He charmed the ladies, he pleased the judges and now Gilroy
resident Dominic Woodson, 17, is the 2007 Garlic Idol.
Gilroy – He charmed the ladies, he pleased the judges and now Gilroy resident Dominic Woodson, 17, is the 2007 Garlic Idol.
Some may have heard him on the radio last year when he tried out on Mix 106.5, but didn’t make the cut. This time he was chosen as a finalist.
“I was practicing because I wanted to try out for American Idol,” Woodson said.
More than 400 people gathered around the Gazebo stage at the second annual Garlic Idol competition Sunday, where the three finalists performed a final song to become Gilroy’s Garlic Idol and win 1,000 gallons of gas.
Garlic Idol is a singing competition open to the public based on the hit TV show “American Idol.” Campbell resident Jaime Lindow won last year’s contest, which was such a hit, festival organizers brought it back.
Dressed in a red shirt and tie, Woodson made the ladies scream with his song “Wait For You” by Elliot Yamin, and his flashy moves. Woodson works at a gas station, and he hopes to go to medical school and sing as a hobby.
Finalist Stephanie Egbert, 21, charmed the crowd with the song “Hey Big Spender” from the musical “Sweet Charity.”
“I felt like I was going to throw up the whole day,” said Egbert before the final competition. “I was at ease last night, and I’m really excited to see what happens today.” Egbert arrived Friday at the Garlic Festival and signed up to compete against the other singers.
She also tried out for the competition last year.
Dannah Antonio, 19, another finalist, left the audience in awe with her vocals on “Ain’t No Way” by Aretha Franklin.
She tried out for American Idol two years ago but was too young to proceed with the program. This was the first time she tried out for Garlic Idol.
“I’m very excited and I’m going to do my best,” said the Gilroy resident before the competition. She hopes to sing professionally in the future.
Like American Idol, judges played the role of performance critics. Sheena Torres, 2006 Garlic Queen; Tim Babb, from Mix 106.5; Don Gage, Santa Clara County Supervisor; and Charles Hanson, award-winning soloist from Albuquerque, N.M.
Woodson was presented the award sponsored by Amici’s East Coast Pizzeria after the final results.
“I’m excited to have 1,000 gallons of gas,” Woodson said.
