith Church.
North Carolina Central University, Shaw University, Hold My Mule, Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name, I Remember Mama
Nationality
American
Spouse
Harold Ivory Williams
Parents
James Caesar, Hannah Caesar
Siblings
Joyce Caesar, LeRoy Caesar, Julius Caesar, Cleo Caesar, Solomon Caesar, Lina Caesar Brown, Virginia Caesar Reed, Anne Ceasar Price, Hold My Mule, Jesus, I Love Calling Your Name, I Remember Mama
Grammy Award for Best Traditional Gospel Album, Grammy Award for Best Gospel Choir or Chorus Album, Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel Album, Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Artist, Grammy Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance, Female, Gra...
Nominations
Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel/Inspirational Song, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Gospel Album, BET Award for Best Gospel/Inspirational Artist, Grammy Award for Best Gospel Album, Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song, Soul Train Music Award for Best Gospel Album – Solo, Hold My...
Movies
Celebration of Gospel: Taking You Higher, Celebration of Gospel: Spirit in Song, Shirley Caesar: After 40 Years: Still Sweeping Through the City, The Unseen, Apollo at 70: A Hot Night in Harlem, Millennium Chorus: The Greatest Story Ever Sung, WOW Gospel 2009, Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs ...
#
Trademark
1
Mezzo-soprano vocals
#
Quote
1
I cannot sweeten the Atlantic Ocean, but I can take a pitcher out of the ocean and sweeten that.
#
Fact
1
She was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2000 and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
2
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6126 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood California on June 28, 2016.
3
She has committed a sizable portion of all her concert sales to her outreach ministries.
4
She continues to deliver weekly sermons and also leads an annual outreach ministries conference.
5
She cites her mother as a strong influence in her decision to give herself very selflessly.
6
Received her honorary doctorates from Shaw University and Southeastern University.
7
Received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Shaw University (1984).
8
Is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Sunday Best
2007
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan
2006
Video performer: "Gotta Serve Somebody"
The Fighting Temptations
2003
"I'm Getting Ready", "The Stone" / performer: "The Stone", "The Church Is In Mourning" / writer: "The Church Is In Mourning"
The Prince of Egypt
1998
performer: "Humanity"
Why Do Fools Fall in Love
1998
performer: "Take My Hand Precious Lord"
Rosewood
1997
performer: "The Town Burns"
The Preacher's Wife
1996
performer: "He's All Over Me"
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
83 Days
announced
Grandma Stinney
The Unseen
2005
Mama Jack
The Parkers
2003
TV Series
Grace
The Good News
1998
TV Series
Aunt Shirley
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992
TV Series
Oh Happy Day
1987
Video
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Artists Music Guild Presents: The AMG Heritage Awards
2013
TV Special
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Gospel Tradition: In Performance at the White House
2015
TV Movie
Herself
The Artists Music Guild Presents: The 2014 AMG Heritage Awards
2014
TV Special
Performer-Herself
Good Day L.A.
2013
TV Series
Herself
Celebration of Gospel
2012
TV Movie
Herself
How Sweet the Sound Finale
2011
TV Movie
Herself
Black Girls Rock! 2011
2011
TV Movie
Herself
Sunday Best
2011
TV Series
Herself
BET Awards 2011
2011
TV Special
Herself
The Mo'Nique Show
2010
TV Series
Herself
Tavis Smiley
2009
TV Series
Herself
24th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards
2009
TV Special
Herself
Life on the Road with Mr. and Mrs. Brown
2009
Documentary
Herself
Legends Ball
2006
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan
2006
Video
Herself
21st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards
2006
TV Special
Herself
25 Strong: The BET Silver Anniversary Special
2005
TV Special
Herself / Performer (as Pastor Shirley Caesar)
Apollo at 70: A Hot Night in Harlem
2004
TV Movie documentary
Herself
19th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards
2004
TV Special
Herself
An Evening of Stars: 25th Anniversary Tribute to Lou Rawls
2004
TV Movie
Herself
The Fighting Temptations
2003
Herself (as Reverend Shirley Caesar)
Celebration of Gospel
2003
TV Movie
Herself (as Pastor Shirley Caesar)
The 44th Annual Grammy Awards
2002
TV Special
Herself
17th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards
2002
TV Special
Herself
2001 Lady of Soul Awards
2001
TV Special
Herself - Presenter
Living in the Spirit Revue
2001
Video documentary
Herself - Musical Talent
Soul Food
2001
TV Series
Herself
The 43rd Annual Grammy Awards
2001
TV Special
Herself
An Evening of Stars: A Celebration of Educational Excellence
2001
TV Special documentary
Herself
Why Do Fools Fall in Love
1998
Herself
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts