LE DOMAINE BLEU

Citation :Contestant's call thrills 9-year-old

By ABBY G. BRUNKS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/06/06

It was a routine night at the Scheer home — until one phone call from a certain "American Idol" contestant from Fayetteville turned it into a special night.

It was nearly 9 p.m. and Patty Scheer received a call at her Fayetteville home. The incoming number wasn't revealed on the caller ID and when the called asked to speak to her 9-year-old daughter Taylor, who was nearly asleep, she politely said her daughter wasn't home.

According to Scheer, the caller responded, "This is Paris Bennett and I just wanted to talk to Taylor and thank her for her card."

Suddenly, an otherwise peaceful night became a little chaotic.

"I was kind of getting up slowly and when my mom said it was Paris Bennett I woke up really fast, Taylor said. "She said 'thank you for all of the cards,' and really liked mine with all the decorations."

"I wrote things like 'Good luck Paris' and my phone number," she added. "And I wrote, don't worry, I'm not a stranger. My mom works with your uncle at Mike & C's."

Taylor was one of several Braelinn third- and fourth-graders who received calls from Bennett. The students are members of the Kindness Kids Club, a club that promotes sharing random acts of kindness, according to school counselor Billie Anderson.

As part of a club project, kids were asked to create a letter expressing encouragement for Bennett, one of the finalists on American Idol.

"They are flying very high today," Anderson said after her students received their calls. "It just goes to show you what a caring person Paris is as well as a talented one."

As for Taylor's call, Patty Scheer said the conversation lasted several minutes and could tell Paris was doing most of the talking because Taylor was just listening. Just before the conversation ended Taylor told Paris "I love you," and then hung up.

She looked at her mom and contemplated future possibilities.

"Mom, do you think she could come over for dinner if she wins?"


source:
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/ ... xidol.html

--Message edité par felix le 2006-04-10 17:54:29--

Citation :Moss Point family cheers 'American Idol' hopeful
Friday, April 07, 2006
By NATALIE CHAMBERS

MOSS POINT -- When "American Idol" hopeful Paris Bennett narrowly escaped elimination Wednesday, her Moss Point relatives realized they had to intensify their "Support Paris" campaign.

Ruth Spillers, a distant cousin, grabbed the telephone and began contacting instate relatives and friends. Spillers said viewers from Fayetteville, Ga., where Paris lives, already are sending in votes for the 17-year-old singer.

"We don't want to get relaxed. We have been communicating over the Internet as a family but more calls are needed to keep Paris' participation in the show alive," Spillers said. "We need the state of Mississippi to call in and vote for her. I want everyone to watch "American Idol" and vote for Paris. Wednesday's decision was too uncomfortable. It was too close a call for us."
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Contestants perform on Tuesdays on the Fox channel. The elimination round is the following Wednesday.

Spillers said the Bennett family is spread across the United States. Their top priority is to cheer their favorite contestant to victory.

Marie Graham of Minneapolis, Minn., heaps praise on her niece every chance she gets.

The vocal fortitude and stage presence Paris displays each week is not a surprise, Graham told The Mississippi Press by telephone Thursday .

Paris comes from a singing family, she said.

Paris received vocal training from her mother, Jamecice Bennett, and grandmother, recording artist Ann Nesbit.

Sisters Nesbit and Graham are original members of the group, Sounds of Blackness. Nesbit also had two hit singles during a solo singing career, "I'm Still Wearing Your Name" and "I'll Do Anything For You."

Graham said the elimination round left them a little upset but she thinks her niece will prevail.

"A lot of politics are involved in this. That is probably why we don't know how many votes individuals receive, not until they are voted off," she said.

Graham said the family's focus is keeping their youngest star and Idol's youngest remaining contestant encouraged.

"Paris has been singing since she was 2 years old when she could barely open her mouth," Graham said. "She always sang in the church and always was very confident. That might be one of her downfalls. Unfortunately, America does not to like seeing black women exuding confidence. They view it as arrogance."

Spillers said family members from Baton Rouge and nearby cities will gather Saturday at her Moss Point home to work on a reunion newsletter.

"Most of the conversation will be about Paris," she said.

Spillers also hinted Paris and her immediate family might attend the July reunion if Paris' scheduling permits it.

"We are making an attempt to come," Graham said.

Graham said Paris T-shirts are being sold to raise funds for one of the budding singer's favorite charities, Community Fitness Today, which provides services to HIV and AIDS patients.

The T-shirts can be obtained online at www.charitybox.com/cft

Reporter Natalie Chambers can be reached at nchambers@themississippipress.com or (228) 934-1429.


source:
http://www.gulflive.com/news/mississipp ... 159700.xml

--Message edité par felix le 2006-04-10 17:55:58--

ca parle de koi en générale? lol!!!! en anglais et long...ouf! jvais me tapper ca ce soir lol!

Citation :Will Paris survive? Find out at 7:30 p.m.


“American Idol” finalist Paris Bennett rocked out with “The Show Must Go On” for the reality show’s Queen theme night Tuesday. We find out whether America’s most popular show goes on without the Rockford native when the results episode airs in a one-hour special, 7:30 p.m. today on WQRF-39 (Insight channel 6).

Bennett got her first elimination scare last week, after the country theme night, but survived to make the top eight.

At a rehearsal with Queen, Bennett won praise from the British rock band’s guitarist/songwriter Brian May.

“She’s damn good,” May said. “I like everything about Paris.”

Two of three “Idol” judges gave Bennett thumbs up for her Tuesday night performance, but Simon Cowell called it “all a little weird.”

The best reviews went to country singer Kellie Pickler, for her rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody”; Elliott Yamin, for the Aretha Franklin-inspired song “Somebody To Love”; and Katharine McPhee, who switched from an up-tempo rocker to the slower, more dramatic “Who Wants To Live Forever.”

Before the dreaded “bottom three” is revealed tonight, the finalists will perform a medley of songs by Queen.

After the cut, the top seven will compete in song again, 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, on Fox.

source: Rockford Register Star

Citation :Musical roots run deep in family of gospel star
Grammy winner to sing anthem at race

By DONNA SOPER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/13/06

Ann Nesby has a lot to sing about these days.

The Grammy award-winning gospel singer has a fifth solo compact disc set for release next week.

She'll perform Tuesday morning on Fox's "Good Day Atlanta."

Her granddaughter, Starr's Mill High School student Paris Bennett, has earned rave reviews as an "American Idol" contestant.

And, Nesby was asked to sing the national anthem in Fayetteville Wednesday before the start of stage 2 of the 2006 Ford Tour de Georgia.

Nesby, who has lived in Fayette County for eight years, said she was honored to be invited to participate in the Tour de Georgia during such an exciting time in her life. She is especially enthusiastic about her new CD, "In the Spirit," which harkens back to her early singing days, she said.

"It's a traditional gospel album, which is definitely my roots," she said. "It's the first thing I did in church, from the time I was 4 years old."

A native of Joliet, Ill., Nesby earned early fame as a lead vocalist with the Sounds of Blackness in Minneapolis from 1988 to 1996. The group, established in 1971, performs and records music indicative of the culture and history of African-Americans, including jazz, blues, rock 'n' roll, rhythm and blues, gospel, reggae, ragtime, spirituals, work songs and field hollers.

Last year, Nesby did a reunion CD with the Sounds of Blackness called "Unity," which earned a 2005 Stellar Award.

Since leaving the group, Nesby has released several solo CDs and appeared in the 2004 film, "The Fighting Temptations," which was filmed in Senoia.

Most recently, Nesby has been occupied lending advice and encouragement to granddaughter Bennett.

"She calls me all the time — practically every day," Nesby said of Bennett. "She calls me to ask about her song selections, and I give my ideas. But she decides what she wants to do."

Last week, Nesby was headed to Los Angeles to support Bennett, who made it to the final eight.

"This is absolutely one of the most exciting things she's ever done," Nesby said. "She's overwhelmed with everything that is happening so fast. No matter what happens, this is something that will change her life forever."

Nesby said a musical collaboration between herself, Bennett and other family members is already in the works.

Nesby's sister, Marie Graham, is a recording artist, and Nesby's daughter, Jamecia Bennett, who is Paris' mother, was the youngest member ever of the Sounds of Blackness.

"We have a generations project in the works now," Nesby said.


source: ajc.com

Citation :

Saturday, April 22, 2006

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Gospel star keeps her eye on 'Idol'

Ann Nesby's granddaughter Paris Bennett is an "American Idol" finalist

Mekeisha Madden Toby / The Detroit News

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Shawn Dowdell

Ann Nesby's granddaughter is Paris Bennett, one of the "American Idol" finalists. go See full image



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I t's hard to believe that Grammy winning gospel singer Ann Nesby is a grandmother, much less one to "American Idol" darling Paris Bennett.

Just listen to Bennett, a 17-year-old vocal powerhouse, belt out jazz songs, and the resemblance is easy to hear. Nesby recently released "In the Spirit," a CD made up of traditional hymns. While she's excited about her own career, the Joliet, Ill., native is still smarting that her granddaughter stood in the talent contest's bottom three this week.

For now, the 50-year-old former lead singer of the Sounds of Blackness, a Jimmy Jam- and Terry Lewis-produced chart-topping gospel choir, says she is putting it all in God's hands. Nesby, a pastor's wife who lives in Atlanta, is just grateful that her grandbaby, who had once shunned the music business, has decided to pursue a singing career.

Q . How did you feel when Paris faced elimination this week on "AI"?

A .They had me nervous. I was upset and disappointed. She did such a good job (Paris sang Billie Holiday's "These Foolish Things"), and I was absolutely proud of her. But then again I'm proud she made it this far. Paris auditioned with thousands of people, and to be one of the remaining six is such an honor. But this is reality TV, and you never know what to expect. No matter what, Paris will be OK. She grew up singing in the church choir, and that's great training. It teaches you not to be jealous of anyone because you're not the only talented person in the world."

Q . Should fans anticipate a collaboration album with you and Paris?

A . We are definitely doing a generational project with me, Paris' mom, Jamecia Bennett, and Paris but I don't know when yet. Jamecia is also a recording artist, and she sang backup for everyone from Sting to Janet Jackson. And then there's Paris. It'll be worth the wait.

Q . What's the secret to your youthful beauty?

A . It's hard work. I lost a lot of weight. I'm eating right and exercising every day, and I take my vitamins. Just a year ago, I suffered from congestive heart failure, diabetes and high blood pressure, but I've been much better since the bypass surgery.

source:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... 0/1032/ENT