"I was so excited I was crying," is how 15-year old Lovia Amelia Davis of St. Thomas' East End explained her reaction to the news she would be going to New York in July to audition for major recording companies.
It all began when Alfonso Williams, a friend of her mom Donna Clendinen, sent one of her tapes to Mas Productions Inc. of St. Croix.
" I was driving to work one morning and I heard an ad on local radio," Williams said.
They were looking for young adults between the ages of 14 and 21 years old with musical talent. Those chosen would audition in New York.
"I immediately saw a window of opportunity for Lovey (which is how she is known to family and friends). I talked to her mom and she agreed we should get Lovey to try." They both explained they had always felt Lovey had a better voice than many artists they were already hearing over the airwaves.
They helped Lovey and produced a tape with one song, Reflections, done a capella, and the other, an original written by her 22-year old brother Lenny, called Groove Me. It provided good examples of her talent.
Because Lovey lived on St. Thomas, it would have been impossible for her to make it to St. Croix for the contest. The tape was sent certified mail and then it was just a waiting game.
Three weeks later a call from Michelle Kraswer of Mas Productions Inc. came for Lovey. She wasn't home and her mom took the call. When she heard the news, Donna said she was "thrilled and impressed."
"I always knew Lovey had the natural knack for singing. When she was only three years old, she stood out on our balcony and began to sing. Soon all the neighbors were standing around listening to her. She was never scared with the people listening. She just kept on singing," Lovey's mom said.
Lovey said she is practicing for July, but "not too much". She doesn't want to strain her voice and become hoarse before the audition. "I'm also listening to a heap of music just to see what else I can learn."
She said she dreams every night about how her life might change if she should win a contract from a major recording company.
"The best thing about this is now someone else knows I have talent. I'm going to show them all," she said.
Lovey often sings at local weddings and is the lead singer in the choir at her school, Bertha Broschulte Junior High School.
Her ultimate goal is to become an actress and to successfully write music for others.
Lovey said, with an ear-to-ear smile, "If you try hard, you can make it. If you fail at first, don't let it go to your head or give up. Just keep on trying. Reach for the stars!"
