DERRY — Two long-time friends joined together by music in middle and high school are now continuing their talents and are in the running to be "stars."
For Pinkerton graduates Mat Turner and Aaron Denny, Class of '93 and '94, respectively, it's a chance to continue their love of music and earn fame through the Internet as fans are invited to go online (http://nhlotterystar.com) and cast votes.
Turner and Denny are finalists in the New Hampshire Lottery's "Lottery Star" contest. The duo entered a video for the contest and are now in the top three entries.
The top video will be crowned the NH Lottery Star and will star in lottery television and radio commercials. Winners will also have the chance to cut their own musical demo courtesy of Studio Metronome, Inc.
For Turner and Denny, it's a chance to revisit years gone by when the childhood friends from Hampstead spent time playing music together, even forming bands in the process and performing for family, friends, fellow students, and teachers.
Just a look at the Pinkerton Critic yearbook, dated 1993, shows Turner in a photo performing in the school's annual talent show and singing the Beatles' classic "Blackbird," accompanying himself on the guitar.
Turner and Denny formed a middle school band, "Sidewinder," while students at Hampstead Middle School. Once at Pinkerton, the friends continued with another musical group offering, "Groove Dictionary."
Lisa Turner said her husband and his boyhood friend were only 12 when Sidewinder was popular during years spent at Hampstead Middle School.
"Their music teacher used to let them perform for their classmates in the cafeteria during lunch period," Turner said in an e-mail. "The band was a hit with the students and the teachers. They played at local festivals and had a blast."
Turner said one day Denny showed up with some old tapes of past musical performances and the men decided to give their love of performing and music one more chance.
They entered the NH Lottery Star contest and were one of about 50 statewide acts submitted to the contest. To enter, Turner and Denny sang a rendition of a jingle, "State of Excitement," using lyrics provided by NH Lottery.
Now, it's time for fans to vote for the winner by going online to http://nhlotterystar.com and casting votes by the deadline of May 11. Voters have to be an active NH Lottery Replay member to vote. Voters will also be entered in contests for prizes.
Both Turner and Denny are active musicians still, and play out doing covers and originals in the area. Denny is a professional musician and teacher and Turner owns his own contracting business.
