HUNDREDS of hopefuls from across Jamaica gathered ahead of the 8:00 am start for the second audition in the 2013 Tastee Talent Trail held at the company’s car park in Cross Roads, St Andrew, recently.

From the huge gathering which comprised senior citizens, 15 survived were given the nod by judges Michael ‘Ibo’ Cooper, Queen Ifrica and Kerry Ann Lawrence.

These were singer Serena Thompson, Canadian rapper Rudyard Oliver, Carlos Brown, female deejays Kimmy Hosan and Moesha KinKaid, dance group UIM Mafia, DJ Darren Gordon, the duo Young Kings, DJ Romain Johnson, Ricardo Barrett (gospel singer), Dennilee West, DJ Alvin Wallen, singer Howard Allen and Elton Earlington .

Former Jamaica sportsman Richard ‘Danny Germs’ Austin also auditioned. He did a rendition of Earth, Wind and Fire’s Reason. He, however, had lost much to the ravages of drugs.

The selected performers will undergo another elimination at the Ocho Rios Road Show on June 15.

The Tastee Talent Trail’s grand prize is $1 million first prize, $500,000 second prize, and third prize $150,000.