BY: KAVELLE ANGLIN-CHRISTIE, Staff Reporter
( L - R ) Natel, Fellon Cameron and Jah Smood - NATHANIEL STEWART PHOTOS
TEN CONTESTANTS FROM the Mandeville Rising Stars auditions are one step closer to becoming this year's winner.
They are Lascelles 'Sugar Ant' Backford, the group 'One Third', Roderick 'Captain Bear' Reid, Nathaniel Hewitt; John 'Aliondro' Braithwaite, the group 'Deh Deh', Ellan Edwards, Vanern 'Jah Smood' Tulloch, Fellon Cameron and Denyque Welds.
Some may recognise Hewitt from last year's competition. Then he sang Music is a Healing and earned a spot in the top ten of the finals.
This year the youngster is confident that he will advance even further and said he decided to re-enter because of his fans.
"They were really rooting for me and they thought I deserved more ... I am confident I will go further. Last year was just practice for this year," he said.
Another finalist, Aliondro, had almost left before his name was called. He too had auditioned last year, but after performing for the judges this year, he lost faith and almost left before the 10 names were announced.
"Well to wha me hear dem a say, I don't think I will be in the top ten still," he said. He later decided to stay and as it happened, it worked in his favour.
'Captain Bear' who sang Percy Sledge's When A Man Loves A Woman, said he decided to enter the competition to share his gift. "I need the exposure and I need the world to hear my voice. I want to bring to light my voice because it has been in the dark too long."
The results show for the top ten mandeville contestants will be carried tonight at 8:30 p.m. on TVJ.
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