.jpg)
*For weeks until he was voted off, they were partly responsible for keeping contestant Chris Sligh from straying too far off beat.
They figured silence would help Haley Scarnato through her infamous memory lapse, and they proudly share the spotlight whenever Melinda Doolittle saunters over to give them some love.
They are the three background singers for the Fox reality competition “American Idol,” Sharlotte Gibson, Sy Smith, and Kenya C. Hathaway. Yes, Hathaway is indeed the daughter of late R&B legend Donny Hathaway and sister of recording artist Lalah Hathaway.
Kenya C, like her fellow backup singers, has deep roots in the music business. She’s toured with George Benson as a percussionist and singer and worked with k.d. lang and Brian McKnight. Gibson has performed with Beyonce, Mary J. Blige and Celine Dion and fronts her own band, Sharlotte's Web, while Smith has performed with Whitney Houston and Macy Gray, tours with trumpet player Chris Botti, does TV commercials and sang on "Ally McBeal."
The trio has provided backup vocals for Fox's hit series since it switched from pre-recorded tracks to a live band in 2005 under music director Rickey Minor.
“Gibson, Hathaway and Smith have deserved applause all along,” said Minor, who tells AP that he’s worked with them on a variety of award ceremonies and concerts since the late '90s. The women met each other on auditions and clicked instantly.
"There's a reason it's these three girls in particular," Minor said. "They have such a unique way of studying the material, learning it, and then there's their blend. ... Their pitch and intonation is so spot on."
The contestants know this all too well.
Smith was to echo Scarnato during the bridge in her troubled rendition of Diana Ross’ "Missing You." When she forgot some lyrics, Smith quickly decided it was better to keep quiet until Scarnato recovered. (See clip below.) For Sligh’s weekly rhythm challenges, Gibson says she tried to sing a bit louder in hopes that he might find the beat. He never did, and was eventually voted off.
Scarnato’s Disastrous Performance of “Missing You”
As for the non-singing Sanjaya Malakar, the trio treads lightly. Based on his audition tape, Gibson says she understands why his "voice that was smooth and sweet" earned him a trip to Hollywood.
"He had a nice tone and you think there's going to be more," Gibson added. "There isn't always more in his voice, but he's consistent with his sweetness."
The trio saves the most love for contestants who come to each task prepared. This year, that includes Phil Stacey, Doolittle and LaKisha Jones. From seasons past, they fondly recall Vonzell Solomon, Anwar Robinson and Paris Bennett.
Solomon "loved music and it just came out of her. It's fun backing up people like that, people who come out there and give it all," Gibson said.
As for carving their own slice of fame in the music industry – Lord knows they have the pipes to do so – all three say they have already achieved satisfying careers.
Hathaway gets her greatest satisfaction from Minor's band, which she said could teach a master class at her alma mater, Berklee College of Music in Boston.
"It's a musical education on that stage. Every week is special to me because this band flawlessly moves through genres and styles," she tells AP.
Smith adds. "When people like Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, come on the show, I think to myself this is something I can tell my grandkids someday. I can tell them I was part of the Rickey Minor band."