By CHAD ABSHIRE
Staff Writer
WILLIAMSON — Several local professional recording artists have been invited to audition for a chance to compete on “America’s Got Talent” and “American Idol.”
John Carlin, president of the Lyrick Talent Group Inc., told the Daily News that he had been approached by Mary and David Connoly, of Louisville, Ky., formerly of Stone, Ky., who once appeared on “The Amazing Race.”
Carlin said that the pair caught wind of his signed musicians through YouTube, Google and Facebook videos.
“From that, ‘American Idol’ and ‘America’s Got Talent,’ representatives were notified and we were invited to participate in a three-day event in Louisville from Aug. 10 to Aug. 12, called ‘Survive The Stampede.’”
Both shows are competitions featuring nationally televised live performances of musicians. A winner is chosen by fan voting, and is given a chance at super-stardom.
It wouldn’t be unheard of for a local musician to compete or win the show. The most recent winner of “America’s Got Talent,” Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. is a native of nearby Logan County. For winning, he received $1 million and his own headlined show in Las Vegas.
One of the events of “Survive The Stampede” is an autism benefit concert, which is what Carlin’s professional recording artists will perform in front of talent scouts, audience members and show representatives. The manager and agent for Randy Travis, Carlin said as an example, would be there.
The musicians who will perform, and subsequently audition, are as follows:
• Mike and Kaci Matney;
• Katie Curry;
• Holly White;
• James Maynard;
• Garrett Travers;
• Cute Poison, a band who will be signed June 23, and;
• Kayla Slone, a singer who will be signed July 21.
“We’re well pleased to have gotten attention from outside the area,” Carlin said. “No promises have been given besides the invite, but we’ll make the most of this opportunity.”
To view videos of, and listen to, the local professional recording artists who will audition, go to www.youtube.com/lyrickspromotion.
















