"J4" Wins Spot In "Singing Family" Semis
In the "Battle of the Kids," it was "J4" who came out on top.
The J4 Smith family siblings from rural Bluff City, Tenn., aged 7 to 15, made their maiden appearance before an audience last week, pitted against the Sledge Grits Band, hailing from Salinas, Calif., and made up of four sisters ranging in age from 6 to 13.
Two-thirds of Early Show viewers casting ballots voted for "J-4," it was announced on the broadcast Monday:
"J4" 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 the Peays narrowly won Round Two.
The two groups garnering the most viewer votes will then advance fo the "Face Off" finals.
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:
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.
Both family bands in their face off performed gospel numbers, a genre determined by the spin of a wheel the week before 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 chime in.