SAFFORD — Given the talent level on the David M. Player Center for the Arts stage Thursday, Zaylie Windsor said she couldn’t believe it when she was named the 2023 Gila Idol winner.
“I was talking to them back (stage), and I was like, ‘All these people deserve to win.’ They’re all amazing, I love them all and they have beautiful voices,” Windsor said.
Windsor, 16, won with her cover of the 1966 Burt Bacharach and Hal David classic, “I Say a Little Prayer,” which went to No. 4 for Dionne Warwick and No. 10 for Aretha Franklin.
“I was scared to cover her. I was like, ‘I can’t cover Aretha Franklin,’ but I think it worked pretty well,” Windsor said.
She was presented with the Gila Idol trophy and a check for $2,000 from Reed Richins, owner of Double R Communications, which puts on Gila Idol each year, and Mike Curtis from Trophies ‘N Tees.
In second place, earning a trophy and a $500 gift certificate from Richard’s Music, was Hunter Chamberlin, for his rendition of Taylor Swift’s “No Body, No Crime.”
The third place trophy and a $300 Richard’s Music gift certificate went to Kamea Nelson, who performed the song “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” from the show “Dreamgirls.”
The fourth-place trophy and $100 Richard’s Music gift certificate was awarded to Andy Davis, for his version of Vince Gill’s “Whenever You Come Around.”
Bella Campbell, who sang John Lennon’s “Imagine,” was the top vote-getter on the Kat Kountry Facebook page, earning her a gift basket from Ginaveve’s Marketplace and a $100 Visa gift card.
Judges for the 2023 Gila Idol final were 2017 Gila Idol winner Darryn Kamae, 2006; winner Jennifer Olson, who offered a special performance of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”; and 2008 winner Adam Crohn, who performed “Bare Necessities.”
2022 Gila Idol winner Frank Adams opened the evening by singing “Speak to the Mountain,” and while the judges deliberated, the audience was treated to performances by 2007 winner Molly Dobell, who sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”; 2012 Ethan McBride, who sang “When You Say You Love Me”; and 2016 winner Brianna Morris, who sang “Crazy.”
Sponsors for 2023 Gila Idol include Valley Telecom Group; Mack’s NAPA Auto Parts; Richard’s Music Co.; the Double R Bar and Grill; Freeport-McMoRan; Valley Furniture and Appliance; Tyson Richins – Edward Jones Investments; Swire Coca-Cola; Trophies ‘N Tees; Advanced Air Systems; the Graham County Chamber of Commerce; and the Double R Communications family of radio stations, Kat Kountry 94.5 FM, Sunny 102.3 FM and KATO 1230 AM.
