SL_Spotlight_Cam_Anthony_0521_Spotlight 5 / 26 / 21 10 : 45 AM Page 1 s S P O T L I G H T In the Groove Philadelphia’s Cam Anthony turns up the volume on The Voice . BY DEBRA WALLACE What do Blake Shelton , Nick Jonas , and John Legend all have in common ? All three believe that Cam Anthony is the real deal . As judges on NBC’s The Voice , all three have been singing the praises of the 19 - year - old North Philadelphia native since the beginning of the show’s 20th season , which airs on Mondays at 8 p.m . “ Watching this guy perform , you realize you are looking at a big star , ” Shelton said recently . “ What’s not to like about Cam’s voice ? ” Anthony learned the power of his voice at an early age . He was four years old when his parents heard him sing the Folgers jingle and encouraged him to develop his talents , which he did with help from his family and the church choir . At 11 , his life took a dramatic turn when a video of him singing a Bruno Mars song went viral . He would go on to perform on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and at President Obama’s White House . He signed with Dr . Dre’s Aftermath / Interscope record label at age 12 , and spent his teen years recording and performing . We spoke with Anthony about his sources of inspiration , what it’s like to collaborate with an entertainment legend , and his favorite thing to eat when he’s back home in Philly . Who were What are you looking for career - wise ? of just wanting to be around someone that you love and to be able to be there Music is therapy for me . It’s something that some of your for them in the ways that they need you speaks when I don’t necessarily have the musical Q & A to . I could relate it to my uncle who words . I feel like that’s a powerful thing inspirations passed away in 2018 , who I didn’t get to because it transcends all those languages . growing up ? spend as much time as I wanted with . It … I am hoping to be able to make music Initially , I was really inspired by my sur - was also about understanding that a lot my lifelong thing , and to be able to take my roundings , my family , and a lot of the of people have just gone through a lot singing career to another level . I’ve been people that were around me . I grew up in a over the past year , and I think it was a consistent with my growth , but I want to be musical household . My grandfather was a good song to just send out with a nice able to singer and a writer , and he was in a band . live off this endeavor and get my message . I didn’t get to meet him , but he passed family in a better situation . his gifts and abilities down to my mother and my aunts . When I was younger , my Talk about working with Blake Shelton What are a few of your favorite places mom started to train me and teach me in on The Voice . in Philadelphia ? the church , so I got these roots from my Working with Blake has been an awesome I have a lot of nice childhood memories . church . experience . He has a very chill demeanor , I like to go to Kelly Drive just to clear so his down - to - earth vibe took all the anx - my mind . … I’ve had some really good iety out of the room and he gave me room Thai food in Philly . I like to get the shrimp Where do you think your confidence to stretch and express myself . … To be pad thai , and I enjoy going to Max’s for came from as a young performer ? BC around so many amazing artists has made one of the best cheesesteaks ever . My confidence has come from the support n / N me a better singer . I can’t even imagine of my family . And then I also just had to keep lde how different I would be if I hadn’t gone this one thing in the back of my mind , that I What advice would you give someone Go r through this experience . I’m 100 percent was doing something bigger . When I was who wants to get on The Voice ? Tyle grateful for this . younger , I didn’t understand how much I I would say you need to take your time by was affecting people until I was able to see to figure out what you want and who aph the messages and hear from people . When you are and how you want to be per - Why did you pick Lay Me Down by togr I started to see how music could really ceived before you decide to jump into Sam Smith for your first audition ? Pho influence people , it took on a different light . this . A lot of people can understand the idea ? SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2021 80 |