news-record.com

Heads bobbed and fingers snapped Wednesday at N.C. A&T’s student union as a large early-morning gathering watched the “jazz-infused” performance of Greensboro’s Peay brothers in the finale of CBS’ “Singing Family Face Off” contest.

The brothers, who have strong ties to the school, sang the ’70s R&B song “I Just Wanna Celebrate” while playing their own musical instruments — and after getting stage presence advice from a choreographer who has worked with Beyonce and Alicia Keys.

“They’re stylish, smooth and it all seemed so natural to them — they really put on a show,” student Javonne Weathers said after the brothers threw confetti from their pockets.

“I’m going to vote right now,” said Weathers, a junior.

The brothers Peay (pronounced “pea a”) hope they moved enough other people to do the same in their bid for a recording contract.

Online voting for “The Early Show” contest will determine the winner between the Peays and J4, a family of teen and preteen singing musicians from rural Bluff City, Tenn., with the winner of the live studio performances to be announced Wednesday. Voting ends at 3 p.m. Tuesday at earlyshow.cbsnews.com.

The Peay brothers include Majid, 33, a married claims adjuster and father, who attended A&T; Taimine, 30, a music and physical education student at GTCC; Katif, 29, an A&T doctoral student in energy and environmental sciences; and Solomon, 21, a A&T mass communication and public relations major.

J4 — for Jessi, Jedidiah, Josiah and Josephine Smith — also got high marks from the Aggie crowd and celebrity judges for their rendition of the David Cassidy-Partridge Family song, “I Think I Love You.”

“You were so much better than me,” said Cassidy, one of the trio of judges, of his first No. 1 record.

The Peays had said it was important to find a song with a message — among the 20 CBS gave them. “I Just Want to Celebrate” includes the lyrics:

“Well, I can’t be bothered with sorrow

“And I can’t be bothered with hate, no, no

“I’m using up the time but feeling fine, every day.”

The brothers accompanied themselves on musical instruments, ranging from the guitar to the trumpet Katif Peay said he hadn’t played in over a decade.

“Y’all just do it all,” said celebrity judge Jermaine Dupri . “I’m impressed.”

Those in the A&T audience traded stories about how understated the boys had been about their talent.

“It was awesome — the harmony and the tone, just awesome,” said Karen Midgett, an Aggie alum and co-worker of Majid Peay. “But before this, I didn’t even know Majid could even sing!”

If they come out ahead, the brothers would record for CBS Records — and likely get momentum from the marketing support of the television network. With both groups having done so well, voting is crucial, said Midgett, who was trying to figure out how to get more of Greensboro involved.

The consensus at A&T’s student union is that voting will be close.

Even “Early Show” co-host Harry Smith asked, “How do you figure this out?”

“I’m glad we don’t have to decide,” followed celebrity judge Kathy Sledge.

Contact Nancy H. McLaughlin at 373-7049 or nancy.mclaughlin@news-record.com