Jimmy Avance
2025 Winner
Born in Oklahoma City and raised in Muskogee, OK, Jimmy Avance has been singing since he could make audible sounds. His mother said he was singing in his crib before he could speak.
Young Jimmy knew he wanted to become a singer from his earliest days. His first public solo performance was at his pre-school, head-start graduation, where he performed, Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg’s “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.” Jimmy said, “Singing is what changes my mood and sets me straight for the day.”
Jimmy learned about the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation Cover Song Competition from Instagram and this was his second audition for the competiton. He has been a longtime Whitney Houston fan. “The day I heard ‘I Will Always Love You’ on the radio in elementary school, I wanted to be able to sing a song the way Whitney did, he recalls. “She was so powerful, so free and so spiritual. To say I am a fan is an understatement. When her voice resonates through my ears, I know that I am closer to God and that was her gift.”
Gregory Sams
2024 Winner
Born in Boston, Massachusetts and raised in Miami, Florida, Gregory Sams is an aspiring vocalist andbegan singing at a young age. One of eight children, Sams grew up in a musical family, where he discoveredhis vocal ability singing in the church choir.
Shortly thereafter, he received an invitation from his brother to join the group, New Generations, where he was thelead singer. The group mostly performed cover songs fromvarious male groups including The Jackson 5, NSYNC, TheTemptations, and others. New Generations performed at local venues and talent competitions in Florida.
As an artist, he found himself and his voice throughWhitney Houston’s extraordinary gift. When people ask the question, “Who trained you to sing,” he always responds with “Whitney,” because it is true.
Sams won numerous local and commercial singing competitions and performed at numerous venues. He continues to cover Whitney Houston songs and he works diligently at mastering his craft in hopes that someday he will be able to share his gift to worldwide audiences.
Gregory Sams is a full-time retail manager and college student at Florida State College-Jacksonville.
Denisia
2024 Runner-Up
Singer/Songwriter DENISIA has been a dynamic force on the music scene for more than a decade, captivating audiences with her sexy, sassy, confident, and angelic sounds. Her music, brimming with catchy lyrics about love, life, and happiness, spansan eclectic mix of R&B, dance, pop, and inspirational songs. DENISIA’s breakthrough came in 2015 whenshe landed her first major placement on Grammy-nominated artist Tamar Braxton’s Calling All Lovers album. This milestone led to further placements andfeatures with recording artist Juvenile on platformssuch as Netflix and VH1.
With her astonishing vocal ability and electrifying performance skills, DENISIA has opened for industry legends such as PJ Morton, Tank, Fantasia, Monica, KeyshiaCole, Lyfe Jennings, Kendrick Lamar, and Rickey Smiley. Her talent earned her recognition as BET’s Music Pick ofthe Week and a National Music Award for Best New FemaleR&B/Pop Artist. DENISIA has graced stages at numerous high-profile events, including the Jazz & Heritage Festival, the NAACP Image Awards, and the ESSENCE Festival.