Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Out-of-stater claims singing showdown title
By Chip Dombrowski, Entertainment Editor
Tuesday, September 09, 2008 | No comments posted.
Related Links
NORTH BEND — It was the day after her 25th birthday when the best gifts started to arrive for Lacey D of Arlington, Wash.
First, she won $300 at The Mill Casino-Hotel on her first visit to the Bay Area on Friday. Then she won the Oregon final of the Colgate Country Showdown, held that night at The Mill.
“This is the first set of competitions I’ve ever won,” said Lacey, a single mother of two. “And I’ve been entering talent shows going back to high school.”
She wasn’t the only one surprised by her success in the talented field of contestants. There was grumbling in the sold-out crowd of more than 600 when the decision was announced.
“I was shocked,” said Carrie O’Brien of Coos Bay. “I didn’t think she was even in the top five.”
O’Brien and her friends came to support local finalist Suzanne Randle, but she said they were equally impressed with Scott Perry of Crescent City, Calif.
While each of the nine contestants had a distinct cheering section, Perry brought many crowd members to their feet with his performance.
Lacey, Perry and Randle were among four contestants who performed two original songs, giving them the greatest potential for high scores in a contest that rewards bonus points for original songs. Of course, it also matters how good the original songs are.
“Lacey D just had that extra special sparkle, in my opinion, that made me feel she had what it took to go all the way to nationals,” said Pam de Jong, a local singer involved in theater productions at Little Theatre on the Bay and elsewhere, who was one of four judges. “Her original songs, they were upbeat, fun, had my toes tapping.”
De Jong said it was Lacey’s stage presence, vocal ability and the originality of her songs that “put her on top of the other performers, who were all wonderful.”
Other judges were Dean Conyers and Janice Kendall, both of whom are involved with de Jong in the upcoming production of “Always ... Patsy Cline” at the Sprague Community Theater in Bandon, and Robert Chaney Sr., publisher of The Douglas County Mail in Myrtle Creek.
In addition to the $1,000 prize and competing in the western regional Oct. 18 at The Mill, Lacey also won the opportunity to perform at the Willamette Country Music Festival in Brownsville next July.
Despite missing out on those prizes, other contestants said they were pleased with what they accomplished.
“I feel like I did what I came here to do,” Perry said after witnessing the reaction to his performance.
Another local contestant, Samantha Rogers of North Bend, said she overcame a challenge she’s faced in performing ballads — being herself without fear of vulnerability.
Randle said the competition benefited her in other ways.
“I feel like I’m in a good place with my music,” she said. “I wouldn’t have been where I’m at if I hadn’t done this contest.”
It was also good for the Boyle Brothers, a made-for-Disney boy band from Kelso, Wash., that includes brothers Jacob, 17, twins Jared and Jesse, 15, and Jeffrey, 12.
“It was an awesome experience just to be here,” said Jacob Boyle. “The crowd was awesome.”
With the huge turnout and surplus of talent, organizer Cathy Jensen of Bicoastal Media described the state final as “our best show ever.”
As the big winner, Lacey tried to make sense of her success in a way that could offer encouragement to the other contestants: “It’s one of these industries where, when it’s supposed to happen, it will.”
First, she won $300 at The Mill Casino-Hotel on her first visit to the Bay Area on Friday. Then she won the Oregon final of the Colgate Country Showdown, held that night at The Mill.
“This is the first set of competitions I’ve ever won,” said Lacey, a single mother of two. “And I’ve been entering talent shows going back to high school.”
She wasn’t the only one surprised by her success in the talented field of contestants. There was grumbling in the sold-out crowd of more than 600 when the decision was announced.
“I was shocked,” said Carrie O’Brien of Coos Bay. “I didn’t think she was even in the top five.”
O’Brien and her friends came to support local finalist Suzanne Randle, but she said they were equally impressed with Scott Perry of Crescent City, Calif.
While each of the nine contestants had a distinct cheering section, Perry brought many crowd members to their feet with his performance.
Lacey, Perry and Randle were among four contestants who performed two original songs, giving them the greatest potential for high scores in a contest that rewards bonus points for original songs. Of course, it also matters how good the original songs are.
“Lacey D just had that extra special sparkle, in my opinion, that made me feel she had what it took to go all the way to nationals,” said Pam de Jong, a local singer involved in theater productions at Little Theatre on the Bay and elsewhere, who was one of four judges. “Her original songs, they were upbeat, fun, had my toes tapping.”
De Jong said it was Lacey’s stage presence, vocal ability and the originality of her songs that “put her on top of the other performers, who were all wonderful.”
Other judges were Dean Conyers and Janice Kendall, both of whom are involved with de Jong in the upcoming production of “Always ... Patsy Cline” at the Sprague Community Theater in Bandon, and Robert Chaney Sr., publisher of The Douglas County Mail in Myrtle Creek.
In addition to the $1,000 prize and competing in the western regional Oct. 18 at The Mill, Lacey also won the opportunity to perform at the Willamette Country Music Festival in Brownsville next July.
Despite missing out on those prizes, other contestants said they were pleased with what they accomplished.
“I feel like I did what I came here to do,” Perry said after witnessing the reaction to his performance.
Another local contestant, Samantha Rogers of North Bend, said she overcame a challenge she’s faced in performing ballads — being herself without fear of vulnerability.
Randle said the competition benefited her in other ways.
“I feel like I’m in a good place with my music,” she said. “I wouldn’t have been where I’m at if I hadn’t done this contest.”
It was also good for the Boyle Brothers, a made-for-Disney boy band from Kelso, Wash., that includes brothers Jacob, 17, twins Jared and Jesse, 15, and Jeffrey, 12.
“It was an awesome experience just to be here,” said Jacob Boyle. “The crowd was awesome.”
With the huge turnout and surplus of talent, organizer Cathy Jensen of Bicoastal Media described the state final as “our best show ever.”
As the big winner, Lacey tried to make sense of her success in a way that could offer encouragement to the other contestants: “It’s one of these industries where, when it’s supposed to happen, it will.”
The comments below are from users of theworldlink.com and do not necessarily represent the views of The World or Lee Enterprises. Participation Guidelines
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Note: There is a maximum of 200 words per comment. If you wish to post more, please visit our forum.
Not already registered?
The World welcomes your comments about stories, and we encourage a robust dialogue on this site. All comments must meet reasonable standards of decency and civility.
Please follow these basic rules:
- No defamatory comments about individuals or businesses.
- No deliberately false information.
- No obscenity or racially offensive language.
- No harassment, verbal abuse, threats or personal attacks.
- No information that invades another person's privacy.
- No business solicitations or charitable solicitations.
Comments that violate these standards will not be posted. Users with repeated violations may be banned from future posting.Comments will be approved throughout the day during business hours. After hours and weekend comments may not appear until the following business day. It may take a couple of hours before comments are approved.
The World generally does not edit comments, but we reserve the right to edit any comment that does not meet our standards.
Close Guidelines