Jeffery Austin sings "Make it Rain" in the semifinals of NBC's singing competition, "The Voice." He will next compete in the finals Monday night.
Photo by Trae Patton/NBC
St. Charles North High School alumnus Jeffery Austin has made it to the finals of NBC's singing competition show "The Voice."
Austin will sing with the other three finalists during a live show at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14. Viewer votes will determine who wins. The winner, announced Tuesday night, will receive a recording contract.
The redheaded Austin, a member of Gwen Stefani's team, sang a soulful version of Ed Sheeran's "Make it Rain" during Tuesday night's show.
He was the last person to make it to the finals, earning an "Instant Save" by viewers, who gave him the most #VoiceSaveJeffery tweets. Voters included actress Debra Messing and judge Adam Levine.
Stefani called Austin an "unbelievable" singer who had "opened his heart up to America."
While Austin now lives in New York, he maintains strong ties to St. Charles. In October, he visited his former school, Haines Middle School, and gave students an inspirational speech. He also did a free, live performance at the Arcada Theatre.
Austin said his suburban schools were instrumental in helping him find his own voice. He sang in vocal groups and performed in theater in middle and high schools, but had no formal training. He went to college and started a career in public relations, and until he auditioned for "The Voice," the last time he had sung in front of a crowd was during his senior year musical.
After making it to the finals, Austin tweeted: "Is this life?! From one chair to the Finale. Thank you doesn't cut it. Love you all so much!"
Jeffery Austin sings "Make it Rain" in the semifinals of NBC's singing competition, "The Voice." He will next compete in the finals Monday night.
courtesy of Tyler Golden/NBC
"The Voice" finalist Jeffrey Austin, a St. Charles North and Haines Middle School graduate, talks to a group of students at Haines during a visit in October.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
"The Voice" finalist Jeffrey Austin poses with a group of sixth grade students during a visit in October to his former school, Haines Middle School in St. Charles. Austin is also a St. Charles North High School graduate.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
"The Voice" finalist Jeffrey Austin takes a selfie with Megan McGuire, 11, while visiting Haines Middle School in St. Charles in October. Austin went to Haines and St. Charles North High School.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
"The Voice" finalist Jeffrey Austin, a St. Charles North and Haines Middle School graduate, talks to a group of students at Haines during a visit in October.
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Judy Lynn Mastalski, music and choir teacher at Haines Middle School in St. Charles, listens to her former student Jeffrey Austin, now a finalist on NBC's "The Voice."
Brian Hill/bhill@dailyherald.com
Jeffery Austin, of St. Charles, auditions for NBC's "The Voice."
Photo by Tyler Golden/NBC
Jeffrey Austin, of St. Charles, is a finalist on this season of NBC's "The Voice."
Photo by Trae Patton/NBC