Gina Sicilia Named June “Best Vocalist Of The Month" With Her Song, "Allow Me To Confess”
By Dale Kawashima
Gina Sicilia
Gina Sicilia, a talented blues/rock singer & songwriter based in Philadelphia, PA, has won the June SingerUniverse “Best Vocalist Of The Month” Competition, for her performance of her song “Allow Me To Confess.” This song is the title cut of her debut album Allow Me To Confess, which she released independently in January (2007). And starting in July, the album will be promoted and distributed nationally by Vizztone Records.
“Allow Me To Confess” is a no-nonsense, straight-forward blues/rock song, which provides a terrific showcase for Sicilia’s clear, powerful vocals. This midtempo cut starts off with a thumping bass riff and drums, and then segues into the opening verse, where Sicilia’s vocals come in and the rest of the band tracks (organ and electric guitar) kick in. It becomes clear that Sicilia is very comfortable performing in a traditional, classic blues setting.
Sicilian, who is 22, was born in Newtown, PA (near Philadelphia) and she began singing when she was just three. Early on, she enjoyed listening to the doo-wop records (the Shirelles, Dion & the Belmonts) that her father played. Then when she was 13, she bought and was deeply influenced by a blues CD compilation, which included B.B. King’s memorable hit, “The Thrill Is Gone.” “That was the first blues song that really inspired me,” said Sicilia.
Soon after Sicilia fell in love with blues music, and she began singing along with many blues records before gradually developing her own vocal style. She also started to write blues songs when she was 14. “During my high school years I never performed live - I kept to myself,” she explained. “But I did sing in my bedroom 24/7 and I also worked on my songwriting.”
Gina Sicilia
Following high school, Sicilia attended Temple University in Philadelphia, where she majored in journalism. During college she performed at a prominent blues club called Warm Daddy’s, and she eventually formed a band of pro musicians from the New York and New Jersey areas.
Then in 2006, Sicilia recorded her 11-song CD Allow Me To Confess, which includes eight songs that she wrote and was produced by Dave Gross. She self-released the album in January, and a month later it entered the Living Blues magazine radio chart. The album also reached #3 on the XM satellite radio’s Bluesville station.
Most recently, Sicilia has signed a label deal with Vizztone Records. “Richard Rosenblatt of Vizztone found my MySpace page and he became interested,” said Sicilia. “My album will now be released July 10 on Vizztone and it will be distributed and promoted nationally.”
Things are progressing well for Sicilia. “I will be signing with a booking agency and we’ll be performing shows in the Midwest. I also hope to tour overseas. In addition to my artist career, my goals are to open a blues club and to educate younger people about the blues. I would also love to start a blues magazine someday.”
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"Best Vocalist Of The Month" Winner
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Tryg Bundgaard |
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To enter the next "Best Vocalist Of The Month" Contest (the deadline is the last day of each month), please Click Here
