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Ann Nesby
(Listen:"With
Open Arms" )
Growing up in Joliet Illinois, Ann Nesby
was influenced by her parents who both sang Gospel music for
church and in within various gospel groups all of which proved
to be contributing factors to Ann’s passionate gift of
song. “My mother would teach me about performance, vocal
inflexions, and how to express what a song was about. She told
me as a child that God was going to use me to bless people with
my voice,” states Nesby reflecting back on her humble
beginnings. Throughout Ann’s early childhood into her
adolescence gospel greats, The Reverend James Cleveland, Mahalia
Jackson, Andrae Crouch, The Edwin Hawkins Singers, & Shirley
Caesar were her constant favorite musical influences.
With a career spanning nearly 20 years
in the industry Nesby first gained recognition as thunder
voiced lead singer of the world renowned Sounds of Blackness,
not forgoing her equally impressive gift of the pen Nesby
contributed as a songwriter, lead vocalist, or held both titles
on several of the group’s top 10 R&B hits ("The
Pressure," "I'm Going All The Way," "I
Believe," and "Optimistic"). With Nesby at
the helm the Sounds of Blackness garnered two highly coveted
Grammy Awards in 1991 for Best Gospel Album by a choir and
again in 1992 for “Handel’s Messiah.” Nesby
also contributed to several soundtracks, including "Batman,"
"Mo Money" and "Demolition Man" as well
as on tribute albums for Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye and
John Lennon. Platinum, Gold, along with other prestigious
musical awards ensued shortly thereafter further propelling
the group to world renowned recognition.
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