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8/23/2007 - Ben Blood
By NICHOLAS L. DEAN
BEMUS POINT — An underdog who judges initially had pegged as just a rock singer, Ben Blood wowed a packed Bemus Point crowd Monday night with a soul song and earned the title of 2007 Chautauqua Lake Idol.
First to perform in the final round of SE93's regional vocal competition, Blood, a Busti resident, surprised judges with a perfect rendition of the Motown classic ''I Heard It Through The Grapevine.''
Admitting that she had been worried Blood would be limited to rock 'n' roll, Idol judge Sarah Malinoski said the contestant had proven himself a master of everything from Christmas carols to disco tunes.
''You rose to the occasion,'' Malinoski told the 2007 champion. ''You surprised me and you probably surprised yourself. I can't imagine this competition without you.''
Though one of several memorable performances, judges agreed that Blood's opening song was the highlight of the evening's first half.
Split into two parts, Monday's finale featured two performances from each of the three remaining contestants. Along with ''I Heard It Through The Grapevine,'' Blood sang ''Zoot Suit Riot'' by The Cherry Poppin' Daddies while Rich Beatty performed the Josh Groban song ''You Raise Me Up'' and ''But It's Alright'' by J..J. Jackson. Lydia Marks sang ''Respect'' by Aretha Franklin and ''Somewhere Over The Rainbow.''
In addition to current contestants, Idol's past winners — Lauren Cecchini (2006), Marla Harris (2005) and Susan Waite (2004) — returned to The Floating Stage to remind the audience just how high the bar had been set.
When Andrew Hill, host and SE93 on-air personality, asked Blood what he was thinking, the 2007 champion responded with the honest and approximate answer of ''a billion things.''
As winner of the 2007 Chautauqua Lake Idol regional vocal competition, Blood won a multitude of prizes, which included a two-year lease on a Chevy Cobalt from Ed Shults, a $500 Simon Mall Gift Card, an overnight stay at Webb's Year-Round Resort in Mayville and a Sept. 1 performance during the end of the Bemus Bay Pops summer entertainment series.
''It's an honor. It was hard to compete against all these people,'' Blood said of participating in Chautauqua Lake Idol. ''I want to thank the band and everybody who came out here to support Chautauqua Lake Idol. You've been great.''
SE93's first male Idol, Blood had what judges like Tim Edborg, Steve Swanson and LouAnn Dobmeier had described as the total package.
''He's got it. He can sing anything you throw at him,'' said Tom Torbjornsen, Idol judge, after Blood was announced as the 2007 winner. ''He's got a great way with the crowd and an outstanding stage presence. He's got versatility, consistency, professional quality. I truly mean it when I say this guy has everything. He's everything that we were looking for.''
Chautauqua Lake Idol was created and is organized each year by WWSE 93.3 FM — a Media One Group radio station.
By NICHOLAS L. DEAN
BEMUS POINT — An underdog who judges initially had pegged as just a rock singer, Ben Blood wowed a packed Bemus Point crowd Monday night with a soul song and earned the title of 2007 Chautauqua Lake Idol.
First to perform in the final round of SE93's regional vocal competition, Blood, a Busti resident, surprised judges with a perfect rendition of the Motown classic ''I Heard It Through The Grapevine.''
Admitting that she had been worried Blood would be limited to rock 'n' roll, Idol judge Sarah Malinoski said the contestant had proven himself a master of everything from Christmas carols to disco tunes.
''You rose to the occasion,'' Malinoski told the 2007 champion. ''You surprised me and you probably surprised yourself. I can't imagine this competition without you.''
Though one of several memorable performances, judges agreed that Blood's opening song was the highlight of the evening's first half.
Split into two parts, Monday's finale featured two performances from each of the three remaining contestants. Along with ''I Heard It Through The Grapevine,'' Blood sang ''Zoot Suit Riot'' by The Cherry Poppin' Daddies while Rich Beatty performed the Josh Groban song ''You Raise Me Up'' and ''But It's Alright'' by J..J. Jackson. Lydia Marks sang ''Respect'' by Aretha Franklin and ''Somewhere Over The Rainbow.''
In addition to current contestants, Idol's past winners — Lauren Cecchini (2006), Marla Harris (2005) and Susan Waite (2004) — returned to The Floating Stage to remind the audience just how high the bar had been set.
When Andrew Hill, host and SE93 on-air personality, asked Blood what he was thinking, the 2007 champion responded with the honest and approximate answer of ''a billion things.''
As winner of the 2007 Chautauqua Lake Idol regional vocal competition, Blood won a multitude of prizes, which included a two-year lease on a Chevy Cobalt from Ed Shults, a $500 Simon Mall Gift Card, an overnight stay at Webb's Year-Round Resort in Mayville and a Sept. 1 performance during the end of the Bemus Bay Pops summer entertainment series.
''It's an honor. It was hard to compete against all these people,'' Blood said of participating in Chautauqua Lake Idol. ''I want to thank the band and everybody who came out here to support Chautauqua Lake Idol. You've been great.''
SE93's first male Idol, Blood had what judges like Tim Edborg, Steve Swanson and LouAnn Dobmeier had described as the total package.
''He's got it. He can sing anything you throw at him,'' said Tom Torbjornsen, Idol judge, after Blood was announced as the 2007 winner. ''He's got a great way with the crowd and an outstanding stage presence. He's got versatility, consistency, professional quality. I truly mean it when I say this guy has everything. He's everything that we were looking for.''
Chautauqua Lake Idol was created and is organized each year by WWSE 93.3 FM — a Media One Group radio station.
For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
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