For the latest edition of the Motown Museum’s annual singing competition, producers are introducing a new twist.
Since the 2018 launch of “Amplify: The Sound of Detroit,” contestants honed routines featuring selections from Motown’s vast catalog of classics.
But the doors have been thrown wide open this year: When singers take the stage Sunday, May 3, at the Sound Board theater inside MotorCity Casino, they’ll be performing songs from across the pop, R&B and rock spectrum — while drawing connections to Motown’s influence on contemporary music.
Ten contestants — five young women and five men from across metro Detroit — have spent months rehearsing for their big “Amplify” night as part of the museum’s Hitsville Next program, modeled on Motown’s famed artist-development process.
“This may be the most overall talented top 10 we’ve had,” says Hitsville Next director Tristan Fisher.
When the show kicks off at 4 p.m. Sunday, the contestants will face a judges panel that includes gospel star Kierra Sheard, celebrity YouTuber Terrell Grice and Grammy-winning mixing engineer Preston (Prizzie) Reid.
The event will be hosted by an “Amplify” alum, 2023 winner Drey Skonie, alongside singer and BET star LeToya Luckett.
Participants worked closely with “Amplify” coaches to zero in on songs suiting their vocal deliveries and stage styles, and on Sunday, they’ll be sinking their teeth into the music of artists ranging from Bruno Mars to Whitney Houston to Evanescence.
“We’re super excited about the fact that we’re bringing some new energy,” Fisher says.
For Fisher, who also works with contestants as a performance coach, it’s an intense but gratifying operation.
“This is probably the most fulfilling part of what I do, working with the artists hands-on in this way,” he says. “Although it can be a lot of work — 10 different artists, 10 different personalities, 10 different needs — it’s great seeing where they are at the end of the process, and how much they’ve grown and learned.”
He’s also proud to honor a training system perfected six decades ago along West Grand Boulevard.
“That’s one thing that will never, ever go away with our programs,” Fisher says. “Hitsville Next is an artist development and entrepreneurship program, and that will never change. We’re continuing to honor Motown’s legacy in that way.”
Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or bmccollum@freepress.com.
‘Amplify: The Sound of Detroit’ finale concert
4 p.m. Sunday
Sound Board at MotorCity Casino
2901 Grand River, Detroit
$25 through Ticketmaster
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: ‘Amplify’ singing contest will still honor Motown — but with a twist
Reporting by Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
