Sunshine of Lyme Wins 2014 Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year, Age 13-16

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Braiden Sunshine of Lyme performs at the NACMAI competition in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Braiden Sunshine of Lyme performs at the NACMAI competition in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Last month, Braiden Sunshine of Lyme was named the 2014 Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year for age 13-16 in the ‘New Country’ category  by the North American Country Music Associations International (NACMAI) at their national competition held at Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
Nacmai_trophy_2014_301KBSunshine had previously participated in the Southern New England Country Music Awards (SNECMA), which covers Connecticut and RI, where in August he won the title of 2013 Male Vocalist of the Year in his age group 13-16 for New Country Music.
He then moved on to the New England completion and in November won his category again.  All state winners are eligible to compete in the National competition in Tennessee.
There were three main genres of music being performed in Pigeon Forge; Gospel, Bluegrass and Country (Traditional and New Country).  Sunshine competed in the New Country category as it was the closest to his style of music.  The performers took the stage at the Country Tonight Theatre every eight minutes from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. each night Monday to Saturday.
Each day, Sunshine and his mother, Liz, watched some of the performers, making a point to see all the other Connecticut performers.
After the performances, Sunshine would practice and join in the jams in the hotel conference rooms.  Liz comments, “This was the real fun, getting 20 performers in a circle playing and singing, building off each other.  They would go around the circle taking turns as to who would lead the next song.  It was amazing to watch and outstanding to listen to.  There is an incredible camaraderie that these artist have with one another [in that] they almost don’t have to speak they just follow the music.”  She adds, “The jam sessions went late into the night.  Braiden would tell me that his fingers were in agony from playing for five hours straight.”
During the competition, Sunshine’s performance caught the eye of Mike Jennings and Sunshine was asked to be on the Nashville Spotlight Television Show.
Locally, you can see Sunshine perform on April 18, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Buckley House, 111 Bank St., New London or Captains Pizza on Sunday, April 27, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Congratulations, Braiden!

6 thoughts on “Sunshine of Lyme Wins 2014 Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year, Age 13-16”

  4. Congratulations to you Braiden! Have heard you sing for lo these many years, and you have always shone! May all your dreams for the future come true! We’ll all be watching and cheering you on!

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