These are new videos from the November Talent Competition:


Phil - original song "Pick Your Body Up"


Mimi - "Hero"


Chris - "These Days"

Miss Brenda blesses the mic with a passionate rendition of the classic gospel hymn "Do Not Pass Me By" at the October 2007 All People Talent Competition



http://youtube.com/watch?v=-qHbCiUR1sY

Open Mic regular Aretha AKA "Nana" completed her three-year quest to bring home the gold this week, with her emotional but strong rendering of "Man Don't Love You (Like God Loves You)," an original take on a classic hit. To do so, she fended off some very strong competition, including teenaged hard-rockers Orange Juice, who played a strong and well-received set of extremely loud music. A highlight of the non-competing performances was Miss Brenda's soul-stirring rendition of the spiritual "Don't Pass Me By".

Newcomer Craig proved to be an engaging and enthusiastic host, while judging duties were ably handled by Open Mic veterans Rose Stepp, David Weaver and David Edgar.

MC: Craig
Judges: Rose, David & David (13)

First Place: Nana - "Man Don't Love You (Like God Loves You)"
Second Place (TIE): Orange Juice (Harry, 16, David, 16, Jacob, 16) - "Jet" and "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is" AND Juan (10) - drum solo
Third Place: Shala'a (14) & Mike - End of the Road

Other Performers:
Thomas Cole - Original song
Leona AKA Mimi - "The Greatest Love of All"
Heath - "Ring of Fire"
MaryAnn - "Half Breed"
Diamond (6) (and her mother) - "Take Back What the Enemy Stole"
Celiene (7) - Jesus Loves Me

Adults: 21
Teens & Pre-Teens: 8
Children: 6
TOTAL: 35

NEXT WEEK: Rehearsal Week

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YghEyocKna8

Professional singer Cherie moved here from New Orleans after the storms. In this video, she shares her rendition of Sting's "Fields of Gold" as made famous by the late jazz singer Eva Cassidy.

This will be the last video until the fall so everyone have great summer!

This is the video of the talent competition as a whole, featuring (in order)

Juan, MaryAnn, Heath & Rose, Briana, Ric, Mimi, Brenda, Sharon and many others, doing rock, country and gospel music.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9iemtMKm6I

http://youtube.com/watch?v=F3twq2ie68k

Guitar pupil Elizabeth shows off the result of six months (free) lessons, accompanied by her teacher, professional guitarist Brandon Chapman, at the All People Open Mic 06/07 Finale.

http://kitoba.com/OpenMic

These are the first two videos from our grand finale. There will be more, but they take a while to prepare and I still don't have all the video releases for everyone.

This is Celina, the seven-year old daughter of Open Mic favorite "Mimi." She won first place last week with this song she wrote herself.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbi9URsh-t0

This is Eileen, our resident "pro" and volunteer vocal teacher. Check out her new CD at http://singouteileen.com


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btrYS4iEyDY

For more, check out http://kitoba.com/OpenMic

Today was our grand finale for the '06/'07 year.

It was a terrific show.

MC: Mark Simpson

1st Place: Celina (age 7) - "God Bless the Child" and original song "Jesus is Pretty"
2nd Place: David & Juan - "Three O Clock World"
3rd Place: Rick - drums

We were also lucky to have two professional singers perform:

Eileen - "Fire & Rain"
Cherie - "Fields of Gold"

Other acts included:
Sharon - gospel song
Diamond & family - "God is Good"
Heath & Rose - "Ring of Fire"
Briana - "Delta Dawn"
MaryAnn - "Drift Away"
Mimi - gospel song
Brenda - Original skit
Lydia Curtis - gospel song
Juan - "Beverly Hills"
Chris & David - "Soldier Soldier"

We had a large audience, including the teens from South Side and special guest Jackie Calderone of Transit Arts.

We continue to keep Dee Martin in our prayers, as she remains hospitalized with multiple health issues.

The setup crew today was Heath, Rose, Briana, April & Eileen.

See everyone in the fall!

On Friday (5/11) several of us attended the Transit Arts Open Mic at Central Community House on Main Street. Three of our regulars performed: Celina, her mother Mimi, and Jalessa (from South Side). South Side also sent the multi-talented young Justin King Jr., who danced and rapped.

The following Monday was our last regular Open Mic for the '06/'07 year. We had a good crowd of regulars. Unfortunately Miss Dee was back in the hospital but her son Juan was able to attend with his "other mother" Gwendolyn.

In general, it was a terrific show. Highlights included seven-year-old Celina's note-perfect rendition of the immortal Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child", and our vocal teacher, Eileen, letting us hear what a professional sounds like on the mic, with her scorching rendition of "At Last." This week also marked a milestone for Eileen --the release of her second CD!

MC: Rick

Performers:
MaryAnn - "Drift Away"
Chris, David & Juan - "Soldier Soldier"
Celina - "God Bless the Child"
Eileen - "At Last"
David & Juan - Comedy Act
Brenda - Original spiritual
Mimi - "Do You Know"
Heath & Rose - "Ring of Fire"

Also in the audience were Sharon, Briana, Gwendolyn and others.