Emerald Coast Sing-Off

Preston started playing music at a very young age and has been playing live in bands since 1994. After years of playing in a successful "original" band in Tennessee, Preston moved to the Destin area and formed formed a "party/cover" band called The Bottoms Up Band, and recently changed the name of the current line up to Kickstand Jenny. The new band is heading to Nashville this year to record their debut album with veteran artist/songwriter/producer/engineer Chas Sandford, who has worked with artists such as Sammy Hagar, Madonna, Carrie Underwood, Def Leppard and many more. Preston also recently started Soundwaves Entertainment to provide sound reinforcement, equipped rehearsal space and sound solutions to the area. He plans on adding a state of the art recording studio in the future. He is married and enjoys being dad to two beautiful daughters, Mia and Maddie.

Hope is a local to the 850 area code. Her world has revolved around music since the age of six. She tried the whole "college thing," realized it wasn't for her, dropped out and started the band, Continuum. After three years of developing mad guitar skills, singing her lil heart out, touring the country and falling in love with music in a whole new way, she is thrilled to return home and continue playing music as a solo act in the Destin area. Her loves include her betrothed, Kameron, her acoustic guitar, Willow - uh and vodka.

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois Jovan Richie has been singing and dancing for 17yrs. His love for the performing arts afforded him many opportunities in performing for many venues, stage plays, concerts and events throughout the U.S. he's in the midst of completing his degrees majoring in business management and minoring in marketing with hopes of applying it towards his passion of music and his future in it.

Christie is a lover of all kinds of music. She discovered singing as a child and knew all the lyrics to her parents records. Originally from Richmond, Virginia she moved to Florida at age 6 and grew up on the beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast. Singing has always been a past time of hers and choral groups are where she discovered her ear for harmony. In 1995 she moved to Italy for personal reasons and there she joined a singing group made up of 10 women all from different countries, led by a very talented Canadian music teacher. They performed for many local venues. After moving back to the US in 2005, Christie became a Licensed Massage Therapist who specializes in Pain Management. She has since discovered a love for Energy Healing, after being in contact with so many different people and sensing their individual energies. For her, music is an art that allows expression of a person's energy as well as their emotions. She loves her friends, her job, and her life. She is a founder of Source Institute Massage School in Fort Walton Beach and a co-owner of 8th Element Wellness where she practices Massage Therapy.

Soul Singer Extraordinary, Mr. Rodney Wilson has a passion for Motown, R&B, and Blues which can be heard with every song performed in the style of the original old school classics. Rodney has been a mainstay on the Emerald Coast for more than 20 years, his resume and abilities are world renowned. Under an alter ego known as Singer55, he performs at a level of persistent excellence. As a participant in military entertainment he performed for active duty and family members the world over. Of his many accolades there are the 6 consecutive years of 1st place male vocalist awards in military base level talent shows, and his two time Air Force World-Wide 1st place "Roger" wins, distinguishing him as the best of the best. Also noteworthy was the winning of the first-ever 2006 Northwest Florida Idol competition held here in the Panhandle. Singer55 continues to live the life he loves. Currently, the lead vocalist for the Emerald Gold Band, Rodney can be seen and heard each Wednesday night from 7 PM - 11 PM at "The Ocean Club" in Miramar Beach Fl.

Diane Winnemuller is the publisher of the Northwest Florida - West division for GateHouse Media. She oversees The Northwest Florida Daily News, The Destin Log, The Walton Sun, The Crestview News Bulletin, and the Santa Rosa Press Gazette. Diane began her media career in 1979 as an advertising consultant for Cox Newspapers in Tempe, Arizona. Over the past 36 years, Diane has held several leadership roles and gained experience in media including newspapers, magazines, direct mail, TV, radio, and digital.

Connie Beinkemper has always been in love with music. Before moving to Florida 13 years ago, she sang in a band in Cincinnati called Fast Eddie and the Lazy Boy's. After moving here, she would go to karaoke at local places and met some wonderful friends. Before long she was in a duo that turned into a trio called Paradise Bayou with her husband Dave Beinkemper and friend Carla Moore. If Paradise Bayou has a free night, you can usually find her and her husband Dave in their home studio working on originals.

David Beinkemper has been involved in music since 1981 when he bought his first Ovation guitar and a Mel Bay learn to play guitar book. Since those days he has always had a studio in his house for writing, recording, mixing and producing original music. Today David is in the band Paradise Bayou with his wife Connie and friend Carla Moore while also running Karaoke in local venues. His mission is to be involved in helping all local singer/songwriters in any way get their music and talent seen and heard by as many as possible!