David Cassidy on the Web
The Sledge Grits Band rocks on CBS "Singing Family Face Off"
March 16, 2009
By Tara W. Pretends Eagle
http://nativetimes.com
The Sledge Grits Band- Sledge is their last name. "Grits, the acronym that means raised in the south because we were raised in south (in Florida.) It also means, warm and inviting like a bowl of grits, which we hope our band is like." Keiko, oldest sister, guitar player, Head songwriter, back-up vocals.
The dynamically talented, The Sledge Grits Band, the four sisters, from Salinas, CA, performed live Wednesday morning on the CBS Early Show's stage in New York City, as one of the six finalists in the "Singing Family Face Off's" competition.
Even though the winner is determined by the viewers votes through the CBS Early Show's website, there were still 'celebrity judges' David Cassidy, teen idol from the Partridge Family, Kathy Sledge from Sister Sledge and Jermaine Dupree on site available for critiques of their performances. This week's genre was 'gospel music.' So, the sisters chose to perform , Aretha Franklin's "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's hand.)
Mimi, 9, The Sledge Grits' Band's Lead vocalist, powerfully sang, the Queen of Soul's tune with the confidence rarely seen in a child performer. Midway through the song, Mimi approached, the 'judges' table, where she gracefully held her arm out toward David Cassidy, making direct eye contact with him and Kathy Sledge, who fought off tears as the song played on.
Cassidy beamed with a huge smile and said of Mimi's voice and her sisters, "It a remarkable instrument you have! (Mimi's voice)..it is mind blowing. And the three of you, give her wonderful support!"
Both Cassidy and Dupree were also impressed with Bo-Pah, 6, the precious drummer who plays like no other first grader around! Cassidy giggled as the camera panned in on Bo-Pah, asking "Where was this drummer when we were auditioning for the Partridge Family? You blew him away."
Dupree commented also on how it was so nice to see girls so involved in music and that he also really liked the drummer and asked how old she was. When Bo-Pah responded that she was six, there was a reaction of gasps of awe, among the people in the in the studio. Because Bo-Pah like her sisters gave a really incredible performance. They were truly spectacular!
Sledge too, praised the girls, "Amazing. Amazing. I was almost in tears (when Mimi walked over to our table) I am glad you walked away when you did... Beautiful voices.I love the (group's) name..Don't ever change the name... What I love the most, is you can feel the sisterly love on the stage... Most importantly, Great Job!"
Older sisters, Keiko, 14, on guitar and Kariel, 12, on bass jammed and sang back-u[ like seasoned rockers beyond their years and have striking stage presence which stems from a blend of their Cherokee, Japanese, African American, Irish and German heritage.
The Sledge Grits Band has brought back the true meaning of "family band!" They are all talented, young musicians, who all do very well in school and their love as sisters shines through their music.
Kariel summed it up perfectly, "We love to play music! It is what...our life is."
