Wilson Phillips is a famous pop group from America, which was created in 1989 and continues its musical activity at the present time. The members of the team are two sisters - Carney and Wendy Wilson, as well as China Phillips.
Thanks to the singles Hold On, Release Me and You're in Love, the girls were able to become the world's best-selling female band. Thanks to the famous song Hold On, the group won the Billboard Music Awards in the Single of the Year category. She also received four Grammy nominations.
The history of the formation of the group
The Wilson sisters had known Chyna for a long time before starting their musical career together. The girls grew up together in the 1970s and 1980s in Southern California. The girls' fathers were friends, so their families often spent time together. In an interview, Chyna recalled vivid fragments from her childhood:
“I visited their house almost every weekend. We played, sang, danced, put on shows, swam, we had real fun. Cairney and Wendy have become a part of my life."
The parents of the artists at the time of their appearance were famous performers. Brian Wilson was the leader of the rock band The Beach Boys. In turn, John and Michelle Phillips were the leaders and founders of the folk group The Mamas & the Papas.
Of course, the creative atmosphere in families influenced the interests of girls. All three were interested in music and songwriting. Therefore, each of them planned to connect their lives with creativity.
It all started with the fact that, having fun, little Cairney, Wendy and China sang into combs and presented themselves as a popular group. Even then, the girls liked how their voices harmonized together. When the Wilson sisters entered high school, they didn't interact with Chyna for a while. In 1986, the Phillips were asked to assemble a team of children of famous parents. Initially, Moon Zappa and Iona Sky were invited to it, but they did not agree.
Michelle Phillips called her friend and offered to form a band with her daughters and Owen Elliott (daughter of singer Cass Elliot). The Wilsons agreed, after a short period of time they began to work together. The creation of the group was a salvation for Chyna, who struggled with alcohol and drug addiction as a teenager.
“I couldn’t figure out what I wanted out of life because I was still in a lot of pain because of my former relationship. I was depressed and worried, and tried to find a new hobby in order to understand who I am and not waste time in the future, ”she said in an interview.
The first success of the group and the collapse of the trio
Initially, the project existed as a quartet and together they recorded the song Mama Said. However, Owen soon decided to leave the team. The girls did not look for a new member and remained a trio, calling it simply by their last names. 1989 was remembered by aspiring singers by signing an agreement with the recording studio SBK Records. In 1990, young performers presented the first studio work by Wilson Phillips.
The disc contained the single Hold On, which was released in late February 1990. The composition became for them a real "breakthrough" to the big stage. Literally a few days after the release, she was able to lead the Billboard Hot 100 hit parade, staying at this position for a week.
The work became the most successful composition of that year in the United States. Moreover, even a few years later, she kept in the American charts. The successful single earned the band four Grammy Awards nominations. She also won the annual Billboard Music Awards.
Two more singles became songs that topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. These are Release Me (for two weeks) and You're in Love (for one). In turn, the compositions Impulsive and The Dream Is Still Alive entered the top 20 of the American charts. The first disc was recognized as the best-selling work of the female team. And it was sold around the world with official sales of 10 million copies.
The second studio album Shadows and Light was released in 1992. He was able to get a "platinum" certification and reach number 4 on the Billboard 200. The tracks from the record were in great contrast to earlier works.
If most of the songs on the first record were upbeat with positive, light-hearted lyrics, this album differed from the trio in darker lyrics. They deal with personal issues. For example, alienation from fathers (Flesh and Blood, All the Way from New York) or wrong and cruel upbringing of children (Where Are You?).
Despite having a successful career as a trio, Chyna wanted to work as a solo artist. In 1993, the team broke up, Cairney and Wendy decided to continue working together.
How soon did the members of the Wilson Phillips band get together? Their progress now
Although the girls did not reunite for a long time, in 2000 they released a collection of old hits. A year later, the group visited the Radio City Music Hall, a show in honor of the sisters' father, where they performed the popular song The Beach Boys You're So Good to Me. In 2004, the performers decided to team up to create a collection of cover tracks California. The album peaked at number 35 on the Billboard 200. A week after its release, over 31 copies were sold.
The next album, Christmas in Harmony, came out 6 years later. The album included a mix of traditional Christmas carols. As well as cover versions of holiday songs and new compositions written by artists. In 2011, they appeared as a cameo in the famous film Bridesmaids. Their last reunion is documented in the TV Guide Channel series Wilson Phillips: Still Holding On.
The trio's fourth studio album, Dedicated, was released in April 2012. Now the artists periodically perform concerts, which include compositions, solo works and cover versions. They also attend TV shows and radio shows.
The personal lives of the members of the Wilson Phillips group
China Phillips has been married to popular actor William Baldwin since 1995. The couple has three children: daughters Jameson and Brooke, and son Vance. In 2010, the singer suffered from anxiety disorders, which caused difficulties in relations with her husband, even thinking about divorce.
Today, the performer lives happily with her family. She owns two houses in New York, one in Santa Barbara and the other in Bedford Corners. She actively shares moments from her family life with her fans through social networks.
Carney Wilson has been married to music producer Robert Bonflio since 2000. The couple have two daughters, Lola and Luciana. With a childhood friend, she opened Love Bites by Carnie, a commercial bakery and patisserie in Sherwood, Oregon. The performer has serious health problems. She has struggled with obesity all her life, and in 2013 she was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy.
Wendy Wilson married music producer Daniel Knutson in 2002. They now have four sons: Leo, Bo and twins Willem and Mike.
