Soul and house music vocalist Michael Watford – born in Suffolk, Virginia on July 20, 1959 – was best known for his passionate, gospel-influenced vocals featured on numerous dance releases in the 1990s and 2000s. Raised in Newark, New Jersey, he began his musical journey by singing in choirs in church. He began his recording career after signing with Atlantic Records and releasing his first single, “Holdin’ On,” in 1991. After the release of several more singles – “Luv 4-2” (1993), “Happy Man” (1994), and “Love to the World” (1994) – he achieved commercial success in England with the single “So Into You,” which hit number 53 on the UK charts. He released his highly anticipated debut album, Michael Watford, in 1994. However, the album was not a huge success and he was dropped by his label in 1995. Michael Watford continued to release a series of singles throughout the 1990s as well as providing vocals on singles by GTS, Deep Bros., Vice Versa, Jamie Lewis, Tuff Jam, and I-D. By the beginning of the millennium, Michael Watford had all but abandoned a musical career and began operating karaoke bars in Newark before working at a welfare office. He was still involved with music to a small degree, collaborating with artists such as Jon Cutler, Jamie Lewis, and John Made in 2005 and 2006. Suffering from dementia, Michael Watford died at the age of 64 in Newark, New Jersey on January 26, 2024.
