DAYTONA BEACH — Kaleb Lee opened his Thursday evening concert at One Daytona with Little Big Town’s 2005 “Boondocks.”
The 32-year-old Ormond Beach country artist performed the song during his run to the semifinals on NBC’s “The Voice” and sees it as similar to the direction he wants to take with his own music.
“My sound in country music today is going to be more of the soulful country,” he said. “Pretty similar to the song ‘Boondocks’ that I did by Little Big Town, a lot of that kind of vibe, but also trying to give a nod here and there to some traditional country as well.”
Wearing a black cowboy hat that was a staple during his time on the show, Lee performed in front hundreds of fans — many in Kaleb Lee shirts and hats — under mostly blue evening skies. The homecoming performance came after Lee's 15-year-old teammate under coach Kelly Clarkson, Brynn Cartelli, won the singing competition on Tuesday.
In addition to other songs from his time on the show, Lee performed original music.
"Home: it ain't made of sticks and stone," he sang. "It's about Friday nights in high school. It's about Sunday afternoons."
Lee — who left his job as president of Daytona Beach internet marketing company Markentum to take advantage of the opportunities from "The Voice" — plans to release a single or two this summer in order to keep the momentum from the show rolling.
“I’ve got songs and am going to be writing, but also trying to go out and trying to find some really, really great songs out there that no one’s taken and see if we can create a record that feels like me,” he said. “The quicker that we can do that and get it out, I think everybody, including myself, will be happy.”
His One Daytona performance took place across the street from Daytona International Speedway, where the Country 500 music festival kicks off Friday. The three-day festival will include performances from star country music acts Dierks Bentley, Billy Currington, Chris Stapleton, Sugarland and Toby Keith.
“Hopefully it’s a foreshadowing of next year’s Country 500,” said Lee, who moved to Ormond Beach in 2011. “Maybe we’ll be across the street on the other side next year.”
Lee — whose last name is Scharmahorn but who uses his middle name as a stage name — took pictures with swarming fans before the concert and was recognized on stage with proclamations read by Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry and Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington. He was also given a key to the city of Ormond Beach from City Commissioner Dwight Selby.
Rick Dominy, a 57-year-old from Port Orange, had on both a Kaleb Lee shirt and hat for the event.
"I want to hear his voice in person," he said before the show got underway.
Another of his fans with a Kaleb Lee shirt was 35-year-old Keri Lynn. The Ormond Beach resident said she knew Lee before his time on the show and said his voice is reminiscent of country music from the 1990s.
"He reminds so many people of, like, good country," Lynn said.