The confidence of knowing God is working everything together for good is a driving force in Tony Aaron Hambrick’s life, especially in the times when things haven’t gone according to plan.
“Romans 8:28 is my favorite scripture,”said the North Augusta Middle School music teacher and singer who goes by the name of Tony Aaron. He recently auditioned for NBC-TV’s “The Voice,” which will premier its newest season Sept. 2.
Romans 8:28 says that God works everything out for good for those who love God. And sometimes even in the messes and the failures, it’s hard to see how that might happen.
Hambrick grew up in the church. Listening to his mother sing in the choir inspired his own love of music. As a child, he took voice and piano lessons.
“I come from a musical family,” he said.
Holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas were filled with sounds of the season and joyful songs.
Later he studied voice and music at Augusta University under Bill Hobbins.
“He helped me find my vocal identity,” Hambrick said.
He wanted to sing Christian/gospel music, but he patterned himself after the other artists he heard instead of uncovering his own voice.
He sang with a group for about four years before launching a solo career. He released his first single “Fresh Fire.”
“It didn’t do well. I expected to be an overnight success,” he said.
It wasn’t long after that that he walked away from his own music. He immersed himself in his career and family.
He said he enjoys working with students — not only helping them musically but aiding them as they navigate through daily life with the ups and downs, the disappointments and joys.
He’s in his seventh year of teaching, his fourth at North Augusta Middle School.
“I love preparing them for high school and college,” he said.
A couple of years ago, a friend asked him about singing at a community event commemorating the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. At first, he declined, but the friend persisted.
By the time he sang again, his focus had shifted from his own ambitions to other people.
“What was different was it wasn’t about me. I wasn’t trying to be successful. I wanted to be an inspiration, to provide healing to people through music, to be a light,” he said.
In that moment, things changed.
He’d watched the talented people on shows such as “American Idol,” “The Voice” and “America’s Got Talent,” but he said he never really considered submitting an application until someone suggested it to him.
A colleague told him that if he didn’t press send on the application for the show that she’d do it for him. A moment of horror filled him as he pressed send. He wondered what he’d just done.
He received a call back and headed to Los Angeles for the audition.
Because of a non-disclosure agreement, he can’t tell what happens next. His family, friends and the community he loves will have to tune in to find out how he did.
What he could say was that the show was an amazing experience, and he met some incredible people.
Follow him on Instagram @TonyAaronMusic and on facebook.com/TonyAaronMusic.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
