Ricky Duran Wows 'The Voice' Coaches And Industry Big Wigs

Grafton MA

26 November, 2019

12:44 PM

Description

Worcester County's Ricky Duran did it again — not that anyone was surprised. On Monday night's episode of "The Voice" Duran closed out the show with his cover of Tom Waits' "Downtown Train," earning high praise from the audience and coaches. Duran, a Grafton native, earned a spot on Team Blake with celebrity coach Blake Shelton after his blind auditions. Monday night was a two-hour live show. Before closing out the show, a video played, showing Duran recounting his love for Worcester. Describing Worcester as a "blue-collar, working class town," Duran explained the support he feels from the community. "They really respect that somebody that came from Worcester is doing something big." Duran is a Berklee College of Music graduate and has several songs on Spotify and iTunes. The singer-songwriter and guitarist is well known in Worcester as a performer. Although he moved from Worcester to Austin, Texas, he performed in the city for years at venues like Atlantic Poke, Michael's Cigar Bar and Ralph's Diner. After his performance, Duran received praise from not only his coach but from celebrity coach John Legend as well. Legend said Duran already feels like a fully formed artist, "You just look advanced beyond a competition. You look like you should be coaching too. You're really good, Ricky. You're really good," Legend said. Shelton also offered compliments and even said Duran is being eyed by professionals in the music industry for his powerful performances on the show. "Ricky, when everybody loves you, it's not just fans and people that I know — Literally, people in the business are reaching out to me about you already," Shelton said. Duran moved from the show's "Top 20" to the"Top 13" with ease earlier this month but he and all of his Worcester fans will find out on Tuesday if he advances to the "Top 10."