Lloyd wows them in national finals

Lloyd wows them in national finals

Columns

By: Jim Thomas

Whitchurch-Stouffville was propelled onto the world stage of athletics last month  through the  brilliant trampoline endeavours of Olympic silver medallist Karen Cockburn.

This month, our town was again immersed in the spotlight of publicity thanks to the magnificent tenor voice of Lloyd Knight.

Mr. Knight, 73, a Stouffville-area resident since 1993, was voted No. 1 out of 800 vocal and instrumental entrants from across Canada in the second annual Chartwell Senior Star competition.

The grand finale, featuring the contest’s top 10, was held Sept. 15 in the Imperial Room of Toronto’s Royal York Hotel.

John Storms of Kingston placed second. Phyllis Sykes of Etobicoke was third. All 10 finalists received engraved, cut-glass trophies. The top three won, respectively, $5,000, $4,000 and $3,000 travel vouchers.

“When my name was announced as the winner, I was shocked,” Mr. Knight said. “It was a magic moment, a highlight in my life.”

By coincidence, it was during a haircut appointment in Pickering that his barber suggested Knight seriously consider entering the Chartwell contest, reserved for men and women 65 and over.

After giving the suggestion considerable thought, Mr. Knight visited a Chartwell residence in Markham and an audition was arranged. He sang one of his favourite gospel songs,You Raise Me Up, and was immediately selected to advance to the next round.

The numbers were reduced to 73 and then 10. Out of the finalists, Mr. Knight was the last to perform.

“I was totally amazed at the magnitude of the production,” Mr. Knight said.

The supporting cast included a seven-piece orchestra directed by Laura Lynn and a ballroom filled with 450 people. The show’s host was famed Canadian singer Dinah Christie.

The panel of judges included entertainment icon  Gordie Tapp, Dan Clancy of Canadian jazz rockers Lighthouse and singer-songwriter Tim Louis.

Mr. Clancy called the quality of talent “spectacular”.

“It was difficult to select the best from the amazing 10 finalists,” he said, “but, in the end, it was the power and grace of Lloyd’s voice that won us over.”

Mike Harris, former premier of Ontario and Chartwell board chairperson, was in attendance.

Mr. Knight likened the finals to a concert rather than a competition.

“Never have I cherished such a moment,” he said, after his name was announced.

“It was a surprise; a shock, because all finalists were equally good.” His wife, Miriam, was seated in the audience.

Mr. Knight plans to attend next year’s performance, but as a spectator rather than a participant.

The next day, both the winner and runner-up were guests on Breakfast Television on CITY-TV. In December, CTV will feature an hour-long review.

Born at Penetang, one of four in the family of Robert Francis and Dorothy Knight,  Lloyd moved with his parents to Toronto after his father obtained work at Victory Aircraft in Malton.

It was while attending Etobicoke Collegiate Institute that he was introduced to his first real  singing role, that of a soloist in an all-girl choir.

“That’s a story in itself,” he admits.

As a teen, he attended Islington Avenue Baptist Church and later the People’s Church. Following the congregation’s move to Willowdale, the quality of Lloyd’s voice was recognized by the minister of music, Dr. David Williams.

Lloyd became a regular Sunday soloist on national television. In addition, he’s traveled with Dr. John Wesley White, associate evangelist with the Billy Graham Crusade.

Locally, he’s been a guest soloist at Stouffville’s Christmas Day program, at Stouffville’s Parkview Village and the Sacred Music Night in Stouffville’s St. James Presbyterian Church. In November, he’s participating in a memorial service at Markhaven, Markham.

As a youth, Mr. Knight had no voice training. He calls it “a gift from God”.

Following their move to Stouffville, Lloyd and Miriam attended Markham Missionary Church. They now worship at Unionville Alliance.

Lloyd and sons Peter and Stephen operate a video production company out of their home called Roundtable Association. They also have a son-in-law and daughter, Robert and Terri-Lea Morse of Stouffville and three grandchildren.

Lloyd Knight, another jewel in Stouffville’s symbolic music crown.

Jim Thomas is a Stouffville resident who has written for area newspapers for more than 50 years.

All content contained in this or any other yorkregion.com website including but not limited to textual, audio, video and any graphics are copyright 2000-2008 Metroland Media Group Ltd. and can not be used in any part without expressed written permission, with the exception of content in the yorkregion.com Pen & Pixel section, which requires the written consent of the authors.