European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 29, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday april 292007 stars and stripes Page 19 when Haley Scarnato blanked on the lyrics to missing you on american idol by Smith did every thing she could to help when Chris Singh lost the rhythm on More than one song Sharlotte Gibson was there for him and when contestants want to borrow professional gloss for their performances backup singers Smith Gibson and Kenya c Hathaway Are ready to deliver the women who routinely work with the likes of Beyonce and Mariah Carey Are the american idol equivalent of a Charlies Angels musical Rescue squad doing everything within their Power to make would be stars Shine Treyve been regulars with Fox hit series since it switched from canned tunes to a live band in 2005 under music director Rickey minor if Treyve gotten More attention this season it May be due to Melinda Doolittle who gone from a career As backup Singer of Piton contestant Gibson Hathaway deserved applause Al along said minor who worked with them on a variety of award ceremonies and con certs since the late 90js the women met each other on auditions and clicked instantly theres a reason its these three girls in particular minor said of the 100 or so backup singers the i demand director Calls on for his gigs they Are always the first Choice they have such a unique Way of studying the material learning it and then theres their blend their pitch and intonation is so spot on he said Over lunch at a restaurant Down the Street from the american idol sound stage the three Are As much in sync As when there vocalizing they laugh together pick up neatly on others thoughts and Arent shy about tooting our own Horn As Smith puts it toot toot Hathaway and Gibson chime in laughing Doolittle timidity and awkward emergence from background vocalist to soloist is More a function of her own personality than the nature of backup singers the women assert in a big old Ham Smith so id laughing As Long As its a place i want to be Imok when in in the Back and Imok when in in the front the heart breaker is when the musics not Good Gibson said the women Are so very Good at what they do that some viewers have wrongly guessed their voices Are prerecorded there so Good that Treyve been asked Why they Haven entered the Talent contest they already have satisfying careers thank you what idol viewers see is just a Sliver of their professional lives and a taste of their distinctive voices Hathaway whose late father was gifted soul Singer Donny Hathaway is the love and the closer 1 get to you were among his hit duets with Roberta has toured with George Benson As a percussionist and Singer and worked with cd Long and Brian Mcknight Gibson has performed with Beyonce Mary j Blige and Celine Dion and fronts her own band Charlottes web Smith has performed with Whitney Houston and Macy Gray Tours with trumpet player Chris Botti does to commercials and Sang on ally my Beal both Gibson and Smith have brought out cd with songs Treyve written and perform american idol int everybody path said Smith for me personally As an artist 1 feel like it would Compro Mise my artistic integrity to audition for a reality show in an artist first and Foremost not a Singer first and Foremost this show int about finding artists its about finding stars and that a totally different thing that said there generally pleased to be part of the american idol machine that churns out tvs top ratings and instant names like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood Hathaway gets her greatest satisfaction from minors band which she said could teach a master class at her Alma mater Berniee College of music in Boston its a musical education on that stage every week is special to me because this band flawlessly moves through genres and styles she said Smith agrees when people like Diana Ross Stevie wonder come on the show 1 think to myself this is some thing i can Tell my Gran kids someday i can Tell them 1 was part of the Ricky minor band Given the uneven contestants the show can also be entertaining in unexpected ways always amused Smith the latest Eye Catcher was recently Vot Edff teenager Sanjaya Malakar whose increasingly Madcap hairstyles and borderline vocals left his boosters undaunted watching a tape of Malakar Audi Tion performance Gibson understood Why his megawatt smile and a voice that was smooth and Sweet got him on to the show idol7 contestants May falter but backup singers always deliver he had a Nice tone and you think theres going to be More she said there int always More in his voice but Hes consistent with his sweetness the Trio relishes contestants who approach the 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 its fun backing up people like that people who come out there and give it All Gibson said but there ready to help a Singer in need Smith was to Echo Scarnato Dur ing missing when the contestant lost her Way Smith quickly decided it was better to keep mum until Scarnato recovered for Sligh and his wayward rhythm thing Gibson tried to sing a bit louder in Hopes that he might get Back on track Shes a pro but not a Miracle worker Sligh was voted off knowing How much Effort it takes to build and sustain a music career do the singers begrudge the shows Promise of easy Fame its the nature of the Busi Ness to put out these fantasies of Over night Success because the whole thing is a dream for the people who Are watching Smith said theres always going to be the Cinderella Story in cd Fox american idol backup singers from left Kenya c Hathaway Sharlotte Gibson and by Smith perform during a recent episode of the hit Talent show the three women have very successful careers Hathaway has toured with George Benson Gibson who Tead sings in her own band has performed with Beyonce Mary j beige and Celine Dion Smith has performed with Whitney Houston and Macy Gray and Sang on Aliy Mcbeain