Wanya Morris

For the football player, see Wanya Morris (American football).
Wanyá Morris
Morris performing in 2008
Background information
Birth nameWanyá Jermaine Morris
Born (1973-07-29) July 29, 1973 (age 51)[1]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
OccupationSinger
InstrumentVocals
Years active1988–present[2]
Labels
Member ofBoyz II Men
Websiteboyziimen.com

Wanyá Jermaine Morris (/wɑːnjeɪ/ WAHN-yay) (born July 29, 1973) is an American singer, best known as a member of the R&B group Boyz II Men.[3][4][5][6][7] He competed on the twenty-second season of Dancing with the Stars.

Boyz II Men

Further information: Boyz II Men

In 1987, Morris, who sang in the school's choir along with the members of Boyz II Men (then called Unique Attraction), joined the group and became a permanent member as a freshman. After signing to Motown in 1991, they released their debut album, Cooleyhighharmony. Boyz II Men would quickly start to climb music charts with songs such as "I'll Make Love to You" (1994) and "Water Runs Dry" (1995). In 1996, the group released the single "One Sweet Day" with Mariah Carey. Boyz II Men are best known for their vocal harmonies. Morris sings tenor vocals in the group. After the success of "I'll Make Love to You", the same year, Morris appeared in the group Black Men United, performing with Boyz II Men for the single "U Will Know", which originally featured on the Jason's Lyric soundtrack written by future neo soul musician D'Angelo and produced by Brian McKnight.

Morris still tours with Boyz II Men as of 2023.

Television and film appearances

Morris was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete on season 22 of Dancing with the Stars on March 8, 2016. He was partnered with professional dancer Lindsay Arnold.[8] Morris and Arnold made it to the semifinals of the show, but were then eliminated and finished the competition in fourth place overall, despite having the highest accumulative average at the time of their elimination.[9][10][11][12]

Additional television and film appearances include: the music documentary film Happy on the Ground[13] (2013), The Odd Couple (2016), Whose Line is it Anyway? (2017), Hollywood Darlings (2017), To Tell the Truth (2017), Long Shot (2019) and Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (2021).[14]

Morris appeared in the Christmas special, A Very Boy Band Holiday, in December 2021.[15] He also performed during I Can See Your Voice in March 2022.[16][17]

Personal life

[18][19] Morris married Traci Nash in 2002.[20] They have six children together, including four sons who are in a R&B boy band called WanMor, and two daughters.[21][22] Morris married Amber Reyes in 2019 without being legally divorced from Traci. Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Boyz II Men member Shawn Stockman attended the wedding.[23]

Discography

Boyz II Men

Further information: Boyz II Men discography

Albums

Title Album details
Cooleyhighharmony
Christmas Interpretations
  • Released: October 5, 1993
  • Label: Motown
  • Format: LP, CD, cassette
II
  • Released: August 30, 1994
  • Label: Motown
  • Format: LP, CD, cassette
Evolution
  • Released: September 23, 1997
  • Label: Motown
  • Format: LP, CD, cassette
Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya
  • Released: September 12, 2000
  • Label: Universal
  • Format: CD, cassette
Full Circle
  • Released: June 11, 2002
  • Label: Arista
  • Format: CD, cassette
Throwback, Vol. 1
Winter/Reflections
  • Released: December 1, 2005
  • Label: MSM, Urban
  • Format: CD, digital download
The Remedy
  • Released: October 25, 2006
  • Label: Koch, MSM
  • Format: CD, digital download
Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA
  • Released: November 13, 2007
  • Label: Decca
  • Format: CD, digital download
Love
  • Released: November 24, 2009
  • Label: Decca
  • Format: CD, digital download
Covered: Winter
  • Released: December 22, 2010
  • Label: MSM, Rhythm Zone
  • Format: CD, digital download
Twenty
  • Released: October 25, 2011
  • Label: MSM, Benchmark
  • Format: CD, digital download
Collide
  • Released: October 21, 2014
  • Label: BMG, MSM
  • Format: CD, digital download
Under the Streetlight
  • Released: October 20, 2017
  • Label: Tango, MasterWorks, MSM
  • Format: CD, digital download

Singles

Year Single
1991 "Motownphilly"
"It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday"
"Uhh Ahh"
1992 "Please Don't Go"
"End of the Road"
1993 "In the Still of the Nite (I'll Remember)"
"Let It Snow" (featuring Brian McKnight)
1994 "I'll Make Love to You"
"On Bended Knee"
1995 "Thank You"
"Water Runs Dry"
"Vibin'"
"I Remember"
1997 "4 Seasons of Loneliness"
"A Song for Mama"
1998 "Can't Let Her Go"
"Doin' Just Fine"
"I Will Get There"
2000 "Pass You By"
"Thank You in Advance"
2002 "The Color of Love"
"Relax Your Mind" (featuring Faith Evans)
2004 "What You Won't Do for Love"
2007 "The Tracks of My Tears"
2008 "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)"
"War"
"Mercy Mercy Me"
2009 "I Can't Make You Love Me"
"Iris"[24]
2011 "More Than You'll Ever Know" (featuring Charlie Wilson)[25]
"One Up for Love"[26]
"Flow"[27]
2012 "One More Dance"
2014 "Better Half"
"Diamond Eyes"
"Losing Sleep"
2017 "Ladies Man"

Other works

Singles

Unofficial solo projects

Other appearances

References

  1. ^ "Wanya Morris Biography". October 16, 2018.
  2. ^ Kenneth Partridge (February 15, 2016). "Boyz II Men's 'Cooleyhighharmony' at 25: Classic Track-by-Track Album Review". Billboard. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  3. ^ "Boyz II Men sending out 'Love'". CNN. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  4. ^ "Boyz II Men's 'II' Celebrates 25 Years". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. August 29, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  5. ^ "Floyd Mayweather Rocks Out at Wanya Morris' Wedding, Sings Boyz II Men". Tmz.com. September 10, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  6. ^ "Who Is Wanya Morris Of 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 22?". Inquisitr.com. March 16, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  7. ^ "Traci Nash - Biography; wife of Singer Wanya Morris". Hitberry.com. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  8. ^ "'Dancing With the Stars' 2016: Season 22 Celebrity Cast Revealed Live on 'GMA'". ABC News. March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 8, 2016.
  9. ^ "'Dancing with the Stars' Recap: Semifinals, Trio Dances and 2 More Go Home". buddytv.com. May 16, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  10. ^ "Wanya Morris, Antonio Brown ousted from 'Dancing with the Stars' in double elimination". United Press International. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  11. ^ "Dancing With the Stars' Ginger Zee Opens Up About Battling Anorexia". Glamour.com. May 17, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  12. ^ Lisa Respers France (May 17, 2016). "'Dancing With the Stars' finalists are..." CNN. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  13. ^ "Happy on the Ground". TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  14. ^ "Wanyá Morris". TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  15. ^ "A Very Boy Band Holiday". TVGuide.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  16. ^ Scoop, T. V. "Scoop: Coming Up on a New Episode of I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE on FOX - Wednesday, March 2, 2022". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  17. ^ ""Soccer Players and Wanya Morris Duet Just "The Two Of Us" By Bill Withers" | Watch I Can See Your Voice Clips". Fox.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  18. ^ Moor, Ashley (November 3, 2021). "The Truth About Boyz II Men's Wanya Morris". Thelist.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  19. ^ "Boyz II Men's Wanya Morris explains how he helped Brandy land 'Moesha' role". Rollingout.com. January 7, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  20. ^ Reiher, Andrea (November 1, 2019). "Boyz II Men's WanMor Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  21. ^ "'I Got Chills': Boys II Men's Wanyá Morris' Children Blow People Away by Singing Brandy's 'Brokenhearted'". Atlantablackstar.com. April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  22. ^ "Wanyá Morris' Children Interrupt Twitter Feeds With Brandy "Brokenhearted" Cover". Bet.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  23. ^ "Floyd Mayweather Rocks Out at Wanya Morris' Wedding, Sings Boyz II Men". Tmz.com. September 10, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  24. ^ hmvdigital UK - Iris by Boyz II Men
  25. ^ "Amazon.com: More Than You'll Ever Know (Feat. Charlie Wilson) - Single: Boyz II Men: MP3 Downloads". amazon.com.
  26. ^ "Artists matching". hmvdigital.com.
  27. ^ "Artists matching". hmvdigital.com.
  28. ^ "Wanya Morris Best Songs List: Top, New, & Old". AllMusic. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  29. ^ "I'll Be There - Mariah Carey, Wanya Morris | Song Variations & Versions". AllMusic. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  30. ^ "Let It Out - Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Wanya Morris | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  31. ^ "Millennium Renaissance - Millennium Renaissance | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  32. ^ "Unreleased - Wanya Morris | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  33. ^ "Come for More - Wanya Morris | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  34. ^ Folsome, Timothy Wayne (September 21, 2000). "Uninvited Guest | Apple TV". Tv.apple.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  35. ^ "Univited Guest - Original Soundtrack | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  36. ^ "Happy in Hell (feat. Wanya Morris)". Open.spotify.com. August 7, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  37. ^ "Inside the After Party! BSB, 'NSync and Boyz II Men Members Take Over Vegas". Msn.com. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  38. ^ "After Party with Backstreet Boys, Joey Fatone and Wanya Morris". Offthestrip.com. August 20, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
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