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Babbs wins UB Idol in style
UB Idol: Tommie Babbs wows the crowd and judges with “Always and Forever.” Photo: Nancy J. Parisi
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Video: Staffer Tommie Babbs takes home the title of UB Idol. | Watch video
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“I almost fainted before I got onstage, but after I got onstage I was fine.”
Storming the stage in a white three-piece suit, purple tie and stylish fedora, Tommie Babbs became the winner of the first UB Idol singing contest during the Bulls Backyard Bash held last Thursday in Alumni Arena.
Babbs, senior academic advisor in Student Advising Services, performed a soulful rendition of “Always and Forever” by Luther Vandross.
A former baritone in the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus who hasn’t performed alone onstage “since high school,” Babbs said he had just one short week to prepare his song between his audition Aug. 20 and his performance last Thursday.
“I almost fainted before I got onstage, but after I got onstage I was fine,” he said. “The words just came out. I got the high note—I was worried about the high note, but I got it—I just had to practice those skills.”
Cheering him on were colleagues in Student Advising Services, as well as members of his church, Thankful Missionary Baptist Church in Buffalo, who also turned out for the performance.
Reggie Witherspoon, UB’s head basketball coach and a UB Idol judge, complimented Babbs after his performance on his “good pitch” and “good style.” James “Beau” Willis, executive vice president for university support services, and Jennifer Bowen, assistant vice president for human resources, also were judges for the competition.
Babbs earned prizes including a two-night stay at the Holiday Inn in Ithaca, a tour of the Cayuga Lake wineries, a recording session in the WBFO-FM-88.7 studio, a $100 gas card and a seat in President John B. Simpson’s suite in UB Stadium for the what turned out for the football team to be a season-opening win against UTEP.
The second place winner for UB Idol was Michael Pietkiewicz, assistant vice president for government relations, who performed “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond. Third-place winner Joy Wrona, membership assistant in the Office of Alumni Relations, sang “I Will Survive,” originally performed by Gloria Gaynor.
Pietkiewicz, whose performance inspired strong audience participation, said he chose his song because it’s such a crowd-pleaser, but also noted that hearing him practice the tune around the house started to drive his wife and two-year-old son “crazy.” Wrona said she plans to throw many parties using her prize, a year’s supply of free pizza from Santora’s Phase II, starting with one for her officemates, whose banners, buttons, fliers and shouts helped inspire her confidence on the stage.
Other finalists who performed in the contest were Charles Anzalone, senior editor, University Communications; Katie Kestal, research analyst, Department of Psychology; Jill Uebelhoer, assistant to the chair, Department of Restorative Dentistry; and Cathy Wilde, staff assistant, School of Management.
In addition to UB Idol, the Bull’s Backyard Bash featured informational kiosks, free food, a pep rally and a pre-game concert sponsored by the undergraduate Student Association.
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