The highly gifted Sawyer Fredericks will be entertaining at The Rockwell next week, along with Gabriel Wolfchild and The Northern Light. — Photo by Holly Tutor Photography

By Jim Clark

It’s been a white-hot meteoric ride to the top of the charts for 17-year-old singing prodigy Sawyer Fredericks, and he is soon to make a stop at The Rockwell on December 19 for a much-anticipated show, with Gabriel Wolfchild and The Northern Light opening.

In 2015 Fredericks became the youngest ever winner of TV’s The Voice singing competition show, coached by Pharrell Williams.

Since then, his eponymous EP, and later a full length album titled A Good Storm have set sales records, most notably with downloads through iTunes and other online venues.

Fredericks grew up on an 88-acre farm near Fultonville, New York. At age 11 he began voice training and eventually started singing regionally at farmers markets, open mics, community events, and folk clubs. He was a finalist in the Young Artist Talent Search in Pawling, New York in 2012.

Shortly thereafter he took his first steps toward a recording career by putting out a six-song EP entitled Breaking Ice. Then in 2013 he released an album of 15 songs, Out My Window.

Fredericks has been making the rounds in the media, such as an appearance on the “RECESS: with SPINELLI” radio program.

In 2015, scouts for the NBC TV show The Voice took notice of some of Fredericks’ YouTube videos and invited him to audition for the program. The rest, as they say, is history.

As part of the rewards of winning the competition, Fredericks secured a recording contract with Republic Records. He reportedly broke many sales records with singles derived from the TV show. And now, his first album on Republic, A Good Storm, is enjoying brisk sales as Fredericks tours the country, entertaining crowds and proving what a strong voice he has developed in such a relatively short time.

“I want the lyrics and music to connect to the audience,” says Fredericks. “I just hope they feel it when they hear me.”

Fredericks says that his time on The Voice taught him a lot. “I learned so much,” he says. “It was incredible to be around that many artists and see so much talent. I took it all in. Getting to perform on that stage was amazing. I also remember Pharrell gave me a piece of advice that I’ll never forget. He said, ‘Stay true to yourself.’”

This is clearly what Fredericks achieves in his recordings and live performances.

Somerville gets its chance to sample the performing talents of Sawyer Fredericks with the upcoming show at The Rockwell next week. Be sure to catch this exciting young artist, currently shooting to the top of his game, and at such an amazingly young age.

Sawyer Fredericks with Gabriel Wolfchild and The Northern Light, Monday, December 19, at The Rockwell, Davis Square, 255 Elm St., Somerville. Doors at 7:00 p.m. Info at: therockwell.org.

Fredericks’ latest release, “A Good Storm” on Republic Records.