BREMEN, Ala. – The inaugural Smith Lake Idol came to a close Saturday evening with Josh Wade taking first place and the $1,000 cash prize. Johnathan Ralph claimed second place. The six-week contest kicked off in June with 59 musicians. Patrick “Kat Daddy” Watson, Drew “Rooster” McClendon and Smith Lake Productions’ Kris and Kelly Eddins brought the competition to the area.
“This was a tough competition. Johnathan (Ralph) and Jake (Mann) were great, and even before them, some of the people that were called (out of the competition) really surprised me; they were really good,” said Wade. “All the praise goes to the Good Lord. It’s been really great and I’ve been blessed.”
The judges for Saturday evening were local musician Scott White, The Lake Co. Founder and CEO Brooke Edwards and singer/songwriter Phil McCain.
In the final two rounds of the competition, the judges praised Wade for song choices and vocals.
McCain remarked to Wade after his first performance, “You could be a finalist in ‘American Idol.’”
Wade performed Zach Williams’ “To the Table” in the first round did a mash-up of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” and Bruno Mars’ “Grenade” for the second round.
After Wade’s last performance, Edwards said, “In my humble opinion, that was a Smith Lake Idol-winning performance, voice and song. That right there is what I am talking about!”
The crowd roared for Wade after Edwards’ comment.
White added, “I don’t think it matters what I have to say, these guys (the audience) have (said it for me).”
Kris Eddins remarked on Wade and the Top 3, “These guys brought it every single night. That’s how they got here.”
When the judges and Kris and Kelly took the stage to announce the winner, Wade’s name was chanted by the audience.
Wade will be the opening act for Smith Lake Idol Jr., auditions for which will be Sept. 25. That competition will be open to artists 18 and younger and will kick off with 50 contestants.
Find out more at www.facebook.com/SmithLakeIdol.
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