Alpha Idol karaoke in its 10th year; already planning for next year

By DESI FERREIRA

Alpha Pizza Pasta Prime in Apollo Beach hosted its 10th annual Alpha Idol contest on Friday, Sept. 20. Each year, owner Nick Egarhos begins the competition five weeks before the actual Alpha Idol evening in order to narrow down the pool of talented singers to the ones who will compete in the final showdown. This year there were 29 contestants, six of whom made it to the final cut. The karaoke music was provided once again by Tito and Debi.

DESI FERREIRA PHOTOS
Winners of the 2019 Alpha Idol karaoke contest at Alpha Pizza Pasta & Prime in Apollo Beach are pictured from left: Jimmy Vierkant (4th place), Kevin Knott (6th place), Alpha owner Nick Egarhos (back row), Ian Tengler (2nd place), DJ Debi, Abby Emmons (1st place), DJ Tito, Maddie Skinner (5th place) and Eddy Stone (3rd place).

As my husband Greg and my friend Cathy enjoyed the best pizza and wings in town, the packed room of onlookers cheered, danced and voted this year’s winners:

Sixth place was taken by Kevin Knott of Riverview, who sang “Babe” by Styx and “Somebody to Love” by Queen. This was Kevin’s third year in the contest, having won second place in 2018 and first place in 2017. He and his wife, whom he met at a karaoke contest in 2000, own an escape room in Brandon called Time Trappe.

The fifth place winner was second-year contestant and once again the youngest, 11-year-old Madeline Skinner (Maddie) of Lakeland. Maddie has been singing since she was 7 and did an incredible job at two very difficult songs: “Don’t Rain on my Parade” by Barbra Streisand and “At Last” by Etta James. She is in sixth grade and placed sixth in last year’s contest.

First place grand-prize winner of the Alpha Idol 2019 contest was Alpha Pizza Pasta & Prime employee Abby Emmons. Here she was singing “Hallelujah” by Alexandra Burke.

Fourth place went to Jimmy Vierkant of Apollo Beach, who won fifth place last year. I was unable to speak with him since this lucky winner is still enjoying a 5-week cruise to Australia with his wife.

Eddy Stone of Riverview, a claims adjustor by day, took third place with some down-home country tunes: “Getting You Home” by Chris Young and “Trouble” by Travis Tritt. Chris has been enjoying karaoke for 12 years and plans on entering this contest again.

The second place winner was second-time contestant Ian Tengler of Apollo Beach; he sang the ever popular “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra and “Imagine” by John Lennon. Ian has been singing in choirs since he was 11 years old and was a guitarist and backup singer for an alternative rock band called Coda Sky in Massachusetts.

And, finally, the first place grand-prize winner of $500 was one of Alpha’s own employees, 21-year-old Abby Emmons. Abby sang the inspiring “Hallelujah” by Alexandra Burke and the oldie but goodie “Jolene” by Dolly Parton. Abby has not sung in public since she was 18 and singing in Nashville, but she made the decision to enter the contest after receiving amazing encouragement and support from Alpha’s employees as well as customers.

After handing out this year’s total prize amount of $1,025, owner Nick Egarhos announced that he plans on trying to help next year’s first place winner get to the next level by providing assistance with lodging and food for contests like “American Idol” or “America’s Got Talent.” September 2020 will be here before you know it, so start preparing those pipes. But until then, you can enjoy the delicious cuisine at Alpha Pizza Pasta Prime at 1312 Apollo Beach Blvd. or call 813-645-4648.

Eddy Stone of Riverview took third place at Alpha Idol’s karaoke contest.

The second place winner Ian Tengler of Apollo Beach.

The fifth place winner at Alpha Idol was 11-year-old Madeline Skinner of Lakeland.