Hamden Native Heads to Knockout Round on “The Voice”

Blessing Offor, the soulful Hamden High graduate crooning his way through NBC's "The Voice," got a second lease on life in Monday's episode when coach Adam Levine saved him from elimination.

Offor went head-to-head with 15-year-old teammate Katriz Trinidad to sing "Do I Do" by Stevie Wonder.

Both singers rose to the occasion, forcing coach Pharrell Williams to make a difficult decision.

"I sent them both back with notes and I feel like they both rose to the occasion," Pharrell said before making his selection.

In the end, he chose Trinidad as the winner of the challenge, putting Offor up on the auction block and available for a steal.

Levine hit his button immediately, urging Offor to join his team.

“My wife’s name – she’s from Namibia, and her name is Behati, which in Swahili means ‘blessing’ – so it makes me love you a lot more," Levine joked. "so I don’t know how I can’t have you on my team now.”

But Levine wasn't the only one interested in taking Offor under his wing. Fellow coach Gwen Stefani pressed her button too.

"I love your voice, and just being around someone as talented as you is going to be inspiring for me in my life," Stefani explained, "so I just want to get to know you and see what you've got."

Then it was Offor's turn to make the tough choice.

"Thank you for saving me, because I truly love being here," he told the coaches before announcing his decision.

Ultimately, Offor went with Levine, who stood up to hug the Connecticut native as he left the stage.

"Blessing just has this natural ability to sing the lights out. I love his voice," Adam said.

Offor, a 2007 graduate of Hamden High School who sings from his soul, said he's on a mission to succeed.

"I'm so excited to go to the knockouts," Offor beamed in his post-performance interview. "I'm just beyond thrilled. I want this so bad."

According to Offor's Web site, the singer has performed three times at the Kennedy Center in New York City and has produced a single, "Loving Each Other," which was released last week.

Tune in to NBC Connecticut Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. to see Offor and perform on "The Voice."

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