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Ann Nesby is a accomplished actress, entertainer, songwriter, and vocalist, embodying a range of creative talents.
With a theatrical career spanning more than twenty years, she has collaborated with numerous renowned figures in theater, film, and music.
Known for her artistic consistency, Nesby began her professional journey in the early 1980s, working with Rev. James Cleveland and the Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA), leading to her first major off-Broadway production, Sing Hallelujah, directed by Grammy-winning artist and producer Donald Lawrence.
By the late 1980s, Nesby became part of the Minneapolis-based inspirational soul group Sounds of Blackness. Rising to lead vocalist under the guidance of music legends Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, her vocal prowess and songwriting skills helped the group achieve multiple hit singles and international acclaim. With Nesby as lead singer, Sounds of Blackness won two Grammy Awards in 1991 and 1993. She also collaborated with global superstar STING on the 1993 title track "Demolition Man" for the film starring Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes. By the mid-1990s, Sounds of Blackness had earned awards, international recognition, and critical praise, evolving from a local group to touring with Luther Vandross and performing at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Nesby's influence continued to grow. Under Jam & Lewis's direction, she and music director James "Big Jim" Wright wrote hit songs for R&B icons Gladys Knight ("Home Alone" from Knight’s 1994 album Just For You) and Patti LaBelle ("The Right Kinda Lover" and "Someone Like You" from her albums Gems and Flame). After leaving Sounds of Blackness, Nesby released her 1996 solo debut album, I'm Here For You, which blended R&B, gospel, and dance music, spending 60 weeks atop the R&B best-selling album charts.
Returning to theater, Nesby starred in Tyler Perry’s first stage play, I Know I've Been Changed, alongside Perry and gospel singers Lashun Pace and Latrice Pace from 1998 to 2000. More recently, she starred in David E. Talbert’s 2011 production What My Husband Doesn't Know, featuring Morris Chestnut, Brian White, Michelle Williams, and Clifton Davis, touring nationally.
In the 2000s, Nesby adapted to the changing music industry. Her 2001 dance anthology, The Dance Essentials, released on her label It's Time Child Records, featured top remixes of singles like "Love is What We Need" and "Lovin' Is Really My Game," produced by acclaimed DJs such as Mousse T, DJ Mijangos, Steve "Silk" Hurley, and Thunderpuss.
Her second album, Put It On Paper, brought Nesby back to R&B's forefront. The title track, featuring Rev. Al Green and produced by Big Herb Middleton, earned her first solo Grammy nomination for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance in 2003, establishing her as a formidable artist.
Nesby made her film debut in 2003 as Aunt Sally Walker in the musical comedy The Fighting Temptations, starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyoncé Knowles. That year, she released her third album, Make Me Better, an inspirational blend of urban grooves, which earned her another Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Performance in 2004. In 2005, she received a further Grammy nod for Best Gospel Performance for the duet "The Stone" with Shirley Caesar from The Fighting Temptations soundtrack. Nesby has also made guest appearances on TV One's The Rickey Smiley Show.
After a 2005 health scare involving congestive heart failure caused by extensive touring, poor diet, and weight issues, Nesby lost over 100 pounds, regaining control of her health and image. In 2006, she released her first traditional gospel album, In The Spirit, showcasing her vocal power and range. Early in 2007, she treated fans to Ann Nesby: The Best of Live, a CD/DVD capturing her diverse repertoire over 20 years, from Sounds of Blackness to her solo work, featuring her new slimmer appearance on the DVD.
Appeasing her R&B audience, Nesby released the acclaimed 2007 album This Is Love, which included the Grammy-nominated single "I Apologize." In 2009, she returned with The Lula Lee Project, a fusion of funky contemporary and soulful gospel songs highlighting the edgier side of her artistry. Collaborating with gospel artist Tonex, the lead single "I Found a Place" helped the album reach #13 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums chart and #57 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
That same year, she released her first holiday album, Soulful Christmas, revisiting classics like "Silent Night" and "Oh Come All Ye Faithful," along with her signature holiday single "Soul Holiday," featuring Big Jim Wright. This track was featured in a poignant scene of the critically acclaimed film Precious (2009).
With two Grammy wins as part of Sounds of Blackness and six solo Grammy nominations since her 1996 debut, Nesby remains a significant force in music. Her recent nominations include Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group with Vocal for her duet with Calvin Richardson on Bobby Womack’s "Love Has Finally Come at Last" from Richardson’s album Facts Of Life - The Soul Of Bobby Womack, and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance for "Sow Love" from her 2009 album The Lula Lee Project.
Looking ahead, this unforgettable vocal powerhouse and actress continues to blend her church roots, storytelling passion, and emotive singing with the release of her sixth studio album, Living My Life, on Arrow Records, a subsidiary of Pastor Creflo and Taffi Dollar’s World Changers Church International.
