- Ann Nesby
Infobox Musical artist
Name = Ann Bennett Nesby aka "Lula Lee"
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Background = solo_singer,
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Born = July 24
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Origin =Joliet, Illinois ,United States
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Genre = gospel,R&B , anddance music
Occupation = singer, actress
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Associated_acts =Sounds of Blackness
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Notable_instruments =Ann Bennett Nesby is an American
R&B , gospel, anddance music singer andactress .Former lead singer of the world renowned Sounds of Blackness; accomplished songwriter with credits including Patti Labelle and Gladys Knight; co-starred in the 2003 musical romantic dramedy The Fighting Temptations with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyonce Knowles; various appearances on the hit television series American Idol. Nesby has been nominated multiple times since her departurure from the Sounds of Blackness, most recently her 2007 album This Is Love lead single "I Apologize" was nominated for a Grammy at the 2008 Grammy Awards. Nesby is set to release a R&B inspired Gospel inspirational album during the late summer or early fall of 2008 under her It's Time Child Records imprint.
Early life
Born in
Joliet, Illinois , she gained notoriety as lead vocalist for theSounds of Blackness . Ann grew up active in the Macedonia Baptist Church in Rockford, where her father is pastor.Musical career
Nesby had several big dance hits as part of the
Sounds of Blackness "Optimistic", "I Beleive" and "I'm Going All The Way"(earned two Grammys with Sounds of Blackness) in the nineties but left to pursue a solo career.A prolific songwriter, as she has written songs for
Patti LaBelle (Right Kinda Lover, which was the blockbuster summer radio hit in 1994);Gladys Knight ("Home Alone")Sounds Of Blackness ("I'm Going All The Way", "A Place In My Heart") and others. Dueted with Sting on theDemolition Man soundtrack. Also dueted with the legendary soul singerReverend Al Green ("Put It On Paper") which yielded Nesby her first solo Grammy Nomination for Best (Duet) Traditional R&B Vocal Performance in 2003 and PastorShirley Caesar on "That Stone," which was Grammy nominated 2005. The inspirational treasure chest of urban grooves entitled ‘Make Me Better.’ garnered Nesby yet another Grammy Nomination Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Performance in 2004. Nesby was nominated in 2007 for her R&B gem "I Apologize".She earned four consecutive Top 5 hits on the
Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart with "Hold On" (#5, 1997), "Love Is What We Need" (#2, 2000), "Lovin' Is Really My Game" (#1, 2000) and "Let Your Will Be Done" (#3, 2002). Fact|date=October 2007Acting career
In 2003, she appeared in the film "
The Fighting Temptations .Personal life
Ann's Daughter is former Mercury Records recording artist Jamecia Bennett known just as Jamecia with a single entitled "Rodeo" who is the mother of
Paris Bennett , a top five contestant on "American Idol " 's fifth season. Fact|date=October 2007. She is a member of World Changers Church in College Park, Georgia; where Dr.Creflo Dollar is Pastor.Discography
Albums
Other Contributions
ee also
*
Sounds of Blackness
*List of number-one dance hits (United States)
*List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart External links
* [http://www.annnesby.com/ Official website]
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