Crystal
Kay Williams (クリスタル・ケイ・ウィリアムズ, Kurisutaru Kei Wiriamuzu) (born February
26, 1986), better known by her stage name Crystal Kay (クリスタル・ケイ,
Kurisutaru Kei?), is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Yokohama,
Kanagawa, Japan. After releasing her debut single "Eternal Memories"
(1999) Kay gained fame for her third studio album, Almost
Seventeen (2002), which debuted at number-two on the Japanese Oricon
charts. Almost Seventeen eventually sold over 400,000 copies
and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of
Japan. Kay is currently signed to Epic Records a sub-label of
Sony Music Japan.
As of July 2009, Kay has released ten albums. Her seventh studio album,
All Yours (2007) became Kay's first number-one release in her career
when it debuted on top of the Oricon chart in June 2007. Kay has
sold over two million records in Japan as of 2009. Throughout her
career, Kay has collaborated with the likes of M-Flo and BoA,
Chemistry as well as other well-known recording artists.
Biography
Early life and beginnings
Kay was
born and raised in Yokohama in the Kanagawa Prefecture to an African
American father and a third-generation Zainichi Korean mother. Her
father was a bassist from New Jersey and her mother was a professional
singer. Kay previously attended Kinnick High School and Sophia
University, which is the same college Beni Arashiro currently attends:
the two are reported to be good friends. Although her
mother's ancestor's are Korean, Crystal does not speak Korean, and is
fluent in Japanese and English, the latter influencing and making a
regular appearance in her songs. She has also studied French. Kay cites
Janet Jackson and the late Michael Jackson as her biggest influences.
