Senior singer up for top award

Exit 245 member second JMU nominee; awards began in 1992

Photo courtesy of / Exit 245 Senior Gavin Wade, far right, is pictured with fellow Exit 245 members. Wade joined the group in 2000 when he was a freshman.

Exit 245 member Gavin Wade, a senior, earned his heartthrob status on JMU's campus years ago for his smooth baritone voice, J. Crew-catalog good looks and down-to-earth personality. His legion of fans soon may expand, however, now that Wade is a finalist for the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award's "Best Male Collegiate Soloist."

Members of Exit 245 sent the group's most recent compact disc to the Contemporary A Cappella Society for review. The panel was impressed with Wade's performance in the group's version of "Jeremy" — originally performed by Pearl Jam — and declared him one of four finalists for the national award. The winner will be announced in April.

"I was very surprised, flattered and excited just to be selected as a nominee," Wade said. "It's fun for the group to be nationally recognized and to have JMU's name on the list, considering we have such a talented a capella community," he said.

No other JMU group obtained nominations this year, and only one — Note-Oriety, an all-female group — has been recognized by CASA since the awards began in 1992.

Wade traces his singing origins back to his church in "an ink splotch of a town" in Waynesboro.

"I have always loved performing," he said. "A cappella is a wonderful way to continue it.

"My older brother Jeff started Exit (245) with two friends in 1998 and insisted that I try out (when I came to JMU in 2000)," he said. Wade joined Exit 245 in the first semester of his freshman year and has been in the group since. "It was one of the best things that could have happened to me here," he said.

Even with his national recognition — and perhaps future fame — Wade is quick to share the spotlight, endlessly praising his fellow Exit 245 members. "I can honestly say it would be difficult to find a nicer and more gentlemanly group of guys at JMU," Wade said. "I am very proud to consider myself their friends."

Senior Tim Eberts, a long-time friend of Wade, said, "I would even be as bold to say he has one of the best voices on campus. He really takes a lot of pride in and refines himself in his singing. You can tell it is his passion.

"He is always very true to the song he is performing, spending so much time assuming the role of the singer he is duplicating," said Eberts, a member of Low Key. But, Wade's talents don't stop there.

Outside Exit 245, he is a brother of Kappa Alpha Order and was a FReshman Orientation Guide for two years. He is a school of media arts and design major and puts his teachings to work doing all the publicity for Exit 245. "I wouldn't be surprised if Kinko's put a plaque up for me — I give them so much of my money," Wade said.

Eberts said, "Gavin is not only a great singer, but a good guy all around. I don't think there is anyone else more deserving of this award than he is."