Musician, Artist, father and NBC The Voice contestant, Terrence Cunningham, has got talent. As the winner of every battle and knockout round of challenges and finally making it to the last round of playoffs where America gets involved in the judging, the new LA resident could take the title. The four-time Emmy Award-winning The Voice Live Playoffs continues Season 14 with the strongest vocalists from across the country, invited to compete before a live audience of millions for the title. Singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson makes her debut as a coach this season, with musical icon Alicia Keys taking a red chair alongside the show’s returning coaches, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, along with host Carson Daly.
Impressing the judges (Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, newcomer Kelly Clarkson and Alicia Keys) from the very first line sang in round #1 known as the blind audition, Terrence garnered immediate attention with his version of The Temptation’s famous hit “My Girl.” Accompanying his emotional vocals with a piano melody made every one of the four judges turn their chairs around vying to become his coach.
Without hesitation, Terrence sided with multi-Platinum and multi-Grammy winning vocalist and pianist Alicia Keys as his coach. Terrence was the victor in the battle round where two contestants are pitted against each other, blowing the competition away with his rendition of Rufus and Chaka Khan’s “Tell me Something Good,” he had the audience singing the hook along with him. “The entire idea is to win this thing,” says Terrence during the final week of competition. “I’m dedicated to this craft being a musician and a vocalist, I hold a likeable quality and I think I’m pretty good.”
At the end of the battle rounds, only the strongest members of each coach’s roster remain and proceed to the knockout rounds. Blake Shelton, after Terrence’s audition admitted: ‘I think we’re all a little speechless right now. I’ve never heard a performance like that at any level of The Voice.’
The truth of the matter is that Terrence has been crushing every round put in front of him with the help of coach Alicia Keys, who says this of his performances; “It’s like this vacuum that just happened in this space; like when divinity enters the room and you can feel it. Certain things just have the right moment in the right space with the right connection. If I ever did anything right, it was to come to this show ONLY to meet you. Thank you for bringing this honesty and gorgeous artistry.”
Growing up in Washington DC around Prince George County, Terrence, 36, moved to Los Angeles two years ago to finally pursue his dream of scoring films and exercising his talent for musicianship and striking vocals. As a descendent of a long line of musicians, including his great aunt, the late activist and blues legend Etta Baker, known for her finger-licking guitar playing also known as the Piedmont blues, Terrence believes his family was the motivating factor in pursuing a music career. He started playing the piano at 3 years old, and by the time he was 13, Terrence was getting paid as the music director of his church. Three short years later, Terrence found out he would be a father at the age of 16.
“I put my dreams on hold to raise my daughter who graduated from high school. I knew that I had to be a father that she needed,” says Terrence. “I believe the hugely popularity of this show is unmatched. I hope for all the things that come along with being the winner; record contracts, tours, being financially able to support myself and my family and all of the advantages of being the winner. Just being able to sing on such a grand stage is something that I’ve only dreamt. I have the responsibility to say what most people never get the chance to say or experience. We become a voice for the voiceless.”
Next week is the beginning of the Live Playoffs, which means that the show will air live and America can begin to participate in voting. The Live Playoffs begin on Monday night, April 16, 2018, from 8 – 10:01 pm. PT. Night 2 of the Live Playoffs runs from 8 – 9:01pm on Tuesday, April 17, with night 3 airing the next night, on Wednesday, April 18, from 8 – 9pm. During the Live Playoffs, the top 24 contestants will perform live, in order to secure a spot in the top 12 artists. Those with the most votes from each team will be revealed on night 3, each coach will then pick one artist from their own remaining contestants, in order to take the final spot on their teams.
