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Joey Pearson Named “Best Vocalist Of The Month” With His Song “What I Shout About”
By Dale Kawashima
Joey Pearson, a very promising, 15-year-old pop/R&B
singer & writer based in San Diego, CA, has won the May SingerUniverse
“Best Vocalist Of The Month” Competition, for his performance of his song “What
I Shout About.” A former semifinalist on the national TV show Star Search,
Pearson has already built a large following and has independently released
several CDs.
Joey Pearson
“What I Shout About” is a soulful, emotional ballad, which
has an uplifting lyric theme. In the chorus, the key lines are “Hey, all the
people can you hear what I shout about – it is peace and love and happiness; it is laughter and tears of joy.”
The song provides a good showcase for Pearson’s clear, passionate vocals, and
he sings the lyrics with conviction. This recording was expertly produced by
San Diego-based producer Josquin des Pres (of Track Star Studios), who is also
Pearson’s manager.
Pearson was born in the town of Hinesville, Georgia, where
he lived until he moved to California when he was nine. In Hinesville, Pearson
began singing in the church choir and later became a lead vocalist. Some of his
early music influences were Elton John, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. Then
when he was eight, he went with his father, Tony, to a karaoke bar, and when he
sang and received a standing ovation, it gave him the confidence to seriously
pursue a music career.
It was in 2001 (at age nine) that Pearson moved with his
family to San Diego. Soon after, he recorded his first CD, Something To Say,
which was produced by his father. Then in 2003, Pearson auditioned for the Star
Search TV show, and he received national exposure by making it to the
semifinal round. “Being on Star Search was a great experience – it was a
big boost to get such exposure,” recalled Pearson.
Joey Pearson performing live, playing keyboards.
It was also during this period that Pearson met
producer/manager Josquin des Pres, who has represented him for four years now.
“Josquin has been a big supporter of my music – we’ve recorded several albums
together. He’s also promoted my career, by helping market my albums, shopping me to labels, and arranging concert
tours.”
Currently, Pearson has launched a 2007 California concert
tour in coordination with Borders stores. Pearson has been playing solo shows
(accompanying himself on piano), and he is also putting together a band for the
latter dates of the tour. “I feel things are coming together,” he said. “I’m
doing this tour, and we’re shopping my new EP (which includes “What I Shout
About”) to the major labels. For the past few years I’ve been doing artist
development, and now I’ve found who I am musically, and I know what music I want to write and record.”
In addition, here are four, talented vocalists/artists who complete our Top Five Vocalists honorees list for this month's competition, with their credits, plus their e-mail and website links:
Gina Sicilia
"Allow Me To Confess." (blues/rock). Performed and written by Gina Sicilia of Newtown, PA.