As noted in Pt. 1 of my first podcast interview, Ann and I have known each other for over three decades – and that’s quite an accomplishment when considering how few artists who began their music careers in earnest some thirty years ago are still around.

From the very first time I saw Ann with Sounds Of Blackness perform live in Los Angeles in 1991 at the A&M Records’ lot, not miles away from my abode in L.A., I was left without any doubt that her super-soulful vocals had that special quality that truly touched me deeply. It came as no surprise to learn that Ann’s primary secular inspiration was ‘The Queen Of Soul,’ Aretha Franklin whose ability to reach audiences with her ‘as-lived’ gospel-honed musical testimony remains incomparable.

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Ann’s from-the-depths-of-the-soul vocals on ‘The Pressure,’ the brilliant two-part piece on the groundbreaking Sounds Of Blackness album, “The Evolution Of Gospel” is still on my frequently-played Spotify playlist – “My back is against the wall more bills than money to pay but I know just who… to call on when I need relief I pray to help me fight the pressure, the pressure, the pressure, pressure of the world…” Anyone relate?

And…a rare ‘find’ on YouTube – ‘The British Queen Of Soul,’ Beverley Knight and Ann delivering a phenomenal accoustic version of “The Pressure” (circa 1992/1993)…chills!

Some of the treasured memories from my years of knowing Ann include going with her, Gary Hines and Sounds Of Blackness on their first Sunday visits to L.A. churches to promote their Perspective Records’ debut in the summer of ‘91; a hilarious bus ride in London with the group visiting record shops and radio stations (which involved some pulling off of wigs!); and discovering her love for British fish-and-chips!

A two-time Grammy winner, Ann truly is ‘The Queen Of Inspirational Soul,’ a one-of-a-kind for-real sangin’ singer and one of the very best people I’ve met during my 60 years as a soulful scribe. It’s a joy to have my first podcast be our interview together – ever grateful.

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Check out Ann’s website – www.annnesby.com

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