WATCH: Detroit Auto Worker Lands John Legend On ‘The Voice’ With Motown Cover!
Detroit auto assembly line worker brings Motown flavor to the stage and wows judges during the blind auditions on NBC’s “The Voice”!
Detroit is known for dishing out the talent, and Monday’s episode of “The Voice” was proof of that.
Rio Souma, 28, was born and raised in Detroit and currently works at Chrysler. He performed during the blind auditions on “The Voice” and wowed the judges, even getting John Legend to rise from his seat during his AMAZING rendition of Smokey Robinson’s “Cruisin.”
Souma posted this shot on his Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CG2Sy2QMIe7/
The Detroit talent was able to get 3 of the 4 judges (John Legend, Kelly Clarkson and Gwen Stefani) to turn their seats. Clarkson announced he had an “incredible gift,” while Stefani said it was “perfect.”
Watch the incredible performance below!
https://youtu.be/Z2yEL4KIhE8
“Let’s talk about that song. It was written by a great Detroiter,” Legend said. “Smokey Robinson, the architect of the Motown sound and that is literally one of my favorite songs on the planet. And when your voice came in, it was just magical from the very beginning. You showed us that powerful voice that you have, you showed us that piercing beautiful falsetto you have. You made it your own. You are a phenomenal vocalist.”
Rio gave the crowd a glimpse of the factory life, saying, “I’m currently a production assembly man at Chrysler. I’ve been there the last three years. The car floats above us and they travel on a conveyer belt and that carries the shell. Every 45 seconds a new car comes and I drill in the fuel tank.”
But would he give it up for a life of fame, fortune and musical performances? Um, yes. “I like working at the plant,” Souma said on the show that aired Monday night. “It’s great money. It’s a job a lot of people in this city covet, but it’s just not where my heart is. I’ve been wanting to do music for so long I’m willing to leave my job for it if I have to.”
When it came to choosing a judge, Souma chose John Legend as his “Voice” coach and will be moving forward in the show.
Detroit has your back, Rio!
Watch “The Voice” at 8 p.m. Tuesdays on NBC or on any of the streaming channels HERE.
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