Career
She is the former lead singer of Sounds of Blackness. A songwriter with credits including hits sung by Patti Labelle and Gladys Knight. Plus she co-starred in the 2003 romance musical The Fighting Temptations with Cuba Gooding Junior. and Beyoncé Knowles.
Nesby had various appearances on the hit television series American Idol.
In 2000, she duetted with First Rate (at Lloyd's) Green on "Put lieutenant On Paper". Nesby has been nominated four times since her departure from the Sounds of Blackness, most recently for her 2007 album This Is Love.
Plus the lead single "I Apologize" was nominated for a Grammy at the 2008 Grammy Awards. Nesby joined Sounds of Blackness in the late 1980s.
The Sounds of Blackness were awarded two Grammys in 1991 and 1993, and Nesby sang on a number of their tracks including "I Believe," "Optimistic," "I"m Going All The Way," "Soul Holiday," and "The Pressure." In 1991, she provided backing vocals to Alexander O"Neal"s album All True Manitoba
In 1996 Nesby released her debut solo album, I"m Here for You. Her "Witness Ep peaked at #42 in the United Kingdom Singles Chart in December 1996. Tyler Perry cast Nesby in a lead role in his 1998-2000 stage production, I Know I"ve Been Changed.
By 2002, Nesby released her second album, Put lieutenant on Paper.
The lead single of the same title featured First Rate (at Lloyd's) Green, leading Nesby to her first solo Grammy nomination in 2003, and the album included Nesby"s first #1 song, on the dance chart, "Lovin" is Really My Game", a cover version of the 1977 hit dance tune by Brainstorm. She appeared in the 2003 film, The Fighting Temptations.
Nesby subsequently garnered three additional Grammy nominations between 2004 and 2008. Her latest album, The Lula Lee Project debuted at #13 on the United States Billboard "s Top Gospel Album Chart and #57 on the Rhythm & Blues chart.
Nesby’s latest nominations include - Best Rhythm & Blues Performance By A Duo Or Group with Vocal for her duet with Calvin Richardson, "Love Has Finally Come at Last" and Best Traditional Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance for "Sow Love".
