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.”

A singer-songwriter from Decatur, Ga. who began writing music and lyrics when she was just six years old, Sydney is an accomplished guitarist who has performed live for years at various venues throughout Atlanta. Audiences are consistently surprised at her age 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, who first came onto the Atlanta scene last year with their debut single, “Something More.” A passionate writer and actor, Sydney has written two feature-length musicals and several plays.

Sydney returned on a high note from her recent trip to Nashville where she received a standing ovation after performing her original songs before a ballroom full of music industry folks at the American Diabetes Association’s Father of the Year Awards ceremony. Afterward she got to meet and chat with many encouraging musicians, high-level industry executives and well-wishers from the Grammys, ASCAP and BMI. American Idol runner-up Bo Bice told her “I’m glad to be able to say that I knew you before you hit it big! You’ve got a lot of talent, especially for your age.”

After hearing her sing, Howard Gentry, Jr., former vice-mayor of Nashville, exclaimed “Sydney reminds me of a young Janice Joplin!” At his invitation Sydney and her family extended their stay and he made arrangements for her to appear at the Nashville Songwriters Festival that weekend. She appeared on three music stages and her closing performance was streamed live on the Nashville Songwriters Festival Ustream.

Music veteran Dennis Eggers commented, “She’s got one of the best voices I’ve heard in a long time! She’s awesome – definitely one of the major high points of the Songwriters Festival as far as I’m concerned.”

To view some of Sydney’s music performance videos, search Sydney Rhame at vimeo.com.

You can also check out her new MySpace page at www.myspace.com/sydneyrhame to listen to her songs.