James Nelson Williams, known by the nickname “D Train”, is an American R&B and dance singer born on January 21, 1962, in Brooklyn, New York. Williams began singing at age six and studied jazz guitar after seeing a Jackson 5 performance at age ten. In 1980, he formed the duo D Train with producer Hubert Eaves III. Their debut single, “You’re the One for Me”, reached Number 1 on the Billboard Dance chart in 1981. The duo released the albums You’re the One for Me (1982), Music (1983), and Something’s on Your Mind (1984). In 1986, Williams signed with Columbia Records and released the solo album Miracles of the Heart, featuring the single “Misunderstanding”. He later performed the “Pokérap” for the Pokémon anime and is the voice behind the “Aaaah! (169)” sample used in Nelly’s “Dilemma”. Williams released the album The Other Side of the Tracks in 2024.
