This summer, they belted their hearts out and beat more than 100 other hopefuls in this year’s Voice of Pride singing contest. On Sunday, wave to the top three during the Pride parade, and hear them flex their chops at the rally in Lee Park
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Who: Randall Garland, Voice of Pride winner
Won: $3,000, which I plan on using to fund a vocal demo project.
Song that played when I lost my virginity: There wasn’t a song just the sound of crickets.
Weirdest thing about winning Voice of Pride: The morning after finals night, someone hit me up for a loan on my MySpace page.
Morning radio fix: 106.1 Kidd Kraddick on KISS-FM.
Do you sing in the car? Always. And I always get busted. I usually just smile and wave. If they have their window down, then I’ll roll mine down and sing louder.
Ultimate seduction album: Madonna, “Erotica.”
Sophie’s choice: Tracy Chapman or Kristine W. Kristine.
Who chooses the music when you’re in the room? I do. I’m a top.
Ultimate fantasy duet partner: Faith Hill. No, I’d rather have her husband Tim McGraw.
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Who: Matt Brewer, first runner-up.
Won: $1,000.
Finals night songs: “Home,” by Marc Broussard and “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” by Clay Aiken.
Valuable lessons I learned at this year’s Voice of Pride: The level of competition gets tougher every year. Man, this contest’s popularity is growing.
What’s so great about participating in Dallas’ Pride festivities? That feeling of overwhelming support from my friends.
Spent my VOP prize money on: Most of it went toward my mom’s new house in Garland.
If Clay Aiken e-mailed you naked pictures of himself, what would you do with them? Post them on Gay.com. But they’re probably already there.
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Who: Juliana Jeffery, second runner-up.
Won: $500, which helped me pay some overdue bills.
Hey, aren’t you straight? And proud. But straight people are part of the gay community, too. Gay Pride means coming together. It’s not about being gay. And it’s not about being straight.
It’s about being proud of the best you can be.
Finals night songs: “Broken Wing,” Martina McBride and “If I Ain’t Got You,” Alicia Keys.
If you see me in the Pride parade: I’ll be the one throwing out Jell-O shots.
I also auditioned for “American Idol” this summer, and I learned that: They want people who act like a hot damn mess. It’s not about talent it’s about ratings.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition September 14, 2007
Voice of pride has a bad reputation for being rigged. for example DJ,s that work at the Roundup are being picked to win by judges who work at the Roundup.Because of that very few people are entering or even going to see the contest When i entered at the Rose Room the place was empty!and yes a Roundup DJ’ won that night’ that makes four roundup DJ’s for 2009’s contest.Tavern guild should have some PRIDE in it,s reputation before someone files a lawsuit.Michael Doughman dom’t let bar owners push you around stand up for us real singers !!
Told you no one cares. Not one comeback comment! Forgot to mention last time one of the judges worked at the Roundup the other at Illusions. After the contest the one from Illusions was hugging the toilet l told him God was punishing him! He said, No Coors light and Smirnoff were! I still thought he was cute. Thank God I quit drinking! Michael Gasparo enter that night and he made crowd favorite only because I bowed out out of disgust! HIS LOUDEST CHEERING FANS WERE THREE ROUND UP DJ SEMI FINALIST AND HE BEAT THEM ALL. HA HA PAY BACK. Cant wait for next year!!!!!