My cousin's daughter, Erica, is featured in the article below. I've done some singing in my day...but my little cousin is AMAZING. Truly, she brings tears to my eyes when I hear her sing. I'm so excited for her! She also is finishing up a CD, original songs/music and mostly of a Country/Christian rock flavor.
So, 7 April at 8pm CST you can see her for yourself on the Total Living Network (TLN). This program was taped a few weeks ago, and she made it to the final 12.
On 14 April she will sing live and you can vote for her (if you so desire... PLEASE PLEASE vote for her!!
) by phone or online to get her past elimination and into the finalist phase.
Ahem....there is one vote per telephone, but hey you can ALSO vote online.
http://www.dailyherald.com/search/se....asp?id=296659
This is not ‘Idol’
Christian singing contest lets teens shine in spotlight
By Michael Wamble
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Saturday, March 31, 2007
What if Simon, Paula and Randy left behind the world of Sanjaya Malakar and Taylor Hicks?
What if, instead of questionable cover songs, music based on the lessons of Jesus took over the play list?
And what if this miraculous change was coming soon to TV?
Don’t call the show “Christian Idol.”
That has a bad ring to it.
But do cue Erica Iozzo to the microphone and let her know that it’s her time to shine.
The 17-year-old Lombard resident is one of a dozen finalists in “Inspiration Sensation,” a television contest on the Aurora-based Total Living Network.
As part of the show, contemporary Christian gospel performers vie for national exposure and a recording contract.
Audiences will get a glimpse of Iozzo’s debut at 8 p.m. April 7 on Comcast Cable Channel 98 in Lombard (Channel 74 in Wheaton and 71 in Naperville).
Then, on April 14, viewers will see Iozzo perform live and get to decide by phone or e-mail vote whether she moves beyond the elimination rounds and gets a shot at the 2007 title.
Iozzo, who fashions herself a singer/songwriter, is no stranger to performing before a crowd.
She’s been a regular at coffeehouse open mics in Addison and Naperville.
Iozzo last year tried out for the contest but didn’t advance to the finals. The difference this year, Iozzo said, is her growth as an artist.
“Last year, singing was just a way to express myself,” Iozzo said. “I was trying the contemporary pop thing, and it just wasn’t working out.”
Now, Iozzo says, “I figured out I’m a country rock girl.”
Iozzo said her musical influences are Bonnie Raitt and indie Christian artist Margaret Becker, who “inspired me to play the guitar.”
The previous “Inspiration Sensation” winner earned a spot performing at Chicago’s House of Blues in Chicago and Las Vegas and opening a concert for Christian music superstar Michael W. Smith.
Smith will be in the area performing during the “Inspiration Sensation” contest run.
The chance of Smith stopping in isn’t remote.
“Honestly, I’d be a little intimidated,” Iozzo said of singing in front of Smith. “But, at the same time, insight like that is priceless.”
Unlike the idol chatter and occasional vicious comments from Simon and friends on that other show, “Our judges give constructive criticism,” said Donnie Williams, “Inspiration Sensation” producer.
“They will speak the truth,” Williams said. “If you’re off-key, they say you’re off-key. But they’re not going to say you sound like a donkey.”
A major reason for a show like “Inspiration Sensation,” Williams said, is to provide an alternative to the mainstream.
“There are not a lot of venues outside of the secular world to give young people a place to sing in a positive environment,” Williams said. “This is also a way in which these singers can influence their peers.”
Already, Iozzo has won support from her friends at the start of her musical journey.
Because the contest will only allow one vote per telephone number, the Lombard teen said, “My friends will be calling from all the pay phones they can find.”
Linear Mode
