Hear Jermaine Pauls voice locally
By Nancy Kriz HARRIMAN Area residents can hear Harriman resident Jermaine Pauls voice locally and live as he continues his quest to become The Voice.
On Friday, March, 2 at 7 p.m., Paul will appear at the Castle Fun Center in Chester, for a free, family-oriented concert. There is a $10 required activity card purchase for any unaccompanied minor.
Paul will also appear on Saturday, March 3, at the Palaia Winery in Highland Mills for what organizers are calling an intimate evening with the singer, who was picked by country music star Blake Shelton to be on his team.
Tickets for that performance are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Only 100 people can be accommodated, with 70 in the performance room and 30 in the tasting room and treehouse. Organizers expect a sellout and encourage ticket purchases as soon as possible.
Going back Paul said it was important for him to appear at venues he had sung at prior to his appearance on The Voice as a way of thanking those places for supporting his singing career.
They supported me before The Voice and I wanted to go back there, he said, of his Palaia Winery appearance. At the Castle, Ive been there many times with my children and I know it will be a fun place to sing at.
Pauls notoriety has increased since his Feb. 5 appearance on The Voice before the backs of singer-songwriter, rapper and actor Cee Lo Green; Adam Levine, the front man and guitarist for the pop rock band Maroon 5; singer-songwriter/actress Christina Aguilera and Shelton.
At the coffee shops and the delis, people see me all the time, so they know what Im up to, said Paul on Tuesday. But with my appearance on The Voice and what has been in the paper, Im really getting the recognition for what Im doing. Nationwide, its caused a rumble.
Paul who has performed locally with the Allegro Orchestra under the direction of artistic director Viktoras Prizgintas will return to Los Angeles in March for the next round of competition. In the meantime, has been staying in touch with Shelton and other team members by e-mail.
Im really excited about the battle phase, he said, noting he was limited in what he could discuss. Ive been e-mailing with Blake and hes been talking to our team.
Blake and wife Miranda Lambert, also a country music star, sent Paul a journal as a holiday gift so he could document his experiences on The Voice.
Theyre really nice people, he added. I feel very fortunate.
Friended Now, more than 10,000 people are following Paul on his Twitter account and his number of Facebook friends has grown.
He asked that people continue to support his efforts by coming out to see him and support the community businesses that have supported him during his pre-The Voice days.
They looked out for me before The Voice, he added.
He also encouraged people to purchase his rendition of Avril Lavignes Complicated on iTunes.
The iTunes sales have been going up, said Paul. If I pick up some more sales, that makes me look better to the record company and the coaches.
If Paul wins, he will receive $100,000 and a record deal with Universal Republic.
As his journey continues, Paul remained committed to doing everything he can to win the competition, and is grateful for the hometown support shown him.
I want to make sure everyone in this town is excited, he said.