Ann Nesby
Encyclopedia
Ann Nesby is an American
R&B
, gospel
, and dance music
singer and actress. She is the former lead singer of Sounds of Blackness
; a songwriter
with credits including hits sung by Patti Labelle
and Gladys Knight
; plus she co-starred in the 2003 romance musical The Fighting Temptations
with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyonce Knowles
. Nesby had various appearances on the hit television series American Idol
. Nesby has been nominated four times since her departure from the Sounds of Blackness, most recently for her 2007 album This Is Love; plus the lead single
"I Apologize" was nominated for a Grammy at the 2008 Grammy Award
s.
In 1996 Nesby released her debut solo album, I'm Here for You. Her "Witness Ep peaked at #42 in the UK Singles Chart
in December 1996.
Tyler Perry
cast Nesby in a lead role in his 1998-2000 stage production, I Know I've Been Changed
. By 2002, Nesby released her second album, Put It on Paper. The lead single of the same title featured Al Green
, leading Nesby to her first solo Grammy nomination in 2003, and the album included Nesby's first #1 song "Lovin' Is Really My Game," a cover version
of the 1977 hit dance tune by Brainstorm.
She appeared in the 2003 film
, The Fighting Temptations. Nesby subsequently garnered three additional Grammy nominations between 2004 and 2008.
Her latest album, The Lula Lee Project debuted at #13 on the US
Billboard
's Top Gospel Album Chart and #57 on the R&B
chart
. Nesby’s latest nominations include - Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group with Vocal for her duet
with Calvin Richardson
, "Love Has Finally Come at Last" and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for "Sow Love".
.
Other Contributions
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
, gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
, and dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
singer and actress. She is the former lead singer of Sounds of Blackness
Sounds of Blackness
Sounds of Blackness is a Grammy Award-winning vocal and instrumental ensemble from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota who perform music from several genres music including gospel, R&B, soul, and jazz. The group scored several hits on the Billboard R&B chart and Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play...
; a songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
with credits including hits sung by Patti Labelle
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
and Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
; plus she co-starred in the 2003 romance musical The Fighting Temptations
The Fighting Temptations
The Fighting Temptations is a 2003 American musical dramedy film produced by Paramount Pictures and MTV Films. It stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. as the film's protagonist as he attempts to revive a church choir in order to enter a gospel competition with the help of a beautiful lounge singer with whom he...
with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyonce Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
. Nesby had various appearances on the hit television series American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. Nesby has been nominated four times since her departure from the Sounds of Blackness, most recently for her 2007 album This Is Love; plus the lead single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"I Apologize" was nominated for a Grammy at the 2008 Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s.
Career
Nesby joined Sounds of Blackness in the late 1980s. The Sounds of Blackness were awarded two Grammys in 1991 and 1993, and Nesby sang on a number of their tracks including "I Believe," "Optimistic," "I'm Going All The Way," "Soul Holiday," and "The Pressure."In 1996 Nesby released her debut solo album, I'm Here for You. Her "Witness Ep peaked at #42 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in December 1996.
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry is an American actor, director, playwright, entrepreneur, screenwriter, producer, author, and songwriter. Perry wrote and produced many stage plays during the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2005, he released his first film, Diary of a Mad Black Woman...
cast Nesby in a lead role in his 1998-2000 stage production, I Know I've Been Changed
I Know I've Been Changed
I Know I've Been Changed was the first major successful play from famed playwright Tyler Perry. Tyler was homeless and decided to give the theater scene one more chance. The play focuses on critical issues including child abuse and rape...
. By 2002, Nesby released her second album, Put It on Paper. The lead single of the same title featured Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
, leading Nesby to her first solo Grammy nomination in 2003, and the album included Nesby's first #1 song "Lovin' Is Really My Game," a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the 1977 hit dance tune by Brainstorm.
She appeared in the 2003 film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, The Fighting Temptations. Nesby subsequently garnered three additional Grammy nominations between 2004 and 2008.
Her latest album, The Lula Lee Project debuted at #13 on the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's Top Gospel Album Chart and #57 on the R&B
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
. Nesby’s latest nominations include - Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group with Vocal for her duet
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
with Calvin Richardson
Calvin Richardson
Calvin Richardson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter. In 1999 he released his debut solo album Country Boy.-Background:...
, "Love Has Finally Come at Last" and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for "Sow Love".
Personal life
Nesby's parents are Reverend Perry Bennett and Shirley Bennett. Nesby is the mother of ten, grandmother of eleven, and great grandmother of one. Nesby has been married to Timothy Lee since 1994. Nesby's granddaughter is former American Idol contestant and recording artist Paris BennettParis Bennett
Paris Ana'is Bennett is an American singer. She came to national recognition as a contestant on the fifth season of the reality television talent show, American Idol, finishing in fifth place...
.
Discography
Albums| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1996 | I'm Here for You |
| 2001 | Love Is What We Need: The Essentials |
| 2002 | Put It on Paper |
| 2003 | Make Me Better |
| 2003 | The Fighting Temptations movie soundtrack |
| 2006 | In the Spirit |
| 2007 | This Is Love |
| 2009 | The Lula Lee Project |
Other Contributions
| Year | Song | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | "Keep Ya Head Up" | Jadakiss Jadakiss Jason Phillips , better known as Jadakiss, is an American rapper. He is a member of the group The LOX. Jadakiss is one of the three owners of the imprint known as D-Block. In early 2007, Jadakiss signed to Roc-a-Fella Records / Def Jam Records.-Early life:By the age of 16, Jadakiss was a freestyle... |
Kiss tha Game Goodbye Kiss tha Game Goodbye -Samples:*"Show Discipline"**"I've Been Watching You" by Southside Movement*"Put Your Hands Up"**"Boogieman" by Jackson 5*"We Gonna Make It"**"My Music" by Samuel Jonathan Johnson*"Kiss Is Spittin'"... |
| 2002 | "Praisin His Name" | Jasper Street Co. | - |
| 2004 | "Spread Love" | Kenny Bobien | - |
| 2007 | "Best Friends" | Paris Bennett Paris Bennett Paris Ana'is Bennett is an American singer. She came to national recognition as a contestant on the fifth season of the reality television talent show, American Idol, finishing in fifth place... |
Princess P Princess P "Ordinary Love" is the debut single from Paris Bennett, the American Idol fifth place finalist with production Jon Jon Traxx and J... |
| 2007 | "It's So Easy" | DJ Spen & MuthaFunkaz | - |
See also
- Sounds of BlacknessSounds of BlacknessSounds of Blackness is a Grammy Award-winning vocal and instrumental ensemble from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota who perform music from several genres music including gospel, R&B, soul, and jazz. The group scored several hits on the Billboard R&B chart and Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play...
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart