"Singing Family" Battle Of Youngsters

(CBS)  Kids belying their age starred in the third finalists' round of The Early Show's "Singing Family Face Off" Wednesday.

It pitted "J4," Smith family siblings from rural Bluff City, Tenn., ages 7 to 15, in their maiden appearance before an audience, against the Sledge Grits Band, hailing from Salinas, Calif., and made up of four sisters ranging in age from 6 to 13.

The oldest two of the Smith siblings have played for a couple of years for services at the church across the street, where their dad, Mark, is pastor.

You'll understand how "J4" got its name when you see its members' names:

Jessi is 15 and plays guitar and violin and sings.

Jedidiah (also known as Jeddi) is 13 and plays drums and piano.

Josiah, 8, plays violin and guitar and sings backup.

Josephine, 7, plays keyboard.

Mark travels the country as a gospel singer, so that may be where the family talent comes from.

Their mom, Lori Smith, writes most of the band's original music and coordinates their outfits.

The four Sledge sisters do blues/rock combos.

That band is comprised of Keiko, 14, who plays guitar, Kariel, 12, bass, Mimi, 9, who sings, and Bo-pah, 6, the drummer.

The name "Sledge Grits Band" is a combination of their last name, Sledge, and one of their favorite foods, grits. They say GRITS is also an acronym for "Girls Raised in The South" -- though they now live in Salinas with their parents, they used to live in the South, in Florida.

Both family bands performed gospel numbers, a genre determined by the spin of a wheel last week on The Early Show.

"J4" belted out "Shackles," by Mary Mary:



The Sledge Grits Band did "Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)," by Aretha Franklin:



Then, it was time for Early Show viewers to for their favorite.

The winner will face the top vote-getters from the previous two finalists' rounds, on Wednesday, March 18, on the show.

The Oswald Brothers took Round One and, it was announced Wednesday, the Peays won Round Two, by the slimmest of margins, over the Lorentzens.

[treasuresandheirlooms]

J4 is GREAT! Can't remember when I have seen kids this age have such composure and talent as a perfect blend. Bet they get a recording contract. Love that the mom has written their material; what a talented family! Think of how good they will continue to be as time goes on....and that CUTE factor is just icing on the cake. Good luck J4! So happy you represent us here in East Tennessee. Thank you!!!!!!

[musicmngr]

Not sure if some of you know this but, this is a singing competition. The vocal ability of J4 is extremely pitchy. The singer is way off the mark on all of her videos. It is wonderful that they are playing music though, but, this contest is WAY out of their league.

[Oskarson2]

All the groups are good. However I thought they were suppose to be bands and comprised off minors. I don't think it is right to make children compete with adults who have had more experience and time to refine their acts. Next time please limit the participants to minors and define the groups as bands.

[volfanatic]

J4 easily out skilled Grits band; not even close musically. It's all about total package, not just a one dimensional performance. Go J4!!!!!!

[califriend]

Grits Girls Rock! That little girl sings with maturity and confidence, and the other instruments were all on time and supported her voice. J4 was like any other band, but when the guitarist stopped playing during the verse the whole thing just dropped. And why was that little girl on the piano i couldn't even hear her, good dancing though. Anyway good luck to the grits girls!

[ctin3o]

( J4 ) GOOD LUCK, YOU ALL ARE THE BEST.
CHERYL

LOBELVILLE, TN.

[amusiclover50]

Both families were good in different ways. Sledge Grits Band showed stage presence due to their very strong front girl singer (which is the job of the front person). Musically, I do not feel they were as good as J4. I liked J4's musical talent and song pick better. J4 was a tighter band and the singer, though not as strong as the Sledge Grits singer, I feel she has potential. She also was playing an instrument which hinders the showmanship aspect. A note to both bands: Keep it up! Winning or losing is in the hands of inexperienced listeners who vote for many different reasons, and many of them have nothing to do with talent or ability. Also, you can't please everyone! Please yourselves!

[mikeandcarmen]

The Sledge GRITS Girls Rock!!!!!

[qljmlj]

This is the first time I got to watch the show because I was off. I don't know how the other families did but to see the two families this morning and they was all kids I was stun. I'm so proud of all those babies because they are so young and their parents should be so proud, if you didn't get to see them you missed a treat. they really lift my spirits this morning.

[VMottola]

That was fantastic our parents let us go to school late so we could watch the girls. All the families did a great job. Sledge Grits Band we are going to tell all our friends.
Take Care
The Mottolas