Country star will take the rap

By RENEE KIRIONA

If doing a duo with a rapper or R&B singer is what it takes to prove that country music is not outdated, Cameron Clayton is willing to do just that.

The 18-year-old former Aucklander won over a capacity audience - and the votes of the judges - to collect the senior title at the Gold Guitar Awards in Gore at the weekend.

"A lot of youth don't listen to country music because as soon as they hear those words they think Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers - old school," Clayton said.

"I want to let them know that country music is not about them but more so people like Shania Twain and Leann Rimes.

"If it takes doing a duo with [New Zealand Idol] Ben Lummis or Scribe then I will do that.

"It would be really interesting to see what we could come up with."

Clayton was a finalist in five of the nine sections, picking up trophies for male vocal, gospel, duet (with flatmate Lyndon Keenan) and group (with his two other flatmates, Krista and Tamara Thomson).

His powerful gospel performance of the Denis Marsh song Show Me resulted in his becoming just the second person in the 31-year history of the awards to win the title in his first year as a senior.

Clayton now lives in Christchurch and is studying for a degree at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art.