By Cassandra Miller
ONEONTA _ Hundreds of people staked their claim to seats under a white tent at the Foothills Performing Arts Center on Wednesday night to watch 20 singers perform during the second round of the "Ultimate Idol" contest.
The event is sponsored by the Central New York Radio Group.
Afton horse trainer Jason Wicks, 28, started the night with a lively performance of "Hick Town," by Jason Aldean.
"I wanted something that was upbeat enough and something that showed off my vocal talent," said Wicks, 28, a veteran "Ultimate Idol" performer who made it to the finals three years ago with a Tim McGraw song.
Wicks wore a red button-up shirt, blue jeans and a baseball hat, which he said he chose because the ladies seem to like it.
"I think I'm going to do 'Chicken Fried,' like KFC, by the Zach Brown Band," Wicks said of what he would perform if he makes it to the semifinals.
Although country music choices dominated the event, performances of classic favorites, like "Great Balls of Fire," by Jerry Lee Lewis, "To Dream the Impossible Dream," from the "Man of La Mancha" musical, and "New York, New York," by Frank Sinatra, were also crowd-pleasers.
Ron Leone, 64, of Bovina Center, stepped onto the stage in a tuxedo, red tie and Buddy Holly black-rimmed glasses. After accidentally turning off the microphone, he worked out the technicalities and restarted his rendition of "New York, New York" to an audience on its feet before the song ended.
Leone, who sings Rat Pack favorites professionally in Florida, punctuated his performance with Rockette-style kicks.
Leone started singing professionally after he retired from a New York City health insurance company.
"I didn't like the corporate structure," Leone said. "I was too nice "¦ when I turned 50, I talked to my wife and she said it was OK and I started singing professionally."
Audience members appeared to be impressed with Leone's performance. Lindsay Siwiec, of Vestal, said the crooner was her favorite of the group.
"He's a winner in my eyes already," said Siwiec halfway through Leone's performance.
Siwiec, a first-time "Ultimate Idol" spectator, said the talent level of the performers varied.
"It think (the talent) ranges from excellent to what I sound like when I sing in the shower with a sore throat _ and I'm a terrible singer," Siwiec said. "I make Joan Rivers sound like an angel."
Another spectator was not as critical as Siwiec.
"I think they're all great," said Joe Hughes, of Oneonta, and winner of one of the raffle-ticket door prizes Wednesday night.
"I'm an 'Idol' groupie. I come out every Wednesday night they perform," said Hughes, who said he and his friends always reserve a table and have their own scoring cards for the performers.
Leone and Michael Grey, the man who sang "To Dream the Impossible Dream," were two of the top scorers, according to Hughes' group of friends.
"It's an 'Idol' night," Hughes said. "You've got to go out 'Idol' nights "I'm missing a Yankees game for this."
The next "Ultimate Idol" event, on July 8, will feature 20 more singers from the original 60. On July 9, 20 contestants will advance from the 40 performers Wednesday and July 8.
