The former member of the Grand Rapids band Leland Blue made the cut and selected judge Nick Jonas’ team during blind auditions Tuesday on the NBC singing competition.
Doing His Hometown Proud: Bradley Sinclair performing on ‘The Voice.’
SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO OF SINCLAIR’S PERFORMANCE ON ‘THE VOICE’
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Rockford native Bradley Sinclair, 22, impressed judges on NBC’s “The Voice” with a soaring rendition of James Arthur’s “Say You Won’t Let Go” on Tuesday and will move on to the next round of the TV competition with Nick Jonas as his coach.
“He has such a cool vibe,” Jonas said of Sinclair, who currently lives in Nashville but gave a shoutout to his hometown “north of Grand Rapids” during the show while his family cheered him on.
On the Air: Leland Blue with Sinclair, at right, performing for Local Spins on WYCE in 2019. (Photo/Local Spins)
Jonas — who vied with judge Kelly Clarkson for the right to represent the singer — also called Sinclair “the perfect addition” to his team.
Sinclair, a graduate of Rockford High School, is a keyboard player who’s performed and recorded with several different, pop-leaning Grand Rapids-area bands over the years, including Leland Blue and Sparkplug, as well as releasing his own solo material. He was featured at Local Spins with Leland Blue in 2019.
His brother, Kevin, told Local Spins that watching Sinclair impress judges on national television “was pure joy. Bradley has worked incredibly hard for his music career and to see him get a chance like this proves that his hard work is paying off. Not to mention I and the rest of my family freaked out just a little bit when the first chair turned (assuring he would move on in the competition).”
Sinclair moved to Nashville last year but retains an avid following in his hometown, with many friends and former neighbors posting congratulatory messages on Facebook Tuesday evening.
“Bradley Sinclair, you were absolutely incredible. You have grown so much and I can’t wait to watch your journey,” said one friend.
“Thanks for giving me something to brag about since we were in choir together,” said another.
Rooting Him On: Sinclair’s family as shown on ‘The Voice.’
“I’m not sure what I loved more: Bradley Sinclair’s amazing singing, his interview, the fact that he chose #teamnick or all of the hilarious and amazing reactions from Emma Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, Elizabeth Ann Sinclair, Emily Sinclair, Josh Sinclair, Dean Sinclair and Sally Sinclair,” wrote Mackenzie Mergener.
“Tonight was one of the most exciting nights on live TV in a long time. Go, Bradley, go!”
The Facebook page for “The Voice” said Sinclair delivered “such an amazing cover” of the Arthur hit.
Sinclair is only the most recent West Michigan singer to make a splash on “The Voice.” Last fall, two Ada natives made an impression: classically trained singer Ryan Gallagher, 31, and Skylar Mayton, 15, both moved on in the competition before eventually losing out to other contestants.
Michigan finalists on “The Voice” in the past have included Joshua Davis, Lauren Duski and Laith Al-Saadi. Season 20 of “The Voice” continues on NBC next week.
VIDEO: Bradley Sinclair, “Say You Won’t Let Go” (NBC’s ‘The Voice’)
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