* En anglais uniquement
Former gospel singer
Chris Willis is best known as the powerful voice behind the majority of French producer
David Guetta's chart-topping club anthems. Born and raised in Dayton, OH,
Willis began singing in a quartet with his brothers and sisters at his local church. After graduating from college, he toured with a gospel group that performed hundreds of gigs across California and contributed to the popular compilation Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration. In 1996, he released his self-titled debut album, a collection of self-penned spiritual songs, which earned a nomination for Best R&B Album at the Nashville Music Awards; supported Christian comedian
Mark Lowry; and appeared in Norman Miller's musical showcase Emmanuel. While working with French boy band
2BE3, he was introduced to DJ
David Guetta, who invited him to record at his Paris studio, where the pair co-wrote a series of tracks that would later become worldwide hit singles, including "Just a Little More Love," "Love Don't Let Me Go," and "Love Is Gone." After performing with
Guetta on his
One Love tour and his F*** Me I'm Famous Ibiza club night, they scored a U.K. number one alongside
Fergie and
LMFAO with "Gettin' Over You," while
Willis was scheduled to release his debut pop album, Inside Voice, in 2011. ~ Jon O'Brien