Detroit singer Jasmine Terrell crowned Motown 'Amplify' champion at Music Hall finale
A tight and exuberant performance of a Teena Marie classic led Jasmine Terrell to triumph Saturday night in the Motown Museum’s annual “Amplify: The Sound of Detroit” singing and performance competition.
With a showstopping delivery of “Square Biz” — complete with an inventive scat vocal break — the 25-year-old Detroit singer brought down the house inside a packed Music Hall and was crowned 2024 Amplify Artist of the Year, topping the 10-contestant field.
Gospel celebrity Kierra Sheard, a judge for the night, was among those drawn to her feet during Terrell’s dazzling set.
“You are a star,” Sheard told her afterward, calling Terrell the embodiment of Detroit and saying: “I can’t wait to see you at the top.”
Terrell's eyes were clenched tight in nervous anticipation as the winning name was announced at show's end. But for the Music Hall audience, the judges’ gushing reactions to her performance had made victory seem like a foregone conclusion.
“I’m ready to buy a ticket to your concert,” said Toya Hankins, a veteran artist manager and part of a three-judge panel rounded out by Spotify executive Justin Norman.
Second place went to 16-year-old Detroiter Kodie Chandler, who got his own rousing crowd reception for his poised and lively performance of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.” Southfield’s Chase Alan, 20, took third place with an energetic take on Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t That Peculiar.”
“Amplify,” in its sixth year, is part of the Motown Museum’s Hitsville Next stable of programming. Saturday’s 10 contestants were selected following live auditions in December and built up to the Music Hall event with an intensive series of artist development coaching sessions at the museum’s West Grand Boulevard campus.
Contestants selected their Saturday songs from across Motown's 65-year catalog.
The 2?-hour show at Music Hall was the most polished “Amplify” finale yet, and included an appearance by last year’s winner, Drey Skonie, with a slick performance of his original song “Better Days.”
Returning as host for a second year was New York beatboxer and Motown Museum board member Doug E. Fresh, while bassist Kern Brantley led a versatile 10-member ensemble that backed the night’s singers.
Terrell was presented her victory plaque by museum chairwoman and CEO Robin Terry and Hitsville Next artistic director Tristan Fisher.
Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit singer Jasmine Terrell takes Motown 'Amplify' crown
