Made in the Trade: Kelsie Martin’s Moment Arrives This Afternoon on MTV

Kelsie Martin, 18, graduated from Grossmont High School last week with honors. Today (Wednesday) she may graduate to a professional singing career.

She’ll appear in an episode of Made, MTV’s hourlong reality show, competing with a Michigan girl for a shot at a recording career and her song sold on iTunes.  The show airs at 4 p.m. on MTV, Channel 30 on Cox Cable TV (730 for high-definition).

Producers of the show recruited her after seeing her perform at the San Diego County Fair. Since then, she’s sung many times, featuring her own composition Wrapped Around Your Finger (attached). Footage may include her halftime performance at a Foothiller basketball game in January.

Her mother, Kathy Horeth, said she’s sung at USD soccer and basketball games, a San Diego Sockers game and many times at Knott’s Berry Farm, Otay Ranch Town Center, Santee Trolley Square as well as at the Orange County Youth Fair, Spring Festival at Allied Gardens, Irvine Spectrum and Santee Summer Concerts.

Martin has no agent. Her mother, a La Mesan who heads the El Cajon talent and training agency Singing Solo, says she acts as Kelsie’s personal manager, adding: “We’re still waiting for a response on the MTV episode and hope great things will come our way!”

In Made, a coach helps contestants achieve dreams of entertainment or sports fame.

In Kelsie’s case, she’s being advised by the Grammy Award-winning duo of Juan “Play” Salinas and Oscar “Skillz” Salinas. Kelsie traveled in January to Dallas, where Play-N-Skillz helped her create a song. She’s up against a girl from Kalamazoo, MI. At show’s end, both were to perform for Universal Records execs in New York City. The winner sees her song sold on iTunes.

Martin returns to the San Diego County Fair from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 28, at the Plaza Stage, and 4:20 p.m. Friday (July 1) for the Song Writer Contest.

Other upcoming dates include:

• Whiskey a Go Go in Hollywood at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday (June 29).
• Santee Summer Concerts at 6:15 p.m. Thursday (June 30).
• Santee Fourth of July Celebration at 6 p.m. Monday (July 4).
• Orange County Fair at 2:15 p.m. Friday (July 15) on the Plaza Stage.