Sofronio Vasquez had four of the music industry’s biggest names jockeying for his attention after his soulful Blind Audition cover of Mary J. Blige’s “I’m Goin’ Down.” Coach Gwen Stefani proclaimed it “a Grammy performance.” Choosing rookie Michael Bublé as his coach, Vasquez, 32, delivered nothing short of show-stopping performances throughout season 26 of The Voice. Viewers rewarded his stunning vocals and stage presence by crowning him the winner. The Philippines native dropped to his knees in tears as Carson Daly called his name during the Dec. 10 finale. It was a very different experience from Vasquez’s first brush with reality TV fame.

Sofronio Vasquez Received No Chair Turns on ‘The Voice of the Philippines’

Premiering in 2013, The Voice of the Philippines aired for two seasons on GMA Network. Looking to pursue a career in music, Sofronio Vasquez decided to give auditioning a shot. Unfortunately, his journey ended almost as soon as it began, as he received no chair turns during the Blind Auditions.

“Joining The Voice Philippines back then was just an idea of me doing like, ‘Oh, I want to audition because it’s The Voice and it’s famous in America,’” Vasquez told Parade. “Of course, it’s famous in the Philippines, too. [I auditioned] without having to use the real core and the real story from my heart.”

“It’s the Best Redemption That I Could Ever Imagine”

Losing The Voice of the Philippines was far from the only setback Sofronio Vasquez faced. Born and raised in Misamis Occidental, Philippines, his family frequently went without. He and his dad bonded through music, with Vasquez calling him “his first coach.”

When his father died unexpectedly, the soul singer had to shelve music for a career in dentistry. But after moving to Utica, New York, Vasquez rediscovered his passion for music.

“But having to be rejected many, many times. Having to go through difficult adversities in life, I guess that’s the answer of me being redirected after 10 years through The Voice in the U.S. and I finally got the chair turn,” he told Parade. “It’s the best redemption that I could ever imagine.”

Featured image by Griffin Nagel/NBC)