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Eric Boff - News
Eric Boff Wins GVSU Apollo Show
| 04-03-2007 05:21 | 0 reaction(s) | add reaction | add news |
 Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Talent show's changes get mixed response
# By Ashley Chaney
The Black Student Union’s Seventh Annual Apollo broke tradition in more ways than one this weekend. Everything from the format of the show to the talent to the winner had a different kind of feel.
The talent show, inspired by the legendary Amateur Night at the Apollo in Harlem, took place Saturday night in the Kirkhof Center as a part of BSU’s Star Studded Weekend. Almost 300 people attended the event.
The new makeover replaced the traditional Kiki Shepard and the Sandman with a Fly Girl, dressed in jeans, tall black boots and a revealing top, and a Fly Guy, dressed in jeans and a button-up shirt.
Organizers also eliminated the reading of black history facts between acts. They gave out raffle prizes instead.
That move didn’t sit well with Candace Huff, a senior at GVSU.
“Since it is Black History Month and Apollo is something that is in our history, they should have kept the tradition of including black history facts,” Huff said. “They kind of are losing sight of why (the Apollo talent show) was even created and why it is during Black History Month.”
In past years, one BSU member would dress up like the famed Kiki Shepard in an evening gown to escort the talent on stage. Another would play the renowned Sandman and sweep away talent booed by the audience. This year, the audience kicked only two of the six acts off the stage.
Audience applause determined the winner. Eric Boff, a 20-year-old guitar player, had people singing along to his rendition of Nelly's “Take a Ride With Me” took top honors and earned $250.
The DJ for the event, “DJ Cool Breeze” Daniel Reeves, a graduate of Grand Valley, said the fact Boff is Asian and performed with a flavor different than the typical hip-hop and R&B acts made Apollo great this year.
“It was something refreshing,” Reeves said. “I'm proud of him, and it just shows that we are supposed to be a family at Grand Valley.”
The crowd cheered for Boff over second-place finisher Passion, a dance group of Grand Valley students from Detroit and Chicago that walked away with $150. Third-place finisher Kenneth Henderson, a sophomore at GVSU, sang Luther Vandross’ “Always and Forever” and was awarded $50.
Boff said he was inspired by the crowd.
“I feed off the crowd a lot, and I love playing for different kinds of people," Boff said. "I love everyone.”
Boff was encouraged to audition for Apollo by a friend. When he stepped off stage after winning, his friend ran up to him and said, “I told you!”
Boff performs at lounges and other small venues in Grand Rapids. He performs with friends and even plays with two local hip-hop groups. To hear some of his music, go to www.ericboff.com
courtesy of MLive.com |
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