Beverly McClellan

Beverly McClellan (July 6, 1969 – October 30, 2018) was an American singer and a contestant in the 1st season of the American TV series The Voice, reaching the final four.

At age four, McClellan started playing the piano and later learned to play guitar, trumpet, French horn, mandolin, ukulele, bass guitar, djembe and a wide variety of drums and percussion. She started singing at age 24 and had been performing at clubs in and bars around Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for 20 years. She had won the New York National Music Festival in 2004 as Best Overall Performer amongst 500 contestants.

Biography She was born in Kingsport, Tennessee, and raised in Gate City, Virginia. McClellan studied at South Fork High School and then at Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Florida. Her paternal grandmother was a Native American of Mohawk descent. To honor her, McClellan had tattoos representing a variety of different aspects of her grandmother's heritage.

Performances on The Voice Stage Song Original Artist Date Order Result Blind Audition "Piece of My Heart" Erma Franklin April 26, 2011 1.15 Adam and Christina turnedJoined Team Christina Battles (Top 32) "Baba O'Riley" (vs. Justin Grennan) The Who May 17, 2011 4.4 Saved by Coach Quarterfinals "I'm the Only One" Melissa Etheridge June 14, 2011 8.3 Saved by Public Vote Semifinals "The Thrill Is Gone" B.B. King June 21, 2011 9.5 Saved by Coach and Public Vote (107 Points) Live Finale (Final 4) "Lovesick" (Original) Beverly McClellan June 28, 2011 11.4 3rd/4th place "Beautiful" (with Christina Aguilera) Christina Aguilera 11.7

McClellan was an openly lesbian artist. She also recorded lead vocals for the song "John the Revelator" on Steve Vai's 2012 album The Story of Light, and toured with Vai the same year.

Illness and death Beverly McClellan was diagnosed with stage 3c endometrial cancer in March 2018 and performed her final show on the 24th. She died on October 30, 2018, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Discography Albums

(All independent releases on own label) Uncommon Ground Back to My Roots As a Girl Talk of the Town (2003) Beverly McClellan (2011) Fear Nothing (2011)

Singles Year Single Peak positions Album US CAN 2011 "Piece of My Heart" — 63 The Voice "Baba O'Riley" (featuring Justin Grennan) — — "I'm the Only One" — — "The Thrill Is Gone" 123 71 "Beautiful" (featuring Christina Aguilera) 74 — "Lovesick" 111 42