Eleven AND A HALF year-old Decatur resident, Sydney Rhame, has herself a colorful, front of the the Living & Arts, multi-page spread in Sunday’s AJC.  Written by Rosalind Bentley, the article takes up nearly an entire page of newsprint and features multiple pics of Rhame.

In it, we learn that since she won $1,000 from Kudzu, Sydney has been taken in by voice coach Jan Smith, “who counts R&B megastar Usher and his protege, teen-pop throb Justin Bieber, as clients.”  She’s also taking hip-hop dance classes “not because [she] want to sing hip-hop, but because the moves could help her in a pop career.”  Sydney’s goal is a record deal by age 12.

The article is not yet online – part of the AJC’s new strategy to give extra value to the print edition – but once it’s up I’ll post the link here.

Congrats Sydney!

In the midst of helping young Decatur musician Sydney Rhame win $1,000 from Kudzu last year, we also promoted “Girls Rock Camp”, a start-up non-profit founded by “long-time Decaturites” that assists young girls in starting bands and creating original music.

Well, this year the organization is hosting a three day event for the 19 and older crowd!  “Ladies Rock Camp” is limited to 25 participants and will be held at Atlanta Charter Middle School features a culminating performance at L5P’s Five Spot and a songwriting workshop with the Indigo Girls Emily Saliers.

No prior musical experience is necessary and tuition is just $350!

For more info, check out the full press release after the jump or head on over to the Ladies Rock Camp page on the Girls Rock Camp website.

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As FM Fats pointed out in a previous comment, Kudzu.com just announced that Decatur’s Sydney Rhame won their Amazing Kids contest!  Here’s their blurb…

This contest is now closed! Congratulations to Sydney Rhame, our $1,000 grand prize winner. Check out the talented finalists below, and we look forward to your participation in our next contest!

Sydney is a singer-songwriter from Decatur, Ga. who began writing music and lyrics at the tender age of six.

Audiences are consistently surprised by her age (she just turned 11 on July 19) because of her hauntingly mature lyrics and voice as well as her 5′7″ height! She is also the lead singer of the all-girl pop/rock band, The Lock Outs.

Sydney is a passionate writer and actor, and has written two feature-length musicals and several plays. She loves playing volleyball and is a straight-A student.

When asked how she’d spend the Kudzu.com prize money, Rhame said, “Well, I’d like to get a cell phone since I’ll be in middle school next year, but I really do need to get a decent-sounding guitar.”

Congrats Sydney!  Spend that money wisely!

In light of 11 year-old Sydney Rhame’s recent effort to claim the top prize in Kudzu’s “Amazing Kids” contest, Betsy writes in to let us know about Girls Rock Camp ATL, a start-up non-profit founded by “long-time Decaturites” that assists young girls in starting bands and creating original music.  It’s also where Sydney’s band “The Lock Outs” got their start last year, and according to Betsy, they’ll be returning this year.

Major supporters of the Atlanta branch include the Indigo Girls and Sugarland, along with Atlanta merchants like the Brick Store, Noodle, Criminal Records and Highland Bakery.

What can you do to support them?  Help them perform to a sold-out audience at Variety Playhouse.  Betsy continues…

Girls’ Rock Camp (ATL) will rock Atlanta with new talent during its second annual Camper Showcase held at 7:30 p.m., July 25, 2009 at The Variety Playhouse. The showcase culminates a five-day camp during which a diverse group of 40 girls, ages 10-16 form bands, learn to play instruments, write original songs and rehearse for their public debut.

Tickets are only $12 and can be purchased on Variety’s website.

And if you can’t make the showcase, you can also donate old gear, time or money to the cause according to the website.

With the help of wonderful clickers such as yourself, Decatur’s 10 year-old phenom musician, Sydney Rhame, has progressed all the way to the finals in Kudzu’s “Amazing Kids” contest!

Sydney’s mom, Julie, wrote in to DM this morning with the news that Sydney had bested the smug, coughing 2 year-old singer (my description, not her’s) and now only has to take down one more set of carol-singing cuties to win the ultimate prize: $1,000!

So click here to vote for Sydney one final time and help her finance the purchase of a new guitar!  All it takes is a single click on the Kudzu site!

With our help, 10-year old Decatur phenom Sydney Rhame has made it to the semi-finals in Kudzu’s “Amazing Kids” contest with her “My Turn” performance at Kavarna.

But now Sydney needs our help more than ever.

Her previous competition, a young John Lennon impersonator, is nothing compared this latest nemesis; a 2 year-old boy in his PJs singing “Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer.”

Cute?  Maybe.  Amazing?  Come on!  He can’t even stay on pitch or finish the song without the help of his dad!  And if his best rendition of this holiday classic includes a coughing-fit at the end, I can’t say I’m all that amazed.

So please click over to Kudzu and with a single click you can give Sydney your vote and help her move on to the finals for her chance to win $1000!

Marcia sends in this press release…

Is Sydney Rhame One of America’s Most Amazing Kids?

Decatur’s own Sydney Rhame is one of 16 finalists in the Kudzu.com Most Amazing Kids in America contest. Fans and friends of Sydney Rhame are encouraged to vote at the Kudzu.com contest page: http://www.kudzu.com/guides.do?guidename=kidsAmazing

[Rhame is ahead in her matchup thus far, with by far the most votes of any candidate!]

The field narrows down to the top eight finalists on Wednesday, July 1; top four finalists on July 15; and the winner will be determined on July 22.

The Kudzu.com contest winner receives $1,000 in prize money. When asked how she’d spend the money if she wins, Rhame said, “Well, I’d like to get a cell phone since I’ll be in middle school next year, but I really do need to get a decent-sounding guitar.”

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“who decatur” writes in and notes that Glennwood student, Sydney Rhame, and “The Lock Outs” will perform today at noon on the eastern lawn of the Rec Center.  It’s 11:30a now, so I sure hope you’re reading this on a mobile device or you live within a quick walk of the Rec.

Watch Rhame perform a bunch of her songs here and then join my chorus of “Is she really only 10 years old?”