Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Her audition: Regina Love, 51, Atlanta, Ga., auditioned with “Rock Steady,” displaying a big and bold voice that prompted chair turns from Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. Adam complimented her on “an incredible talent” that deserved to be on the show. Regina opted to join Team Adam.

Her background: Regina hosts “The Regina Love Show” on a radio station in Atlanta. “My goal is to inspire people,” she says. “My goal is so they can make it, no matter what.” But her true passion is singing, something she’s done most of her life. She says she comes from a big family whose members are musically inclined. That prompted her to join a contemporary gospel group with some family members, cousins and friends that “toured for years” and changed her life, Regina said. Then, in 1999, came what she thought would be her big break. She signed with Real Deal Records, run from former heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield. She released three inspirational albums through the label, but it folded after five years, an outcome that Regina said “broke my heart.” At the time, she was a single mother, struggling to support her family. She told The Voice coaches she “loves to make music for your soul. If you’re sad, I’m going to make you happy.” Meanwhile, Evander is still a believer. He showed up for her Voice intro clip. “Regina can sing anything,” he says. “Anybody who has an ear can tell she’s a star in the making.”

What the show didn’t show: About that musical family — The Voice website tells us Regina’s mother was a member of a gospel group and part of the first African American radio station, WDIA, in 1948. Her father was a singer in the local quartet, and all 12 of her brothers and sisters are singers. That first group Regina toured with was called “The New Spiritual Wonders.”

Before landing the record deal, she also spent time as a lead singer with gospel singer Fred Hammond’s group called “The Radicals for Christ.” Pre-Voice, in addition to her radio show on Be100, she was working as general manager of UED Studios, helping other up-and-coming artists develop their gifts. According to her website bio, she also appeared in a 1998 TV movie called “Mama Flora’s Family,” which starred Cicely Tyson, Blair Underwood and Queen Latifah.

During her brief time working with Adam Levine, she said he has assured her “that your gift does not have an age limit on it. … Never, ever think that age has anything to do with any gifting that anyone has in this world. Now when it’s your time, it’s your time,” she says.

For links to more bios of Season 9 artists on The Voice, head here.

On iTunes: Those three albums Regina recorded with Real Deal aren’t on iTunes, but the 11-track “It Ain’t Over” album is listed on Amazon.com.

Update:
Battle round: Lost to Jordan Smith singing “Like I Can.” The song hit #117 on the iTunes’s singles chart, the fifth best of the battle round. Regina was stolen by Gwen Stefani.
Knockout round: She sang “Midnight Train to Georgia,” which became the third most successful song on iTunes from the third night of the knockouts. She defeated Riley Biederer, who was then stolen back by Pharrell Williams.
Top 24: She sang “Hello.” The song failed to chart on the iTunes Top 200. Regina was eliminated when Jeffery Austin and Braiden Sunshine were voted into the finals and Korin Bukowski got the Team Gwen save.

Keeping up with Regina:
Website
Facebook
Twitter: @iamreginalove

Blind audition — Rock Steady

Battle round — Like I Can (with Jordan Smith)

Knockout round — Midnight Train to Georgia