Voicing excitement

As the sound of James Dupre singing played through the speakers on the back porch of James’ younger brother Jake’s home, Jake expressed the excitement he and his family and friends feel about the upcoming premier of season nine of NBC’s hit show, The Voice.
That excitement they are feeling is due to the fact that James’ voice will soon be heard by the millions of Americans that have made The Voice, according to TV Guide, the 10th most watched show in the United States in 2014.
The 30-year-old musician and Bayou Chicot native has made it through multiple rounds of auditioning and will now have the opportunity to showcase his talent during the blind audition rounds of The Voice.
When it comes to James’ ability to succeed in this musical endeavor, Jake has complete faith that his older brother “is going to do a good job.” Jake’s faith in his brother’s ability to belt out a tune that should easily make The Voice’s judges’ chairs turn around comes from “the heart and the determination” that Jake said James possesses. “I haven’t seen anybody work harder than James at this.”
When the opportunity to audition for The Voice presented itself to James, it made complete sense that he would go for it. Jake said, “Music, that’s just all James wants to do.”
James began making music his main focus after an appearance on the Ellen Degeneres Show back in 2010. However, James’ mother, Roxanne noticed her son’s desire to entertain crowds long before he made it his career. “When James was a baby he would babble in a tune,” Roxanne said. “He couldn’t talk yet but he was trying to sing.”
Performing on stage for large numbers of people is something that James has grown a custom to. From here to Canada, France and Germany, “James has played all over the world” his brother Jake said. James should also be fairly use to the camera, after having a role in the film The Price.
The people closest to James, however, know that his ability to captivate an audience comes from a skill he began developing at a very young age. Jake said, “My mom has a video from when I was in diapers and James had his microphone and guitar ready to perform and me and my family were his fans.” Jake held back laughter as he continued to tell this story. “He was in his drawers performing a Vince Gill song for us.”
Now, as the word has begun to spread about James’ upcoming debut on The Voice and people begin to show their support for the hometown boy, his mother is just proud of what he has already accomplished. “Just making it to the blind auditions is an accomplishment,” James’ mother said. “Of course we are hoping he is chosen to be on a team, but we are still just so proud that he has made it to this point.”
While James’ parents and siblings support his efforts to reach musical highs, there are four pint-size fans that can be considered James’ number one supporters. Those fans are his sons Paul, Topher, Nickie, and Jackson. His four sons, who attend Richard Elementary in Church Point, have been spreading the word of their dad’s success. “His [James] boys are so excited and proud of their dad,” Roxanne said. “They’ve got their whole school supporting James.”
James’ passion and determination to succeed in music is why his mother says their family will continue to support him. “This is his dream and all he has ever wanted to do,” Roxanne said. “That is why our family will always be there to back him. He is working hard to accomplish something he has loved for so long.”
Along with the support of his family, the support from the community has been very prevalent since word spread of the next journey James will be embarking on in his musical career. “So many people have called us just to tell us they are supporting James and that they are proud,” Roxanne said. “We are so grateful for all of the support. It means a lot to our family.”
With the blind auditions of The Voice set to begin airing Monday, September 21, James’ mother is hoping she gets to see her son make it on to Blake Shelton’s team. “Blake is country and so is James, so I think that James could do really well on his team,” Roxanne said.
If James makes it past the blind auditions his family plans to have a community get together to watch James’ premier on the live shows.
James’ mother is hoping that her son will get a chance to represent the place that will always be his home. “If James makes it further on the show and is able to pick the song he sings, I hope he does something that is from a Louisiana artist so that he can represent where he is from.”