Seventeen-year-old Landon Carter-Price walked into the 14th Annual Golden Triangle Awards, hopeful that he could win Youth Male Vocalist of the Year, but as he observed the other contestants in the room, his optimism began to dwindle. He saw singers he respected, viral sensations, and to top it off, a relative of the well-known gospel singer and pastor, Shirley Caesar, was competing in the same category. At this point, he was sweating.

“I was definitely nervous,” said Carter-Price, a Junior Murrah High School student. “I told my mom, ‘I don’t know about this. I’m just going to be cute and walk around and just be glad to be here.’”

After the announcer called his name as the winner, his humbleness turned into a feeling of belonging. Once Carter-Price got through the acceptance speech, he was elated to be a part of the Golden Triangle winners, but the accolade did not come from a newfound talent or hobby. In Carter-Price’s earliest recollection of performing he was singing a church solo at age 6.

Carter-Price started to focus more on his vocal ability as he transitioned to high school, which turned into more notoriety outside of his normal church, wedding, funeral, and Christmas and Easter program performances. He’s the MHS Sounds of Perfection Marching Band, sings with the school’s 1400 Jazz FM band, and takes regular solo lessons. The 1400 Jazz FM gets Carter-Price and his singing peers into broader audiences, including festivals, Soule` Coffee and Bubble Tea, and Battle of the Saxes.

Carter-Price, who also plays the cymbals, triangle, gong, bells, marimba, vibraphone, timpani, and snare drum, is undecided on which college he will attend yet. However, without any submissions, he already has several offers for a full ride in exchange for his jazzy-funk vocals, including Wilberforce University in Ohio and Fort Valley State University in Georgia, and Mississippi Institutions Rust College, Delta State University, Tougaloo College, Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, and Fort Valley. He is painfully aware that some of his favorite artists might not be around when he finishes college and becomes the full-time artist he longs to be, but there is no doubt in his mind about where he’ll be in twenty years.

“Landon is singing at sold-out shows, singing with all the people that inspired me before, like Patty Label and the old-heads that inspire me to sing the way that I do and have the heart for that old style of singing,” said Carter-Price, who is often compared to a young Micheal Jackson and Maxwell. “I always say in my mind, ‘I want to make hits like the 90s.’ I just feel like people today don’t sing like they used to. People don’t normalize over singing like they did in the 90s.”