Chris Willis

---

title: "Chris Willis" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["living-people", "20th-century-african-american-male-singers", "20th-century-american-male-singers", "20th-century-american-singers", "african-american-male-singer-songwriters", "american-male-singer-songwriters", "american-male-pop-singers", "american-contemporary-r&b-singers", "1978-births", "bisexual-christians", "lgbtq-people-from-ohio", "american-lgbtq-singers", "musicians-from-dayton,-ohio", "singer-songwriters-from-ohio", "bisexual-male-musicians", "21st-century-african-american-male-singers", "21st-century-american-male-singers", "21st-century-american-lgbtq-people"] description: "American singer-songwriter" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Willis" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American singer-songwriter ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]

Field	Value
name	Chris Willis
image	Chris Willis.jpg
caption	Willis in 2008
birth_date
birth_place	Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
birth_name	Christopher Kevin Willis
occupation
genre
instrument
years_active	1986–present
associated_acts
::

| name = Chris Willis | image = Chris Willis.jpg | caption = Willis in 2008 | birth_date = | birth_place = Dayton, Ohio, U.S. | birth_name = Christopher Kevin Willis | alias = | occupation = | genre = | instrument = | years_active = 1986–present | label = | associated_acts = | website =

Christopher Kevin Willis (born February 26, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Although initially a gospel singer, he later received international attention for his collaborations with French house music disc jockey David Guetta. Willis guest performed on his singles "Just a Little More Love", "Love Don't Let Me Go", "Love Is Gone", "Tomorrow Can Wait", "Everytime We Touch" (with Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso), "Would I Lie to You" (with Cedric Gervais) and "Gettin' Over You".

Biography

Originally a gospel singer, with the Heritage Singers and others, he was featured on the pop-classical album Handel's Messiah – A Soulful Celebration in 1993, singing a contemporary version of "Every Valley Shall Be Exalted". His first job after college in Alabama was touring with a group that sang hundreds of shows in churches over a two-year period. In the mid-1990s, he toured as backup vocalist for Twila Paris. In 1996, he released his debut self-titled album, for which he wrote or co-wrote eight of the eleven songs, and earned a nomination for Best R&B Album at the 1996 Nashville Music Awards. That year, he opened on tour for Mark Lowry, and was one of several featured singers in the musical showcase Emmanuel, a national tour put together by Nashville producer Norman Miller. The tour spawned an album, which won a GMA Dove Award in 1998 for Special Event Album of the Year. He did mostly gospel until 1998 when he signed with a small music label. The label was bought out by a large corporation and Willis took that as a cue to move on. During this time he also worked to resolve the "angst" from being closeted about his sexuality, "I always felt like God really understood—but that wasn't the message I was receiving in the church. So, when I moved out on my own I really internalized that message that God makes us who we are and that it's up to us to embrace that or not. I chose to embrace all those things as freedom, and that freedom begat the freedom I experience now." He cites his internalized struggle as important to his transitioning out of gospel music. "I think there's this unspoken denial that you go through in gospel—maybe so in other musical art forms too—but I just felt for me it just wasn't easy to keep perpetuating that." On June 2, 2014, Willis married Jacqueline Leiske.

In 2000 he was working with the French boy band 2Be3 and when doing some publicity for their album in Paris one of the bandmates introduced him to house musician and producer David Guetta. Guetta invited Willis to the studio and the next day they wrote "Just a Little More Love". Willis co-wrote and provided most of the vocals on Guetta's debut album Just a Little More Love, including the hit title track.

His music genres have included gospel music, disco, pop rock, and R&B. Willis has previously used social networks including MySpace, Facebook and Twitter to share live photos, videos from his tours and answer questions from fans. Throughout 2009 he toured with David Guetta through Europe in support of One Love. He has also performed solo European dates. In November 2009 he performed at Danceclub C4 in Steyer, Austria for their 2nd Anniversary Party. A documentary about him, Inside Out, directed by Robert Jason and Eric Miclette for Complete World Domination was released in early 2010 alongside the "Gettin' Over" single.

His solo single "Louder (Put Your Hands Up)" was released on October 12, 2010. Willis co-wrote the song with Cutfather and Jonas Jeberg. The video premiered on DailyMotion October 26, 2010. Shot in Los Angeles, the video was directed by Billie Woodruff. The video has over two million views on his YouTube page. The song reached number one on *Billboard*s Hot Dance Club Songs chart on the issue dated January 8, 2011.

His second single "Too Much in Love" was released digitally August 16, 2011. The song features a guitar sample of Lenny Kravitz's "Are You Gonna Go My Way". A video was shot in Los Angeles and released on January 10, 2012. Many remixes were created and released on iTunes.

An eight-song EP titled Premium – Songs from the Love Ship, Vol. 1 was released on November 29, 2011 and features several of his solo singles. [[File:ChrisWillis.jpg|180px|thumb|Willis performing in 2009.]]

Discography

Studio albums

::data[format=table title="List of studio albums"]

Title	Album details	Chris Willis	Premium: Songs From The Love Ship Vol. 1
::

Singles

As lead artist

::data[format=table title="List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name"] | Title | Year | Peak position | Certifications | Album | US | US Dance | AUS | BEL | FRA | ITA | NLD | SWE | SWI | UK | "Out of My Hands" | "He's Mine" | "My Freedom" | "Tomorrow Can Wait" (with David Guetta vs. Tocadisco) | "Everytime We Touch" (with David Guetta, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso) | "Gettin' Over You" (with David Guetta featuring Fergie and LMFAO) | "Louder (Put Your Hands Up)" | "Too Much in Love" | "People (Feel the Love)" (with OtherView) | "Survivor" (with Ben DJ) | "One Life" | "Lonely One" (with Crazibiza) | "No One Can Replace You" (with Purple Aura featuring Akon) | "Don't Cry (Remember My Name)" (with Joachim Garraud) | "Blood in my veins" (The Vinyljackers (MikeNova)) | "Would I Lie to You" (with David Guetta and Cedric Gervais) | "Warriors of the Night" (with Colin Crooks and Rob Styles) | "Warriors of the Night" (with The Vinyljackers and MikeNova) | "Not Afraid" (with Marc Benjamin) | "Work It Harder" (with Zight and Maximals) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1996 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2004 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles}} | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2006 | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2008 | — | — | — | 19 | 7 | — | 21 | — | 43 | 84 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2009 | — | — | — | 43 | — | — | 46 | — | 97 | 68 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2010 | 31 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 31 | 28 | 11 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | 1 | — | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Premium - Songs from the Love Ship, Vol. 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2011 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles}} | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2015 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2016 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2016 | — | — | — | 30 | 20 | 71 | — | 80 | 35 | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2020 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2021 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2022 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

As featured artist

::data[format=table title="List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name"] | Title | Year | Peak position | Certifications | Album | US | US Dance | AUS | BEL | FRA | ITA | NLD | SWE | SWI | UK | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | "Supersonic" (Billyweb featuring Chris Willis) | 2001 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | "Just a Little More Love" (David Guetta featuring Chris Willis) | — | — | — | 29 | 29 | — | 80 | — | 59 | 19 | | Just a Little More Love | | | | "Love Don't Let Me Go" (David Guetta featuring Chris Willis) | 2002 | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | — | 37 | — | 13 | 46 | | | | | "People Come People Go" (David Guetta featuring Chris Willis) | — | — | — | 47 | 42 | — | — | — | 54 | — | | | | | | "Money" (David Guetta featuring Chris Willis and Moné) | 2004 | — | — | — | 52 | 63 | — | — | — | 52 | — | | Guetta Blaster | | | "Stay" (David Guetta featuring Chris Willis) | — | — | — | 19 | 18 | — | — | — | 82 | 78 | | | | | | "Love Is Gone" (David Guetta featuring Chris Willis) | 2007 | 98 | — | — | 9 | 3 | 28 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 9 | | | | | "Give It All You Got" (Ultra Naté featuring Chris Willis) | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | "My DJ Rock Superstar" (Nicola Fasano featuring Chris Willis) | 2012 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | Non-album singles}} | | | "Party 2 Daylight" (Global Deejays featuring Chris Willis) | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | "Magnet" (Hook N Sling featuring Chris Willis) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | | "This Is Your Life" (Psyko Punkz and MC Lyte featuring Chris Willis) | 2014 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | "Colors" (Celestal featuring Chris Willis) | 2017 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | "Turn Your Love Around" (Cedric Gervais featuring Chris Willis) | 2019 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | | | | | "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::

Guest appearances

::data[format=table title="List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name"]

Title	Year	Other artist(s)	Album	"Gettin' Over"	"Still Don't Have You"
2009	David Guetta	One Love
2013	Duane Harden, Bimbo Jones	NB4U (Naked Before You)
::

References

References

1. (11 September 2009). "Chris Willis".
2. BBC. "BBC - Radio 1 - Judge Jules - Tracklisting".
3. Dene, Lewis. (27 November 2008). "Single of the Week Marc Mysterio 'Roll Wit It'".
4. Stark, Judy. (November 26, 1993). "Our Annual Holiday CD Roundup Series". [[St. Petersburg Times]].
5. Rox, Mikey. (August 6, 2008). "Chris Willis: He has the music in him". Windy City Times.
6. Bialczak, Mark. (April 4, 1995). "For the love of God: Twila Paris' Christian music electrifies crowd". [[The Post-Standard]].
7. Hytche, C. J.. (September 21, 1996). "Chris Willis". [[Houston Chronicle]].
8. Gray, Michael. (November 12, 1996). "Nashville Music Awards taps eclectic collection". [[Nashville Banner]].
9. Price, Deborah Evans. (September 14, 1996). "Higher ground".
10. Hogan, Susan. (December 1, 1996). "Emmanuel: A seasonal showcase for Christian singers". [[Star Tribune]].
11. (April 25, 1998). "Dove list". [[The Times-Picayune]].
12. Ressler, Darren. (December 31, 2014). "Big Shot Rewind: 219 DJs and Artists Look Back on 2014". Big Shot Magazine.
13. Paoletta, Michael. (February 7, 2004). "Beat Box".
14. "Chris Willis". facebook.com.
15. "Chris Willis".
16. Bosnjakovic. (7 November 2009). "Photos: Chris Willis live on stage, Danceclub C4 / Ternberg". party.at.
17. (November 19, 2009). "CHRIS WILLIS "Inside Out" Teaser!".
18. (September 21, 2010). "Louder (Put Your Hands Up) – EP". iTunes.
19. (July 2020). "GEMA – Members – Online Database – Musical Works". [[Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs- und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte.
20. Cooke, Buck. (January 5, 2011). "We like it when Chris Willis gets 'Louder'". Project Q Atlanta.
21. INgrooves. (October 25, 2010). "Chris Willis – Louder (Put Your Hands Up) – Video Dailymotion". Dailymotion.
22. (October 28, 2010). "Chris Willis – Louder (Put Your Hands Up) [Radio Edit]". YouTube.
23. (8 January 2011). "Dance Club Songs Chart".
24. (August 16, 2011). "Too Much In Love – Single". iTunes.
25. (January 10, 2012). "Chris Willis – Too Much In Love (Official Video)". YouTube.
26. (October 18, 2011). "Too Much In Love Remixes". iTunes.
27. (November 29, 2011). "Premium – Songs from the Love Ship, Vol. 1". iTunes.
28. Chris Willis album in Allmusic http://www.allmusic.com/album/chris-willis-r242648 {{Webarchive. link. (July 19, 2021)
29. "He's Mine - Chris Willis - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic".
30. iTunes Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-freedom-ep/179552261 [https://music.apple.com/us/album/my-freedom-ep/179552261]
31. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Singles". [[Australian Recording Industry Association]].
32. {{cite certification
33. "Gold—/Platin-Datenbank (David Guetta)". [[Bundesverband Musikindustrie]].
34. {{cite certification
35. (2016). "Blood in my veins - Single by Chris Willis, Vinyljackers on Spotify".
36. "Warriors of the Night - Single by Chris Willis, Rob Styles & Colin Crooks on Apple Music".
37. "Warriors of the Night - Single by Chris Willis, The Vinyljackers (MikeNova) on Spotify".
38. "Not Afraid - Single by Marc Benjamin & Chris Willis on Apple Music".
39. "Work It Harder - Single by Zight, Chris Willis & Maximals on Apple Music".
40. "Certifications Singles Or – année 2002". [[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique]].
41. {{cite certification
42. "Certifications Singles Argent – année 2007". [[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique]].
43. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (David Guetta)". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien.
44. "Turn Your Love Around - Single by Cedric Gervais & Chris Willis on Apple Music".
45. Harden, Duane. "#NB4U (Naked Before You) – Duane Harden". [[Rovi Corporation]].

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