Beth Stalker of Grand Blanc made it through the preliminary round of American Idol last night. She put out a solo record in 2004 called "Here With You" (produced by David Mosher) which won 6 DMAs. Anyone know her?
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Elizabeth Stalker began singing when she was three years old. She was known as “Little Liz”, and performed for various festivals, churches and television programs. At age four she released an album entitled "Jesus Loves Me". Beth's record was played on radio stations all over the country. She was also invited to sing at the Gospel Country USA music festival in Opryland Tennessee. At age seven, Beth performed regularly as a "Shirley Temple" and "Annie" impersonator at "Mr. F's" in Clawson. About a year later, her parents took her out of the entertainment business, so that she could enjoy a normal childhood.
In high school, Beth continued to sing. And, in addition to choir and musical theatre, Beth joined a Christian folk band, called "Am Eloah". During this time, she learned to play guitar and write songs.
In 1998, Beth was introduced to jazz. She immediately took to the genre and fell in love with the vocal stylings of Ella Fitzgerald. She, eventually, began singing in big bands and jazz combos with many of Detroit's finest musicians. During this time, Beth performed at several of metro-Detroit's distinguished jazz clubs including Baker's Keyboard Lounge, Bert's Jazz Marketplace, and the Bird of Paradise. Beth also became the featured entertainer of Music People Entertainment.
In 2002 Beth met up with singer/songwriter, Alisa Visconti. Together they entered, and won, a few jingle contests. Consequently, a local television studio requested that they write a song about the Detroit Red Wings. To do this, they collaborated with lyricist and songwriter Allan Goetz. Through this experience, Beth and Allan started writing music together. The result was the 2004 release of her critically acclaimed album “Here With You”, produced by David Mosher.
In April, 2005, Beth received 6 Detroit Music Awards for the work surrounding “Here With You”. In addition, Beth's song “Hold Me” was selected as the Grand Prize Winner of the 40 th Anniversary Peavey Song Contest. Later that year, Beth also recorded her first full-length jazz album “Hallelujah, I Love Him So”.
Beth is currently performing and writing with guitarist, Jim Rawlings. And she hopes to release her next album in the spring of 2008.
Rick Webmaster
Joined: Mar 30, 2002
Posts: 79
Location: Flint, MI
Posted:
Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:57 pm
Not a surprise, but I had never heard of her before this. I wathced her audition on you tube and think Simon is in for a bit of a surprise himself.
The audition was pretty fluffy, but this girl has some grind on her voice. Incredibly, her original stuff on MySpace sounds nothing like her audition on AI.
Check out the cut below. By the way her guitar player has it goin' on too.
You're right. That guitar part is wicked. And what kind guitar is that? A semi-hollowed, f-holed contraption with an on-board eq?
RKOmgt Newbie
Joined: Dec 04, 2002
Posts: 9
Location: Macomb Twp
Posted:
Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:20 pm
i work with her husband & her father in law....
wonderful people.
She's a stay at home mom during the day & an entertainer by night.
playing quite a bit in the Grand Blanc - Clarkston area
I quit watching American Idol some time ago, when it drifted away from being about the music and focused more on the cult of personality, the "train wrecks" and the Cinderella Story of it. It's just another "reality show" cluttering up the channels now... And, it's pretty silly to try and size up someone when they have about 15 seconds to get their point across, when you think about it...
As abrasive and tactless (and even egotistical) as that Simon Cowell guy is, he is RIGHT most the time, I think! He sort of makes a point in the clip above that I often say regarding this: There's what I call "local good" and "national good". There are thousands of local-good singers that hit the notes, look good and do a great job of it. Nothing wrong with that at all. What separates out that small percentage of national-goods is the quality of being special or unique, or bringing something new.
I run into this all the time as a musician, when I'm asked to state my opinion about this kind of thing. I think I've heard hundreds of band's recordings, and talent is seldom ever the problem; The vast majority of these I hear are very good, even equally as good as anything you'd hear on the radio, for sure. But, the very rare thing is that unique/special/new quality. When asked, I don't lie about it, either. I've often said things to the effect that "Your band is good, but it's not SPECIAL." or "Pop music has 'been there' already." or "You're good, but the world already has a Vince Gill.", and the like.
Thing is, bands and artists will understand that as a slam. Perhaps it is, but it is kinda the reality of what it is. Not everyone can be in the top 2%... And, I'm not sure if this quality of which I speak can be developed and learned; It is more of an either-you-got-it-or-you-don't thing more, but, I could be wrong on that...
I had a cousin that tried out for American Idol. She is very good, and has two CD's out that have gotten local airplay and have sold quite a few copies. What you DON'T see on the show is that there is a "pre-audition" step you must pass to get seen by the "big three" on the show, and even if that happens, there's a slim minority of those clips that are chosen to be edited into the final show you actually see. My cousin, even with all her proven history and accolades, didn't pass the pre-audition. The answer she got as to why was something like what I'm trying to describe: She was good, but there'd be no way she'd have a chance to stand out in this crowd. I've got her CD's, and, even biased as I am being related to her, I know that the judges aren't wrong about that! It's just how it is. (But, she's young, and it is possible that she may "find her voice" with time, and with some luck, the voice she ends up finding won't coincidentally sound a lot like someone else's who is now famous already!...)
Specifically to Beth Stalker above, I think there's something going on, there. Her voice has a little something to it that's distinctive. On the scale I describe, I think she's a notch above "local good", but it's not obvious that she's in that "national good" territory; That's about where I'd put her.
If she cleared all these "gates" I describe having to do with American Idol, clearly others think there's something going on there, too. I think ol' Randy and Paula saw it this way, casting their "I think it's worth it to hear some more" vote. I sure hope she has a bunch of other things in the tank to show!...
The closest comparison I can hear with these clips given is to Melissa Ethridge, but it's not exact enough to dismiss Beth, by any means:
That one with the guitar player reminded me of an old Fleetwood Mac song. I have a new vocal harmony pedal I'm toying with that I'm going to use on the title hooks of it. I'm inspired!..:
Joined: Mar 30, 2002
Posts: 79
Location: Flint, MI
Posted:
Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:56 am
Gene,
Bingo on Melissa Ethridge. I caught that too. The interesting thing is she did a completely different vocal style for the on air audition. Wait til they through some rock tunes at her. That is going to open some eyes.
You are right on about the "X" or "IT" factor. I've met and known a number of people that have had some moderate success and something is different about them than the rest of the pack. I've also know some people that have had it and didn't know it or take advantage of it.
Mitch Chief Editor
Joined: Mar 27, 2001
Posts: 124
Location: Milford
Posted:
Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:24 pm
Gene wrote:
As abrasive and tactless (and even egotistical) as that Simon Cowell guy is, he is RIGHT most the time, I think! He sort of makes a point in the clip above that I often say regarding this: There's what I call "local good" and "national good". There are thousands of local-good singers that hit the notes, look good and do a great job of it. Nothing wrong with that at all. What separates out that small percentage of national-goods is the quality of being special or unique, or bringing something new.....
I've often said things to the effect that "Your band is good, but it's not SPECIAL." or "Pop music has 'been there' already." or "You're good, but the world already has a Vince Gill.", and the like....
Well put Gene. That elusive "it" quality is exceedingly rare. Most performers best hope is to carve out a niche for themselves at just the right time. Not an easy thing to do, which is why the best advice is still to do what you know, do what you really believe in and wait for the world to come around to your way of thinking again.
Cruizinsuezin Newbie
Joined: Jan 24, 2008
Posts: 5
Posted:
Sat Feb 16, 2008 12:23 pm
Shoot!
"They" yanked the audition video before I got to see her. I'm not a TV or, American Idol fanatic. It reminds me too much of Beauty pageants.
However, Liz has got some kind of grit that is real and shows she's diggin' deep...I like it! I like it enough to actually turn the TV on to cheer for our Michigan girl...and vote on an artist for the first time!
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