D.Smooth, a singer from Alabama, will compete in the Season 23 finals of “The Voice.” Here are some things to know about the artist as he continues his quest for the title on the NBC reality series.
Good to know: His offstage name is David Mitchell.
Age: 25.
Hometown: Born and raised in Birmingham, now lives in Montgomery.
School days: D.Smooth graduated from Minor High School and studied at Faulkner University, according to his Facebook profile.
On stage: D.Smooth has performed at venues such as Eighty Eight and Encore Theatre and Gallery in Birmingham, and B.B. King’s Blues Club in Montgomery. A Facebook video posted by Rickey Smiley in 2021 shows D.Smooth singing Jodeci’s “Come & Talk To Me” at the Comedy Club Stardome, during one of Smiley’s Karaoke Nights at the venue in Hoover.
“Voice” bio says: “D.Smooth was about to take the stage at the Season 21 Blind Auditions when the teams filled up. Looking back, he’s grateful he didn’t get a chance to perform at a time when he wasn’t giving 100% to music. D.Smooth grew up in the rural countryside and his entire extended family all lived on the same street. He feels blessed that his family was close by to keep him grounded. In high school, D.Smooth was a singer in the jazz band, but even though he loved music, his main focus was sports. Now that he’s back at ‘The Voice,’ he’s ready to give music his all.”
Blind audition on “The Voice”: D.Smooth covered Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect,” causing Kelly Clarkson to turn her chair about 40 seconds into his performance. Niall Horan also turned his chair, causing Clarkson to wail, “Nooooo!” After receiving praise from all four coaches, D.Smooth chose Team Kelly.
READ MORE: Birmingham singer thrills Kelly Clarkson with Ed Sheeran cover on ‘The Voice’
Battle round on “The Voice”: D.Smooth performed a duet with ALI, another contestant on Clarkson’s team, covering Allen Stone’s “Unaware.” Their performance showed both singers to advantage, and inspired the show’s celebrity coaches to offer some extravagant praise. “You are world-class singers, both of you,” Clarkson said. “Like, incredible things that people on the Grammys aren’t even capable of doing. It’s incredible. D.Smooth, I haven’t heard a dude sing like that since, like, the ‘90s. I don’t get to hear someone like you very often.” Clarkson picked ALI as the winner of the battle, but used her “playoff pass” to keep D.Smooth in the competition. This was a huge vote of confidence, as it allowed him to skip the knockouts round and move directly to the playoffs.
READ MORE: Birmingham singer wows ‘Voice’ coaches with ‘phenomenal’ battle: ‘A crazy good performance’
Playoffs on “The Voice”: D.Smooth offered a silky rendition of Khalid’s “Location,” prompting effusive kudos from the coaches. They lauded his smooth tone, creative use of the microphone and more. “That’s my favorite thing you’ve ever done on this show,” Clarkson said. “You sing it differently every time. It’s almost like your song, you know? And it’s a very rare thing. Congratulations, man. It was awesome.” D.Smooth was the first artist chosen by Clarkson for the top eight and a spot in the live semifinals. (Another singer on Clarkson’s team, Holly Brand, also made through.)
READ MORE: ‘The Voice’: Get a sneak peek at Birmingham singer’s ‘awesome’ playoffs performance
Semifinals on “The Voice”: D. Smooth covered “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran, offering a dynamic performance that had the studio audience cheering. The coaches were impressed, and viewers voted accordingly, giving D.Smooth a spot in the Season 23 finals.
READ MORE: Alabama’s D.Smooth makes Blake Shelton cheer on ‘The Voice’: ‘You gotta go to the finale’
More Bama: Another contestant from Alabama, Ryley Tate Wilson, competed in the live semifinals this season, but wasn’t voted into the finals. Wilson, 15, ended his run as one of the top eight singers.
RELATED: Ryley Tate Wilson on ‘The Voice’: ‘The most amazing thing that’s ever happened to me’
Bear in mind: Alabama’s never had a winner on “The Voice,” but three singers from the state have made it to the finals during previous seasons: Dexter Roberts, who took third place on Season 16; Kirk Jay, who placed third on Season 15; and Red Marlow, who came in fourth during Season 13. Other “Voice” contestants from the state have included Berritt Haynes, Emma Caroline Warren, Levi Watkins, Cam Spinks, Josie Jones and Worth the Wait.
If you watch: “The Voice” finals for Season 23 will air live on Monday, May 22, and Tuesday, May 23, on NBC.