Watch New Orleans singer stun ‘American Idol’ judges with voice ‘from another lifetime’
A New Orleans soul singer is headed to Hollywood after blowing away the “American Idol” judges, even bringing one of them to their feet.
Kevin Gullage, 22, stunned judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie with his soulful cover of Otis Redding’s “That’s How Strong My Love Is” during the latest round of auditions, which aired Sunday, March 20. He joins over 150 contestants set to compete in Hollywood Week, putting him one step closer to becoming the next American Idol.
“It’s monumentally exciting actually, just everything behind it was so forward-moving that it happened so fast,” Gullage told WGNO in an interview.
Gullage, who heads the musical group Kevin & The Blues Groovers, is no stranger to playing on big stages. He was born into a musical family in New Orleans and spent time performing as a multi-instrumentalist before focusing his attention on the piano, according to the Basin Street Records website.
His talents earned him a spot in Loyola University’s music program, The Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp and the 2017 Thelonious Monk All-Star Sextet, the website states. Kevin & The Blues Groovers was also the resident artist at B.B. King’s Blues Club in New Orleans before the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt.
Gullage didn’t let that deter him and took his talents to the “American Idol” stage. His performance made a big impression on Perry, who gave him a standing ovation and likened his voice to something “from another lifetime ago.”
“That song required exactly what you gave it,” Richie also gushed. “... My friend, you’ve got so much flavor. It’s going to be such an exciting adventure.”
“American Idol” airs Sundays at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC.
This story was originally published March 21, 2022 at 9:43 AM with the headline "Watch New Orleans singer stun ‘American Idol’ judges with voice ‘from another lifetime’."