Title hopefuls perform before judges, large audience

Staff Writer

rseaborn@pickenssentinel.com

LIBERTY - Liberty Idol began its third year of seeking the area's best of the best singers by drawing a record first-night crowd Saturday night.

"I was surprised," said Roy Costner, the event's director. "This was certainly the biggest crowd to start up with."

More than 1,000 fans packed Liberty's streets as 20 singers competed before the crowd and five judges for the top honor of holding the 2008 title of Liberty Idol and $2,500, he said.

"The talent this year is really good," Costner said.

A change in the program this year has the singers auditioning earlier Saturday for a spot on that evening's stage, he said.

About 100 people arrived at the Rosewood Center at noon that day, with 42 vocalists auditioning, he said. Of that number, 20 were chosen to perform that night.

"Several people who had not heard about the Rosewood Center auditions came ready to sing Saturday night," Costner said.

During the first four weeks of the event, judges evaluated each performer, passed along recommendations and later decided who would advance to the competition stage.

Judges included Jay Malpass, of Charter Media; Warren Rollins, of Greenville; Sha' Nimmons, of Easley; Lisa Rollins, of W.O.R.D.; and Bill Biringer, of Central.

For the remaining nine weeks, fans will cast their ballots for their top five constants.

The judges, although not casting any deciding votes, will continue to be present throughout the event to critique the performances, Costner said.

Of the 20 performances, 14 were selected for the main competition, including Diamond Major, Robert Gargiulo, Amanda Boone, Joe Crocker, Thomas Coleman, Amy Miller, Derrick Brackett, Maria Puckett, Rich Tunnell, Nicholas Bishop, Amber Crocker, Dawn Gilbert, Jennifer Johnson and Benita Edwards.

Auditions will again be held Saturday, beginning at noon, at the Rosewood Center with 20 contestants advancing to the main stage competition that night. The evening's performances will begin at 7 p.m.

Costner said he believes the attendance to continue to grow throughout the season.

"I expect the crowd to grow as people find out that we're here," he said. "I am not sure where we will put them all, but that's such a great problem to have."

Last year, the event's finale was attended by more than 4,000 people, with predictions that the last night of the 2008 Liberty Idol will see an audience of more than 6,000 fans.