New url for Peach Buzz
Bookmark this new url for Peach Buzz.. We have moved to Wordpress!
Access Atlanta > Blog > Archives > 2007 > September > 26 > Entry
Inspiring songstress shares ‘Love’ message
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fans did joyful double-takes outside the Flying Biscuit Cafe in Midtown when Grammy-winning singer Ann Nesby popped by for breakfast Tuesday morning. The former Sounds of Blackness powerhouse (who’s also known by younger folks as “American Idol” contestant Paris Bennett’s grandma) was in town to introduce her latest inspirational R&B album, “This is Love.”
The “relationship songs” co-written by the Fayetteville resident for “Love” were inspired by our cultural addictions to buzzing PDAs, incessant text-messaging and “Halo 3”-related trances in an age where we’re actually communicating less effectively with each other. The singer slyly suggests “turning off the cellphone and grabbing some candles” on “Special Occasion” from “Love.”
“We’ve gotten so caught up in technology that we’ve become kind of like computers ourselves,” she explains. “We need to step back and deal with each other more. We need to tell each other that we’re sorry when we’ve wronged someone. We need to tell each other that we love them.”
To that end, two of the singer’s fave new tracks on “Love” are “I Apologize” and “Never Forget You Remembered,” a song about the prized folks who remember your birthday.
Between delicate bites of a healthy turkey burger, Nesby told Buzz: “When you’re grown, life just goes on on your birthday. You tell yourself, ‘If nobody buys me a cake, I’m not going to trip about it.’ But when people take that time to remember, it’s a very tender thing. It’s really the little things in life that have the biggest effect on us.”
While the now-svelte singer is staunchly dedicated to maintaining her healthy lifestyle, we did manage to coax the experienced Southern cook to sample a bite of Flying Biscuit grits and the spicy collard-dotted Southern Scramble.
Nesby just shakes her head when it’s pointed out to her that it’s now been 20 years since she first helped to record soul classics like “I Believe,” “The Pressure” and “Optimistic” as a member of The Sounds of Blackness.
“[Producers] Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis were a big reason those songs struck such a chord,” she recalls. “I’m so blessed and elated that those songs continue to inspire people and help folks in crisis. Every time I get a chance to record, I hope the music will reach and touch somebody.”
Thursday at 7 p.m., Nesby will appear in a rare live Atlanta show at the Blue Room in Buckhead on a bill with Peabo Bryson. For info: www.sidebarbuckhead.com.
On the airwaves
After three weeks of on-air auditions, Tom Sullivan, best known as the sidekick for the Star 94 Steve & Vikki show, has nabbed the full-time co-hosting gig on WXIA’s entertainment/infomercial show “Atlanta & Company.” Sullivan, who starts Monday, had been the primary substitute for Ryan Cameron, who now has his own Starz variety talk show, which debuts in November. He beat out former radio/TV personality Tom Clark, talk-show host Conn Jackson and former 99X host Jimmy Baron.
Meanwhile, 790/The Zone’s 2 Live Stews — who already contribute to a sports talk show on ESPN2 called “First Take” — will host eight episodes of “Black Men Revealed” early next year on cable network TV One. Doug and Ryan Stewart will discuss topics related to living as African-American males.
And CNN Headline News talk-show host Glenn Beck is returning to the Atlanta radio airwaves after a two-year break, rejoining 640/WGST-AM from 9 to noon. The syndicated talker was in that slot from 2001 to 2005.
Dupri at 35
Backstage at the taping of “Ryan Cameron Uncensored,” Buzz asked Jermaine Dupri how he celebrated his birthday this week and the Atlanta music mogul gave a typical 35-year-old’s reply: “I relaxed. I rested. Had to, because I went extremely hard Saturday night.” Dupri threw himself a party at his new Tucker nightclub, Studio 72. “And it was the most star-studded party in a long time in Atlanta. …” Dupri said before his appearance on the late night talk show, recorded at Center Stage, and scheduled to air on Starz in November. “It was crazy — Allen Iverson, Carmelo [Anthony], Usher, Josh Smith, Jazze Pha, Polow Da Don, [Yung] Joc, Jagged [Edge], Keyshia Cole, there were so many people there. It was going down.”
And when he got up on Sunday — his actual birthday — did he get what he wanted? “I haven’t really wanted anything for a long time,” Dupri said with a smile. “I get what I want.”
CELEBRITY DOCKET
“24” star Kiefer Sutherland was arrested early Tuesday on misdemeanor drunken driving charges after failing a field sobriety test, police officials said.
The actor was pulled over about 1:10 a.m. in West Los Angeles after officers spotted him making an illegal U-turn.
Sutherland, 40, tested over the state’s legal blood alcohol limit of .08 percent, and was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. He was released about 4 a.m. after posting $25,000 bail, according to Sheriff’s Department records. Sutherland is scheduled to appear in court Oct. 16.
ON MY TiVO and iPOD
Warrick Dunn, Atlanta Falcons running back:
“I have DirectTV, not TiVO, and I haven’t really gotten into that recording thing yet. I did just download Kanye [West’s CD ‘Graduation’]. Fire! That album is fire!”
Celebrity birthdays
Fitness expert Jack LaLanne is 93. Singer Bryan Ferry is 62. Country singer Lynn Anderson is 60.
Contributing: Rodney Ho, Sonia Murray and news services.
If you have a tip, call 404-526-2749. Or fax 404-526-5509. Or e-mail: buzz@ajc.com.
Permalink | |
