Lilburn Idols and Superstars - Valda Harrison

Valda Harrison, who has been in Lilburn about 13 years is another “reluctant contestant” to Idol who has made judges and fans sit up and take notice. Her boyfriend, Emmett Crockett, signed her up, put the application together and then just told her when to be on hand to sing the Star Spangled Banner for her audition.

Though Valda says her dream of making more music is about 4 years away, she’s excited to have this jump start with Lilburn Idol. “If I am going to get out there to do some things, this was a good place to start,” she said. 

She’s done some singing in her days … working with artists to do background vocals for a jazz CD, singing at parties and weddings, and a few funerals. She even performed at the Apollo in 1989 and though she didn’t get pulled off by the sandman she didn’t win either. “I just didn’t have enough fans in the audience to move on.” The celebration downstairs was just enough to keep the dream in there. “If you can sing at the Apollo, you can sing anywhere.” 

Valda is a self-proclaimed ballad singer. “Sort of like Whitney/Streisand-like” And got her training being part of the chorus in her school and in the church choir. Nothing formal, though she went to college on a partial scholarship in Voice. She took lessons then and even sang in the college pagant. “But I didn’t win.” She’s performed in a pop-rock band in school and been awarded the opportunity to sing with the All-State Chorus when younger.  

But these days, the dreams are somewhat on hold as she prepares to spend the next few years helping her son, Justin, fulfill his dreams in baseball. He’s just made the team at the baseball powerhouse that is Parkview High, so this should be exciting.

She moved to the Lilburn Idol finale with her rendition of Yolanda Adams, Never Give Up. “It was an inspirational song that helped me get through my dad’s passing a few years ago.” And while she looks forward to the finale and has been asked to open Lilburn Daze with the Star Spangled Banner, she also looks forward to recording her own CD some day soon.

 Good Luck, Valda! 

Photography by Richard Ferris, Ferris Photo Services