Marie Finelli Could Be The Next Hawk Hitmaker

Vital Stats:

Name: Marie Finelli
Age: 33
From: Binghamton, New York
Singing Experience: All her life "In my car. In my shower. Goofing off. When I was a kid, I was in chorus and stuff like that. My first time singing karaoke was in 96’ because my friend convinced me to do it."
Heroes: "My friend Renee. She's one of the strongest people I've ever met."
Favorite Country Artist: Sugarland - "Lyrically, the music speaks to me."
Country Crush: None "I don't crush."

The Inside Scoop:

Marie knows the country roots of Binghamton well. Now a karaoke regular in the area, she has a striking passion for country music that drew her to this competition (That, and Rich Birdsall, according to Marie). Growing up in Binghamton, Marie saw Sugarland at the Magic City Music Hall. They're her favorite band at the moment and she loved the union of big country with small locality:

Their stage presence was really cool. I love when big bands can play small venues.

Marie has worked a number of places in Binghamton including The Lost Dog and an EMT background. Marie loves people and loves helping people, and her compassion is a perfect fit for the genre.

Marie's musical influences include Sugarland, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Little Big Town, and more. She's seen Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Lilith Fair, and Staind (frontman Aaron Lewis recently forayed into country music) in concert. However, Marie's strongest musical influence comes her own family tree:

My mother sings soprano. She was in a lot of musicals in college at SUNY Oneonta. My brother sings and was in a local band for a while. My daughter plays guitar really well too. Everyone in my family has musical talent. We could be a band like the Jackson’s

To potential voters:

Give it a listen. If you like it, like it, if you don’t, don’t.

Here is Marie's song. Take a listen and look out for your opportunity to vote once all 10 contestants have been profiled.