Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C./ERR -- The lights are dim and, as background music begins to play, the crowd grows silent starring intently up to the stage to try to see who will become the Parris Island Idol.
The Single Marine Program organized the event in conjunction with Bosses? Night at the Four Winds Club, Nov. 20. Eight acts participated.
When it was said and done, only a point separated the top three competitors and creativity won out. While most of the contestants sang karaoke, Lance Cpl. Dean Edwards, Support Bn. administration clerk belted out a capella rendition of ?Five Steps? to win.
?It was only a few points that made the difference,? said judge Bill Brown. ?Although each of the four judges? criteria for the winner was a little different, the winner definitely got a few extra points from all the judges for singing without music, from memory and without a mic.?
For winning, Edwards received a $100 gift certificate to the Exchange courtesy of Marine Corps Community Service-South Carolina
Second place and a $70 MCCS-SC Exchange gift certificate went to H&S Bn. Sgt. Maj. Rodney Robbins? re-do of Hall and Oates? ?Sara Smile.?
Coming in a close third was DJ and emcee Jimmy Woods who came out on top receiving a $50 MCCS-SC Exchange gift certificate.
?Even when Jimmy was a Marine gunny he still wanted to be a country star,? said Brown. ?I don?t think anyone was surprised when he sang ?Southern Grace.??
?Even though the turnout was not as many as we would have liked, we had a lot of support from the higher ups and everyone had a good time,? said Brett Westerfield, SMP event coordinator.