CUNNINGHAM TAKES FIRST PLACE

Antoine Cunningham, with his rendition of the spiritual You Just Stand walked away with the best amateur performer title, a $1,000 cash prize and a recording contract at the finale of Darrold Miller's Bahamian Shining Star Show at Da Island Club in Nassau Beach Hotel.

Cunningham won over three other finalists in the show, hosted by Miller and telecast live on channel 13.

Others making it to the finals were Talbut Williams, and Mario Demeritte, who were tied for first runner-up; and Obrien Forbes from The Turks and Caicos Islands, the second runner-up.

Similar to American Idol, Star Search completed a six month run, and according to the show producer Ronald Simms, the second round starts in four weeks.

Cunningham, a born again Christian, clad in all black, came on with a face-to-floor prayer. As he arose, his powerful voice ignited the crowd to thunderous applauses. The three judges—Freddie Munnings Jr, Kelly Nixon and Greg White, were all visibly moved by Cunningham’s performance and unanimous in their selection of him for first place.

Describing his win as a dream come true, a humble, but jubilant Cunningham said: "My entire life is dedicated to serving the Lord. I am not going to compromise. I'm not going to bow to singing secular songs, because I realize that it was God who gave me the voice," he said. "It does not matter whether a door opens or whether it closes," he continued, "once I continue serving the Lord, He's going to make the way possible for me to reach the world through gospel singing."

Cunningham, 23, has been singing since age five. A member of the Church of God of Prophecy, East Shirley Street, he is on the Praise and Worship Team, and serves as Youth Director and Assistant Choir Director.

How will he spend his prize? "I will put some into the church, he said." "I know that because of God I am here today." The balance of his prize money, he said would go toward his tuition at the Bahamas Baptist College where he is taking evening courses in Business Administration. He is presently employed in the Ministry of Health in the Public Health Information System Department.

"From a small child I realized the call on my life was to become a gospel recording artist. I think this is the beginning of it."

While it was too early for him to say when he will record his first album, Cunningham already has a repertoire of original songs for the album to be produced on the CM Records label.

Ronald Simms, Freddie Munnings, Jr. and Cedric Munnings are the owners of the business. Simms said the show "breathed a breath of fresh air into the local entertainment industry by exposing new talent and developing them into performing artists."

"During the life of the show, we've had a good selection of talent and was able to bring a number of potential entertainers out of the woodwork," Mr. Simms said.