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| Chris Blue is the 2017 winner of The Voice. |
By Mona Austin
Newly crowned winner of The Voice, Chris Blue may have gospel singer Tamela Mann to thank for this victory. Blue's rendition of Mann's hit "Take Me to the King" secured his position in the finals and Mann was watching. Appearing on a Jacksonville, FL news program she praised Blue's performance. "He made it his own and I loved it, said Mrs. Mann. Along with her support and supporters at church viewing parties around the country, the worship leader from Team Alicia won by the closest margin in the history of the show. Blue earned a recording contract and $100,000 prize.
In the 2-hour finale Monday night in Los Angeles, the young crooner beat Michigan born country singer Lauren Duski.
With a back story that matched his tender Prince-like falsetto voice, the 26-year-old from Knoxville, TN captured the hearts of viewers early on. However, unlike most frontrunners, Chris did not get featured in the early parts of the process. He was literally the last to be seen and heard when all the coaches, except Alicia Keys had formed their teams. He did not enter the competition with the usual fanfare, which squashes the theory that early promotion within the program boasts the odds of winning. In this case, the last became first and it is obvious it was meant to be.
Blue's back story may have come late, but it resonated with potential fans. He introduced his long-distance British fiance', Stephanie who flat lined during brain surgery related to bone marrow cancer prior to his appearing on the show. Chris was unable to spend time with her while competing, but she was backstage at the blind audition with his mother where he became the final member of Alicia's team after wowing her with a soulful rendering of the Smokie Robinson classic, "Tracks of My Tears." Stephanie was also one of the first to embrace him on the stage at the finale.
Chris put his special touch on a wide variety of R&B tunes throughout the competition such as "Rhythm Nation" by Janet Jackson, "24 Karat" by Bruno Mars, "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder and "Love on the Brain" by Rihanna. Blue, the youngest of 7 children, grew up singing in the family gospel group, The Blue Brothers.
At the finale he performed duets with Coach Alicia ("Diamonds and Pearls" by Prince), Keys' "If I Ain't Got You" with teammate Vanessa Ferguson and "Everybody Hurts" with Usher.
The debut of his impressive original song," Money on You", a pop styled tune was one of the few times he steered away from the R&B genre other than with "Take Me to the King."
The music of Chris Blue is available on iTunes.
WATCH CHRIS BLUE SING 'TAKE ME TO THE KING"
WATCH CHRIS BLUES SHARE HIS BACKSTORY