Anyone who has seen me out and about in and around the Wesley Chapel area will tell you that I’m a guy who likes the sound of his own voice..I mean, who really likes to sing.
It’s therefore easy to hear me singing — at Tue. Open Mic Nights at Stage Left on S.R. 54 in Lutz and karaoke at City Grill on S.R. 54 (see ad on pg. 59) on Wed. & Thur. nights and at Skinny’s Sports Bar on S.R. 54 (see story on pg. 62) on some Thur. & Sat. nights.
But, whether or not I’ve spent a few minutes in a few different bands or think I can sing a little or not, rest assured that no one has ever told me that I should be on NBC-TV’s “The Voice” or Fox-TV’s “American Idol,” much less that I’d have a chance to win either of these hit televised karaoke contests.
Therefore, it was stunning for me to see 16-year-old recently transplanted Georgia native and current Wesley Chapel resident Brooke Adee actually make it onto “The Voice” — attracting almost immediate attention from “coaches” Blake Shelton and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine — in her first-ever audition for the show.
Brooke, who said her singing style is primarily indy/alt rock during her on-camera interview for the show (see NBC.com for both her audition and her interview) chose to be on Team Blake (under the country music star’s tutelage), over the rocker Levine’s team, when both mega-stars quickly turned their chairs around during Brooke’s blind on-air audition.
“I was thinking Adam all the way until I heard them argue over me,” Brooke said. “Then, I said to myself, ‘Blake is my boy!’”
The fact that both music industry giants turned around during basically her first few bars of the haunting Birdy song “Skinny Love” was clear indication to not only Levine and Shelton, but also to competing coaches Christina Aguilera and rap star Pharrell — who never did turn their chairs around for Brooke — that this youngster has a special kind of talent.
“This is why I do this show,” Shelton chirped as Brooke wiped away tears. “I love your pitch…and that little yodel break thing you do with your voice…I’m looking at a future star right now!”
Since then, Blake picked Brooke as the winner of her “Battle Round” against Brooke’s fellow Team Blake pop singer Bay Brooks, so her “Voice” journey was still rocking at our press time.
The hope here is that she will continue to advance through the stages of “The Voice” so that maybe a certain local publication can begin hosting some watch parties at some of our local establishments.
Break a leg, Brooke. You got this!
Our Wesley Chapel Direct-Mail Circulation Passes 20K!
Anyone who says the economy still hasn’t recovered isn’t paying attention to the suddenly explosive growth of new homes popping up throughout Wesley Chapel (WC). We, on the other hand, are not only aware of what’s happening in zip codes 33543, 33544 & 33545, we’re doing everything we can to keep up with it.
To that end, we now print and distribute more than 20,000 copies in Wesley Chapel, and we’re still not reaching all of the households in one of the fastest-growing regions in the entire Tampa Bay area.
But, we’re working on it — and on the growth in New Tampa, too. We’ve added two postal carrier routes in WC with our most recent issue, but plan to add more that will soon increase our unmatched direct-mail WC circulation to more than 21,000. And, in New Tampa, our direct-mail circulation already is up to 25,000+ with more to come, especially in the K-Bar Ranch/Easton Park, Grand Hampton, Live Oak Preserve & Tampa Palms.
My Mom’s Fractured Pelvis
Long-time readers know that my mom Marilyn (who has appeared in these pages a few times over the years) lives in Sarasota.
Well, the last couple of weeks have been really tough for me, after my mom shattered her pelvis and tail bone (coccyx) in a fall near her home.
But, thanks to regular visits from yours truly and her dog, Mazel (photo), and the outstanding care and compassion she’s received at the Smith Center in Sarasota, she should be coming home soon.
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