b. Lula Ann Bennett, 24th July 1955, Joliet, Illinios, U.S.A.
Ann Nesby was born in Joliet, Illinois in 1955.
She was the former lead vocalist for the 30-piece gospel choir Sounds of Blackness.
Both of her parents sang, her father in his own quartet, her mother in her own gospel group.
Her mother and father's groups both practised at their family home, with her mother teaching Ann how to utilise her vocal skills to the maximum (one of her mother's favourites being Mahalia Jackson).
At the age of just 3 years old, Ann was singing at the Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Two years later, she made her first appearance before a large audience, when as the youngest president of the church Sunshine band (she travelled to Chicago to perform at a Baptist convention).
These were Ann's first experiences of R & B, although her mother often played Aretha Franklin tunes at home.
Ann impressed many of the gospel fraternity and she was, subsequently, invited to sing in the musical 'Sing Hallelujah'.
The musical premiered in 1986 in Cincinatti, then moving on to The Village Gate in New York for a six month run.
The following year Ann commenced work with her longtime friend Timothy Lee (who later became Ann's husband and manager).
Ann cut a demo and took a trip to visit her sister in Minneapolis.
Her sister, Shirley Marie Graham, had been singing with the Sounds Of Blackness for a few years and band leader ,Gary Hines, asked Ann to sing in a tribute to Martin Luther King, entitled 'Music For Martin'.
Ann was hired and the group were signed to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis's Perspective label.
i'm here for you - 1996 / put it on paper - 2002 / make me better - 2003 / in the spirit - 2006
Ann began her major solo career in 1996 with an album for the same Perspective label, entitled ‘I’m Here For You’ in 1996.
The album was again produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and featured the popular dancer ‘In The Spirit’ and the stepper 'This Weekend'.
In addition to her solo work, Ann has since contributed to several soundtracks.
These include the movies ‘Batman’, ‘Mo' Money’ and ‘Demolition Man’.
She has also contibuted to several tribute albums for the likes of Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye and John Lennon.
She has also won two Grammy awards.
The first as part of Sounds of Blackness for the 1991 album ‘Evolution of Gospel’, secondly for the version of Handel's Messiah entitled ‘A Soulful Celebration’.
After her Perspective album, Ann moved to Interscope Records in 1996 during which time the company released a couple of singles which were unsuccessful.
With the blessing of Interscope, she left the label and decided to start her own, It's Time Child Records.
Nesby released the title track single, ‘Put It On Paper’, which features the legendary Rev. AI Green, to positive response from U.S. radio.
A new album was released in 2002, entitled ‘Put It On Paper’, which contained the popular track ‘Seasons’.
The album was released on her own label, It's Time Child Records.
this is love - 2007 / the lula lee project - 2009
In 2009, she released the album, 'the Lula Lee Project', followed some 5 years later with 'Living My Life'.
living my life - 2014
Albums:
I'm Here for You (Perspective Records 1996)
Put It On Paper (It's Time Child Records 2002)
Make Me Better (DRT Records 2003)
In The Spirit (Shanachie Records 2006)
This Is Love (Shanachie Records 2007)
The Lula Lee Project (Tyscot Records 2009)
Living My Life (Ingrooves Records 2014)
