It was more than just a solid showing for Davon Fleming, the Park Heights native who nearly made it into the finals of NBC’s “The Voice” this season.
Fleming, 25, was eliminated last night despite singing John Mayer’s “Gravity” and The Weeknd’s “Earned It” in typically stellar fashion. In the end, only four of the eight remaining contestants made it through to the finals. Fleming and his teammate, Noah Mac, were both eliminated from earning low vote tallies from viewers (incidentally ending coach Jennifer Hudson’s chances of winning the show).
Fleming was an immediate sensation on the singing competition from the moment he earned a four-chair turnaround from the judges for his audition performance of Amy Winehouse’s “Me and Mr. Jones.”
He moved with relative ease into each subsequent round, with soulful renditions of Beyonce’s “Love on Top” — a performance he dedicated to Baltimore — as well as Whitney Houston’s “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” Christina Aguilera’s “Hurt” and, just last week, Aretha Franklin’s “Ain’t No Way.” The latter earned him a “save” from viewers, who vote via social media for their favorite artists to advance.
Some in Baltimore and elsewhere were understandably pretty surprised and upset to see Fleming’s run end.
#Davon Fleming Besides, too many people are watching us, looking to see how we handle our “Not Yets.”) Let us continue to raise a standard!
Davon, you allowed the world to see Baltimore beyond The Wire, murder rate, or other negative imagery.
— Karen powell (@Karenpo43139348) December 13, 2017
Davon, you are awesome and I am sad for you but you are too talented to not be a success. You are going places so please keep your head up!!!! Best wishes to you and way to represent Baltimore.
— Tracy Robertson (@trayrob28) December 13, 2017
Proud of Davon Fleming. He represented Baltimore well.
— Anthony Hunt (@cahunt8) December 13, 2017
Fleming has taken the loss in stride.
“Don’t be sad for me this is only the beginning!!” he wrote on Facebook. “I came saw and conquered so much more on this journey. I’ve given my all and wouldn’t change a thing!!! Trust me when I say this is only the beginning for DAVON FLEMING Love you guys forever <3 never stop believing”
For what it’s worth, Fleming became a household name for weeknight NBC viewers, and will very likely be able to further his career as a professional musician thanks to his participation in the show. And all the while, he represented Baltimore proudly.
For memory’s sake, here’s one of Fleming’s final performances.
