Six Decades, 250 Gold Records: Inside the storied career of The Waters Family

For over six decades, the legendary Waters Family has lent their voices to some of the most iconic songs in music history. Julia, Maxine, Luther, and Oren are widely recognized as some of the most prolific and respected session musicians in the music business. Over the course of their storied careers, they have provided the vocal backbone for a veritable who’s who of legendary artists across a diverse range of genres, including rock, pop, R&B, jazz, and even country.

Together, they have contributed their talents to over 250 platinum and over 100 gold records, a feat few in the industry can claim (Click here to see The Waters full discography). The Los Angeles-based siblings first started singing as young children, growing up in a household constantly immersed in melody and rhythm. They frequently credit their mother as being one of their primary musical influences and the catalyst for their success.

“It starts from the womb. My mother used to tell a story about when she was pregnant with me at a concert. She put her hands across her abdomen and said, ‘One of these days I’m going to hear this baby’s voice all over the world.’ And our voices are heard all over the world.” Julia Waters-Tillman shared during a recent interview with the AmNews.

“Our mother was always singing, and she encouraged us to sing also,” she recalled. “Music was an important part of our lives.”

As children, they honed their craft singing in the church choir where they also learned how to read music. The foundation allowed them to transition seamlessly into the world of professional recording.

“Our father’s family could sing too; We got it from both sides,” said Oren Waters, the youngest of the siblings.

The group holds the distinction of singing on the world’s best-selling album of all time, Michael Jackson’s 1982 masterpiece Thriller, as well as the most successful film soundtrack in history, The Bodyguard. They also provided vocals on The Righteous Brothers’ classic, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” which holds the record for being one of the most played songs in radio history. Beyond radio hits, The Waters were also featured prominently on the blockbuster soundtracks for both The Lion King and the Avatar film franchise.

Working as background vocalists, they have collaborated with a list of stars who define the era of popular music. The roster includes Neil Diamond, Michael Jackson, Teena Marie, Phil Spector, Johnny Rivers, the Pet Shop Boys, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Herbie Hancock, Rick James, Santana, Natalie Cole, Adele, and Diana Ross.

In the studio, their reputation was backed by a professional mindset and a deep respect for the artist’s creative vision.

“Amateurs make excuses; professionals make it happen. And so, that depends on how much you are dedicated toward exercising your ability to bring your craft forward.” Oren Waters explained.

Julia echoed this standard of studio collaboration. 

“We tried to give them exactly what they wanted,” she said. “We were trying to give each artist their dream—what they have in their heads—and trying to fit ourselves into what they are doing and making ourselves a part of their vision.”

Their reputation also took them on the road, where they toured across the globe with legendary performers like Paul Simon and Patti LaBelle. Julia and Maxine maintained a long-standing professional relationship with Neil Diamond, touring with him consistently until his retirement in 2018.

“You got one bass, one tenor, one soprano, and one alto. We have all four elements; it’s a spiritual thing,” Oren explained.

Julia, who was the first to begin doing professional sessions in the mid-1960s, paved the way for her brothers and sister to enter the industry.

“I always say it was putting the icing on top of the cake because you have the wonderful artists that we have worked with—a lot of genius folks, talented folks—so we have to give them credit. But the thing about it is that we are like the icing on the cake.” she said.

By the 1970s, The Waters family had become a staple on the Los Angeles session scene, singing with nearly every major producer in town. When Motown Records made its move to the West Coast during that decade, The Waters were contracted to sing with the label’s numerous superstar artists on its massive roster.

“I sang on all of Michael Jackson’s early music,” Oren noted. His credits include the 1971 hit single “Never Can Say Goodbye,” the classic “I’ll Be There,” and Jermaine Jackson’s 1972 cover of “Daddy’s Home.”

The Waters also recorded extensively with renowned jazz artists such as Gene Harris and Bobby Hutcherson on the Blue Note Records label. These sessions eventually led to an opportunity for the vocalists to sign with the label themselves. They released their self-titled debut album, Waters, on Blue Note in 1975.

“We were the first vocal group signed to Blue Note,” said Dr. Luther Waters, who attributes their arrangements to a higher creative source. “People always say, ‘Where did you hear that?’ and I say, ‘I heard it in my head. The Lord wrote it.’ He puts these words and these notes—He’ll write a track in my head—and then what we do is try to reproduce it before we forget it.”

In total, the family released four albums as a featured group while signed to major labels like Warner Brothers and Arista Records. However, even as they pursued their own recording career, they never stopped their studio work or their high-profile touring engagements with other stars.

During the 1980s, they toured across Europe as part of the “Kids from Fame,” a popular musical revue featuring the cast of the hit television show Fame. They were also tapped by Paul Simon to be a part of his massive concert in New York’s Central Park.

When Michael Jackson was preparing his Thriller project, he contacted the group to sing on the 1982 hit “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” a track that helped the album become the biggest-selling record in history.

In 2013, The Waters’ contributions to music were highlighted when they were featured as part of the Oscar-winning documentary “20 Feet from Stardom.” The film chronicled the often-overlooked lives and careers of the world’s greatest background singers. Following that recognition, they were honored in 2014 with the prestigious Voice Award by the Ella Music Foundation.

Today, The Waters continue to sing and record, using their legendary voices to create music while staying connected with their many fans through social media.

Reflecting on the impact and philosophy behind his life’s work, Dr. Luther Waters said, “My legacy would be that, at least, I had love and joy for people—love for them and compassion. I always had love and compassion because I had a lot of empathy; I could feel what they were feeling.” He added, “You don’t have to stay in bondage. You don’t have to be bound by the environment and society. You can rise up out of that.”

In 2019, they participated in the acclaimed “Live in Front of a Studio Audience” series on ABC, where they performed a soul-stirring rendition of the theme song from the classic sitcom Good Times.

In 2025, both Oren and Maxine tragically lost their homes in the devastating Eaton Fires that swept through their community. True to their upbringing, they have met the tragedy with spiritual resilience.

“One day after our mother passed away, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Did I do what I came here to do?’ and I said, ‘Mama, yes you did,’” Oren said. “And after this fire, the Holy Spirit whispered in my ear, ‘Oren, this is an opportunity to show what you’re made of. Our mother did not raise us to be victims. When people say right now, ‘Are you a victim of the fire?’ I say, ‘No, I’m not a victim. I was affected by it.’ Our mother taught us to be victors, not victims.”