THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 19, 1996 TAG: 9601190644
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICKEY WRIGHT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Avery Williams breaks his routine today.
There'll be no classes at Norcom High School in the morning and the Governor's School for the Arts in the afternoon, no door-to-door selling after that and no checking the sports scores before bed.
Instead, he'll join his mother, Joyce Wilkins, and her fiance, David Johnson, for a drive to New York. The 15-year-old Norcom freshman is scheduled to tape an appearance on the popular TV talent show ``It's Showtime at the Apollo'' on Saturday.
A singer since he was 5 and Prince's hit ``Kiss'' prompted him to grab a pencil for a microphone, Avery will perform the gospel song ``I Won't Complain'' at the landmark theater.
Long before he landed a spot at the Governor's School as a vocal student, Avery said in his Ida Barbour living room Thursday, he's been growing in confidence onstage. He first found an audience outside his home at 10, as part of another talent show, this one at Granby Elementary School.
Since then, as a member of the now defunct group Entree, hehas taken part in a local segment of Lou Rawls' United Negro College Fund telethon. He's worked a Pennsylvania concert with major stars such as Adina Howard and Monica. With Entree, he also serenaded celebrities Pernell ``Sweetpea'' Whitaker and rapper Kid of Kid 'n Play outside Norfolk's Waterside Marriott Hotel when it hosted comedian Martin Lawrence's wedding last year.
``The first two minutes of an average five-minute song, I'm nervous,'' Avery said. ``But once I feel it, there's no stoppin' me.''
That must have been the case last August, when Avery tried out for ``Showtime'' after his cousin Frederick Griffin contacted Maxine Lewis, a talent executive for the series.
Avery has ``a strong voice and strong potential,'' said Lewis.
``Showtime,'' she explained, tapes three episodes at a stretch. A win for Avery could mean his repeating ``I Won't Complain'' for a second broadcast. His appearance is due for broadcast in May, Lewis said. ``Showtime'' airs in Hampton Roads on WTVZ, Channel 33.
Avery says he's not daunted by the Apollo's fabled past, which has seen stints by many of the century's great R&B and jazz names.
``I'm gonna be the only kid there,'' he said, ``and they're gonna think, `They're gonna let him win.' They ain't gonna let me win. I can give them some competition.''
Adding to his assurance of late have been his Governor's School courses, which have introduced him to opera and technique.
``When I first heard it,'' he said of opera, ``I thought I was in the wrong place. The atmosphere is so different from what I'm in.''
Before entering the Governor's School, ``I was a regular singer singing R&B.'' Now, he's learning breath control and how to read printed music. He hopes to earn a scholarship to Duke University and continue his vocal career.
``We're looking forward to having him here in the program for four years,'' said principal Louise Lowenthal Thursday.
When the day's classes are done, Avery sells items such as candy and candles door-to-door as part of the Elite Teens program, designed to keep youth off the streets and away from drugs. He estimates his work week at 25 to 30 hours. Part of the expenses for the trip will come from his pay.
Although Avery's talent has taken him the farthest to date, he said his five younger brothers and sisters might prove worthy singers as well. Should fame come his way, he'll feature them in a video, he said.
But first, he'll take the stage on his own Saturday.
``It's a long road,'' said his mother. ``Hopefully, the road is about to get a little bit shorter.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JIM WALKER, The Virginian-Pilot
Singer Avery Williams, 15, heads up to New York City to tape a
performance on the popular TV talent show ``It's Showtime at the
Apollo.''
by CNB