Brandon LeRoy Makes Mountaineer Idol Top Seven with "Amazed"
By Julie Perine on September 29, 2014 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Friday night, the 2014 Mountaineer Idol competition continued at West Virginia University’s Mountainlair after which seven contestants remained to vie for the coveted university title.
Among them was Brandon LeRoy, who wowed the crowd with Lonestar’s “Amazed,” delivered in personal style. As is signature LeRoy, the 2011 Bridgeport High School alum’s performance had an element of surprise.
“I started the song in the audience sitting next to my girlfriend, Ali Devono,” he said. “For the first verse, I pulled out my chair to be facing in front of her and sang to her.”
The intro was an immediate crowd pleaser. Devono was pretty pleased, too.
“When he started singing to me, it almost brought me to tears,” she said. “Even though this wasn't the first time he has sung to me, it was the first time in front of a live audience. I was so touched to have him sitting there singing directly to me in front of everyone.”
LeRoy said he was feeling good about his performance from the get-go and that the audience’s endearing reaction further fueled his fire to put on a quality show.
Devono said she certainly found it to be heartfelt and based on his scores, the judges did too.
LeRoy said he has received consistent comments from the judges that his audience interaction contributes to his showmanship. Friday night was themed "Country" night.
Mountaineer Idol continues Friday with a 9 p.m. elimination round at the Mountainlair Ballroom. This week, the theme is “Oldies.”
LeRoy looks forward to continuing his quest and delivering the perfect song to advance him to the next round. He’s pumped about the event for yet another reason.
“It is ‘Mountaineer Idol Gives Back,’ which is very similar to what American Idol does for ‘American Idol Gives Back,’” he said. “We are teaming up with the local hospital and conducting a stuffed animal drive for the children at the hospital.”
The Mountaineer Idol competition continues 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 with “Broadway and 21st Century” and finals are 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.
Catch LeRoy’s performance of “Amazed” below and read about his prior Mountaineer Idol performances HERE.
