Although Williams has earned six Grammy nominations and a host of Stellar and Dove awards with The Williams Brothers, he said Saturday's lifetime achievement award holds a place in his heart next to the more recognized national awards.
"I rank them right up there together," he said. "It means a lot for people in the community you grew up in to recognize what you've contributed to the music ... and it's a great honor. I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'm appreciative and grateful for that recognition."
Williams said he is looking forward to performing at the gospel awards.
"It's been a few years since we sang in the McComb or Brookhaven area," he said.
The Williams Brothers did, however, recently sing in Jackson at the late Mayor Frank Melton's funeral service.
He is also excited about singing with The True Believers again. The True Believers were given their first breakthrough by The Williams Brothers' Blackberry Records, but have since changed labels.
"I'm not sure of the last time we've played together. It's been a minute," Williams said.
Williams was born in Smithdale on July 21, 1953. Singing since the age of 6, Williams and his younger siblings imitated their older brothers of the famed gospel quartet, The Jackson Southernnaires.
In 1960, his father Leon "Pop" Williams organized the younger siblings to form the The Williams Brothers. Whether traveling by station wagon or 15-passenger van, his father kept the boys on the road visiting every church that would allow them to minister in song.
In 1973, Melvin Williams and his brothers recorded "Holding On," their first album.
"We've been rolling ever since," he said.
Williams has been writing and arranging most of his own music since 1979. As a songwriter, his music has reaped honors on several of gospel's favorite artists. Multi-Stellar award winner Lee Williams recorded "Cooling Water," Ollie Woodson of the Temptations recorded "True Love," and "Living Testimony" was recorded by the Mighty Clouds of Joy.
In 1988, his first solo album, "Back to the Cross," garnered his first Stellar Award and first Grammy Award nomination as a solo artist. Three years later, in 1991, Williams and his brothers started their own label, Blackberry Records - the first black independent record label to receive major distribution in Mississippi. The first release on the label, "This is Your Night," was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Soul Gospel Album and won a Stellar Award for Best Performance Group or Duo.
In 1992, Melvin released his sophomore solo album, "In Living Color," which became a major success when spurred by the single "So Good."
In 1997, the song titled "Too Close," featuring Stevie Wonder, remained on the Billboard gospel charts for more than 12 months. "Never Seen Your Face" in 1998 reached single digit positions on Billboard's Gospel Charts and received Stellar and Dove Awards.
Williams' duet with gospel great Lee Williams on "Cooling Water" in 2001 burned up the Billboard charts for more than 100 weeks and remains one of the most popular requested songs by audiences nationwide. In 2004, the album "Still Here" won three Stellar Awards and the sixth Grammy Award nomination for The Williams Brothers.
Williams latest solo album, "The Journey Continues," was released in early 2009 and features Grammy winner Kirk Franklin.
Before "The Journey Continues," Williams did something unusual in the music business when he released "Crazy Like Love" and "Love Like Crazy" simultaneously in 2007.
Williams has hopes his latest release, "The Best of Melvin Williams," will have similar success when it hits stores in June. The album also includes the debut of two bonus tracks.
"When I'm not with the brothers, I'm a little more free to do some crossovers, like Top 40 stuff, but they're ones that could still be sung in church," he said.
His solo albums are still primarily gospel music, but include a smattering of songs about love and relationships.
"I think God built the world around love and relationships, so I don't think there's anything wrong with that," Williams said.
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