The voice that has been thrilling a million ears throughout the world in the last few days traces its roots to Manteca.

The voice belongs to former Manteca resident and Sierra High graduate Lindsey Pavao. She is the youngest of the four children of Earl and Deborah Pavao, longtime residents of The Family City.

The accolades – hundreds of thousands, if not in the millions by now – have been pouring in from all corners of the globe since Lindsey appeared on the popular NBC television talent show called “The Voice.”

Judging by the blog comments, Pavao is already a winner this early in the competition. She practically already has a fan club. Here are just a few of the rave reviews from those who watched Lindsey’s first appearance on The Voice:

“(T)his was hands down the most original performance! (S)he will go far!!”

“(Comment in all caps) “Best version of song ever!”

“(L)iterally amazing. I’ve been watching this on repeat for a while now… what a gift. She will go far!”

“I love this version so much! Her voice is just amazing with this song!”

“Love her voice and style!”

“This is 100 times better than the (T)rey (S)ongz version (of ‘Say Aah’.)”

“A star is born!”

Proud Mom Deborah, who teaches photo and video production at Sierra High, said Lindsey has taken a break from her studies at California State University, Sacramento to be on The Voice. She is currently in her junior year as a psychology major.

Lindsey thought is “not very happy with that,” she said of her daughter’s major field of study in college. “She really wants to pursue a career in singing and songwriting. This (The Voice) is her foot in the door,” said Deborah who, with husband Earl, was on the sidelines cheering on their daughter during her television performance. All you have to do is Google The Voice on NBC to watch their happy faces and Lindsey’s performance that night. The episode can also be viewed on YouTube.

The Pavaos’ daughter has already written some songs which she has performed at some of the television and radio appearances she has already made.

After clinching her first appearance on the reality talent program during the part called blind audition, Lindsay is now scheduled to go on to the second level of the three-phase competition. That first portion of the show is called blind audition because the judges’ decision is based on simply listening to the contestant’s voice. The first to turn around and vote on Lindsey was the singer Christina Aguilera. It was Aguilera whom Lindsey chose for her competition team. Since three of the four judges turned around and voted for Lindsey, this gave her the option of selecting whose judge’s team she wanted to be a part of as she moves on to the finals. The overall winner at the final competition stands to win $100,000 plus a recording contract with Universal Republic.

The three celebrity judges-vocal coaches who are recording stars in their own right are Aguilera, Adam Levine who is lead vocalist for Maroon 5, Blake Shelton, and Adam Levine.



The fruit does not fall far from the tree

Lindsey “The Voice” honed her vocal skills at local places and open mics in Manteca such as Bean & Leaf Café at the Raley’s shopping center on North Union and Lathrop roads.

 “When she was in high school, she used to play in coffee shops with other teen-age kids,” the rising singing star’s mother said.

Deborah Pavao describes her daughter’s singing style as “alternative, not really hip-hop or hop” or rap.

While the episode of the reality show was broadcasted only about a week ago, the recording actually took place in October.

That also was preceded by more preliminary auditions months before that.

“She called me right after she had gone to her first audition and said, ‘they really liked me and they asked me to come back again.’ So she went back and auditioned again. They liked her so much and invited her to come to Los Angeles,” recalled Deborah, a longtime teacher at Sierra High where she teaches photo and video production. Husband Earl works for the Associated Press.

The fruit does not fall far from the tree. Earl Pavao, back in the 1980s and 1990s, was a member of a church band as a singer. He also played various musical instruments.

The couple has three other children besides Lindsey. The only boy and the oldest of the siblings is Earl, Jr., 37, who lives in Sacramento and works for the school district. Daughter Nicole Blakemore is a stay-at-home mom in Manteca and has three children with her husband. The other daughter Michelle is a theater major at San Diego State where she is a junior.

Lindsey, the aspiring singer and songwriter, is the baby in the family.

“We are really, really very proud of her, and excited. This is an opportunity in a lifetime – to be on a show like this,” her very proud mother said.