Boyz II Men releases ‘Love' just in time for Christmas
The most commercially successful R&B group of all times, Boyz II Men, recently released a new project,
"Love," on Decca/Universal Music just in time for Christmas. The new project is produced by Randy Jackson (American
Idol) and Boyz II Men. It also features the unbelievable vocals of Michael Buble' on "When I Fall in Love."
"We wanted to try something different," said Nathan Morris, PhD about the
new CD titled "Love." "We want to also show diversity...mainly focus on the love concept. It's about the lyrics."
It is also about the vocals and harmony which Boyz II Men are experts at. Their "Love" project consists of 12
cover songs - all about love. You will hear such classics as "I Can't Make You Love Me" (originally sung by Bonnie
Raitt); "If You Leave Me Now" (Chicago); "Misty Blue" (Dorothy Moore), and "Cupid" (Sam Cook).
"Boyz II Men is coming on 20 years next year," Morris informed me. "We're balladeers that's what we do. Boyz
II Men has been about love."
Members Nathan, Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris and Michael McCary formed their group
in 1988 has a quintet before member Marc Nelson left for a solo career. The remaining members became a quartet and signed
to Motown in 1990. They help create the "New Jack Swing" genre of music with their first up-tempo single "Motownphilly"
produced by Dallas Austin. Today, minus Michael - for medical reasons in 2003 - Boyz II Men became the most successful R&B
male group of all times. They have sold over 60 million albums.
In 2004 the guys formed their own label, MSM
Music/Koch, and released the "Throw Back, Vol. 1" CD which sold over 200,000 independently. In 2007 the group signed
with Decca Records and released "Motown: A Journey through Hitsville USA" which received two Grammy Award nominations.
In 2008 they released "Showtime" on Decca.
"It was good doing the independent thing,"
Nathan said about the experience. "It's not easy. It's just you. Today it's tough! It takes a lot of money, especially
for a group of our caliber."
Next year they celebrate for a whole year 20 years of being together with
many difference events, such as a CD, tour and cruise. They even hope to have Michael with them. What an accomplishment in
an industry where groups rarely stay together, as Nathan said, "very few groups make it to 20 years."
I am a hopeless romantic so this CD is an early Christmas gift. My favorite cuts on the album include "In My Life"
(Beatles); "Shining Star" (Earth, Wind and Fire); the bonus track "Back for Good" (Take That); "Cupid,"
love the classical guitar support; "Misty Blue," "Amazed" (Lonestar); "I Can't Make You Love Me,"
and "When I Fall in Love" featuring Michael Buble' who brings a fresh addition to the song and his vocals reminds
me of Nat King Cole - the original singer of this lovely ballad.
Boyz II Men continues to travel the world
performing to sold-out crowds. For information on Boyz II Men's upcoming performances or to heard some songs off the CD log
onto their websites
www.myspace.com/BoyzIIMen and
www.BoyzIIMen.com.
Six-time Grammy
nominated Ann Nesby records Christmas special for Gospel Music Channel, now on DVD
The former lead singer of the Sounds of Blackness Ann Nesby recorded a Christmas special, "Ann Nesby's Soulful Christmas,"
for the Gospel Music Channel which is now on DVD. Nesby has also garnered two Grammy Award nominations. One nomination is
for her duet with R&B's Calvin Richardson on "Love Has Finally Come" for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or
Group with Vocals and the other is for "Sow Love" from her latest CD "The Lula Lee Project" for Best Traditional
R&B Vocal Performance.
"The idea was my brother in Christ
Alvin Williams," said Ann Nesby. "I'd see him and he'd say I'm going to get you on!"
Good for him that he did because the hour long performance surely put me in the Christmas
spirit. The beautiful set and Ann's vocals are unbelievable. Her band, lead by her god-brother Big Jim Wright (musical director
for the Mo'Nique Show), plays heavenly.
Wright is a featured singer
on the ‘Soul Holiday' selection, on the DVD, a song written by Ann and Jim for the Sounds of Blackness. The "Soul
Holiday" song is also featured in the Lee Daniel's directed film "Precious."
"It's a reminder that Christmas is not about gifts it's about the soul," she
pointed out. "I had no clue Big Jim would be on Mo'Niques' show (as musical director)."
Her back ground singers are some powerful vocalists and consist of Contrell Jones, LaTasha Dorsey
and Lydia Pace - all Gospel artists in their right. All that plus the unbelievable vocals of the lady herself is why, so far,
I've watched the DVD at least four times.
"I am so grateful
(for the opportunity)," Ann said about taping the Christmas special. "I love Christmas chorals. ‘O Come All
Ye Faithful' with Sounds of Blackness won a Grammy; it's one of my favorite songs."
Aside from "O Come All Ye Faithful" other selections performed by Ann Nesby include "Jesus
What a Wonderful Child," "Going All the Way" written by Nesby and Big Jim; "I Found a Place" which
is on her "Lula Lee Project"; "I Believe," "It's Christmas Time/Joy to the World," "Silent
Night," and "So Much Joy."
"We did everything
twice," Ann informed me when I mentioned what a hard job singing for a straight hour can be when you sing with all your
soul as she does. "It was new for me, my first time. It was really nice. I dreamed about doing something like this."
Well for her first time Nesby truly worked it like a pro. For someone who sang for two
hours straight (or longer) her vocals are outstanding.
This six-time Grammy Award nominated Gospel artist that has the
vocal power of Patty LaBelle, the soul of Aretha Frankin and the spirit of Pastor Shirley Caesar will be attending the 52nd
Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 8 p.m. (ET). You can also see the "Ann Nesby's Soulful Christmas"
special on the Gospel Music Channel Sunday, December 20, 2009.
For
more information on Ann log onto www.AnnNesby.com, www.myspace.com/annnesby, www.facebook.com/annnesby or you can twit her personally at www.twitter.com/AnnNesby. Learn more about the Gospel Music Channel by logging onto www.GospelMusicChannel.com. 
