A child star, bikini competitor, star saxophonist and singer-songwriter

Introduction by JACKIE KENNEDY

Throughout Coweta County, there’s a plethora of artists and professionals whose talents reach others far and wide. On any given day, a new star is added to the galaxy of Coweta’s creative mass.

In the pages that follow, we introduce you to a few of these rising stars, including a 10-year-old actor who recently landed her own worldwide social media platform, a pharmacist who competes in bikini/bodybuilding contests, a saxophonist who’s shared the stage with Jon Secada, and a singer-songwriter who runs his own recording studio.

If you know an up-and-coming artist with a unique talent or professional with a compelling story, let us know. We may feature him or her in our next installment of  “Introducing…”

Contact us at magazine@newnan.com or send a note to Newnan-Coweta Magazine, 16 Jefferson St., Newnan, GA 30263.

Bentley Williams: Child Actor

Written by JACKIE KENNEDY | Photographs courtesy of BENTLEY WILLIAMS

Ten-year-old Newnan resident and actor Bentley Williams plays Fifteen, one of the Rainbow Room kids in five episodes of Season 4 of the Netflix science fiction blockbuster “Stranger Things.”

The popular show combines horror and supernatural elements, an ensemble cast, and a 1980s backdrop. Filmed in January and February of 2021 in Atlanta, the fourth season was released in May.

Bentley, a fifth grader at Newnan Presbyterian, was born in Cary, N.C., and lived in Frisco, Texas, until November 2016 when she moved with her parents, Davis and Ellie Williams, and younger brother, Tripp, to Newnan.

Her career began in Texas when she was 4 years old. She posed for print advertisements and did fashion shows for JCPenney and Belk catalogs, among others. After moving to Georgia, the Williamses were connected with J. Pervis Talent Agency in Atlanta, and Bentley started commercial acting for companies like Chick-fil-A and Zenni Eyewear kids’ line by Coco and Breezy.

She progressed to TV and film shortly before turning 7 and has been a series regular on Wonder Clubhouse, a Christian Network show. The young actor has been hired to do celebrity book readings with Zigazoo, the world’s largest social network and educational platform for kids. Her channel is called Bentley’s Clubhouse and went live earlier in the fall.

And with her brother Tripp, she’s been featured in a Disney World TV commercial.

When Bentley landed the role on “Stranger Things,” she had not yet watched the show.

“I knew it was popular, but I didn’t know it was this popular,” she says.

Working with director Nimrod Antal and show creators Matt and Ross Duffer, known as the Duffer Brothers, was a life-changing experience for the young actor.

“It has made me look at myself from a different perspective,” she says. “Everyone on the set was super sweet. I got to meet Millie Bobby Brown, AKA Eleven. I got to meet Mathew Modine, who is Dr. Brenner, and I got to meet One, played by Jamie Campbell Bower. My favorite characters are Eleven, Max, Nancy and Eddie. Nancy’s a girl boss!”

Bentley and her “siblings” on the show had a specific look for the roles they played as Hawkins Lab kids. For Bentley, it was all about the hair – or lack thereof.

“A lot of people think that it was just a wig, but it was not,” she says. “I had to shave my head – 22 inches of hair. A lot of people thought I was nervous, but I was so happy for a new look.”

She donated the first 12 inches of her hair to Locks of Love and another six inches were kept on set to make a man’s wig.

Going to hair and makeup everyday while filming, Bentley and her fellow actors sat while artists applied bloody makeup for the gruesome scenes. Bentley recalls the kids had to shake their heads so the fake blood looked like it was naturally running down their faces.

Numerical tattoos on the lab kids’ wrists had to be applied exactly in the same size and location everyday and were removed each night.

To stay focused during heavy scenes, Bentley likes to get into the feel of the moment. Because the storyline involves children in the Rainbow Room being taken from their parents, the mood is sometimes sad and reflective. Bentley is equally comfortable with being light-hearted on camera.

“I have a weird twist to my acting because I can do comedy and things like that, but then I can also do the deep, dark, scary stuff too,” she says.

A natural talent, the youngster can look at a script and memorize not only her lines but lines of the other characters as well.

Bentley stays busy with auditions and works with Justice brand clothing on promoting their newest clothing line, “Stranger Things,” being sold at Walmart. In September, she attended the Ancient City Con in St. Augustine, Fla. with some of her fellow actors.

Finding her acting voice and setting goals for the future, Bentley hopes for a well-known name and wants to win acting awards. She aspires to one day act on “Secrets of Sulphur Springs” or “Bunk’d,” both Disney productions.

Bentley says that being in the film industry isn’t easy and that child actors can get a lot of rejection. The key, says her mom Ellie, is this: “Stay yourself, true to who you are.” She says the family stays grounded yet supportive as Bentley’s star begins to rise during the pursuit of her dreams.

The child actor says her favorite part of the job is bringing a character to life and being someone she’s not. “There may be pieces of the character that are similar to me, but not everything is similar to me,” she says.

If she had to push either a chore or a school subject into the Upside Down – the alternate dimension in “Stranger Things” that mirrors our world – and never have to do it again?

“Laundry!” she exclaims.

A child with many interests outside of acting, Bentley loves to edit videos and says she can envision herself as a director. She enjoys taking ballet and hip hop classes, and she has a soft spot in her heart for animals.

“I have had two dogs and one cat,” she says. “I got my cat from our local animal shelter. His name is Diesel.”

Describing herself as “a big arts and crafts girl,” Bentley enjoys drawing and making bracelets.

“I went around the neighborhood selling bracelets for the animal shelter,” she says.

Along with money she’s earned from “Stranger Things” meet-and-greets and sales from her custom T-shirts, she has raised more than $600 for the Coweta County animal shelter.

Dr. Derrica Boyce:
Pharmacist and Bodybuilder

Written by JENNY ENDERLIN | Photographs courtesy of DERRICA BOYCE

What do a pharmacist and a bikini competitor have in common?

The answer: Dr. Derrica Boyce of Newnan.

Along with working as a Kroger pharmacist in Coweta County, she routinely competes in the bikini division of competition sponsored by the National Physique Committee, a worldwide organization that’s been holding amateur bodybuilding, fitness and physique contests since 1982.

Known to close friends and family as “Derriqueen” because of her childhood affinity for Dairy Queen ice cream, Boyce learned responsibility early in life. Her mother suffers from an autoimmune disease, so as Boyce was growing up, she assisted her mom with everything from opening jars to cleaning the house.

Despite her health struggles, Boyce’s mother went back to school to obtain her college degree and became a teacher. Her perseverance inspired Boyce to pursue her own dreams no matter what.

“It made me think, ‘If my mother can do it, I can do it,’” says Boyce. “If I say I’m going to do something, I’m going to do it. I’ve always been goal-driven and motivated, and I trust God to lead me to where I need to go.”

A 2009 graduate of Newnan High School, Boyce earned a degree in biology from the University of West Georgia, a master’s degree from Columbus State University, and her doctorate from South University in Savannah. She now works as a pharmacist for Kroger, rotating between different stores in the Newnan area.

“One of my favorite aspects of my job is giving patients the knowledge they need because they don’t always get all the information at the doctor’s office,” she says. “Sometimes they don’t always know why they’re taking something. It’s important they know why they’re putting something into their body instead of just taking it because they were told to.”

Boyce pays close attention to what she puts into her own body and, along with eating right, she practices a strict exercise regimen. Before work each morning, she does 45 minutes of cardio and ends the day with an hour of weight training.

She also does carb cycling, adhering to a strict diet that serious athletes sometimes use to drop body fat and obtain more muscle mass in preparation for rigorous competition. Carb cyclers rotate between high-carb and low-carb days and sometimes have no-carb days. Boyce says she abstains from carbs completely the week before competitions.

Each of the three physique competitions she participates in yearly requires 12 weeks of intense preparation.

“My husband is supportive of me competing, but he knows there will be times when I’m hangry and easily agitated,” she says with a laugh. “One of the ways I try to maintain my discipline when other people are eating in front of me is by telling myself, ‘The prize will taste better than the food they’re eating.’”

Boyce says food is her biggest temptation, especially when a patient brings treats for the staff or when she’s making spaghetti for her husband and stepson while having only protein and vegetables herself.

“The food will be there when I’m done,” she reminds herself again.

After each competition, she rewards herself with her favorite lemon cake, and during the off-season she indulges in one of her favorite hobbies: holiday baking. 

The competitor also enjoys sewing, which she took up to offset the prohibitive costs of competing. The bikinis alone can cost $300 to $800, so Boyce makes her own and even sells to other competitors.

With a smile, Boyce says the bikini competition through the National Physique Committee could be called “cute and cut.” So far, she’s placed at every competition she has entered. In July, she took first place at the Atlanta Pro-Am.

“It just gives you more motivation to want to continue to compete,” says the athlete who has now qualified for the national level. “God gives me my health and my strength. Without him nothing would be possible.”

Luis Alas: Sax of the South

Written by ROBIN STEWART | Photographs courtesy of LUIS ALAS

At 6 feet, 3 inches with a broad grin, bright red shirt and matching shoes, Luis Alas catches your eye in a heartbeat.

And then, if he’s playing the sax, he’ll catch your ear.

Once a back-up musician, Alas has moved into co-star status and is quickly claiming his place as a star in his own right.

The Palmetto resident and super-talented saxophonist was every bit another frontman when he co-starred with Latin music great Jon Secada during a homage to Santana last July in Mableton.

The musician plays alto, tenor and soprano saxophone. Playing Latin percussion instruments is also among his talents, and he’s a songwriter who has penned several originals that he includes in his live performances.

From middle school band member to headlining with famous artists, Alas’s musical path has been circuitous. A first-generation Cuban American, he has worked the Miami club scene, playing gigs and building a following there.

In 2018, Alas, his wife Milca and their family moved from Miami to Palmetto to be closer to Milca’s family, who had moved to Sharpsburg in 2005. Over the past four years, the saxophonist has built a strong local following in Coweta County and west Georgia.

“It’s been amazing,” he says.

Once a regular at The Cellar in downtown Newnan, Alas was one of the first artists to perform a live show post-pandemic, complete with band and singers, at the Wadsworth, according to Jaami Rutledge, chair of the Newnan Cultural Arts Commission (NCAC).

“It was a fun, energetic collaboration,” recalls Rutledge. “His smooth, powerful sax blended with the singers, and they covered jazz in all genres: standards, classic, smooth jazz and others.”

In downtown Newnan in June 2021, Alas played his first Jazz in the Park, another NCAC event.

“He brought a great crowd,” says Rutledge. “He had the talent and charisma to engage the crowd as our 2021 Jazz in the Park headliner.”

Make no mistake, the music Alas masters isn’t sleepy NPR-style jazz.

“I’m more of a rocker,” he says with a grin. “Think Clarence Clemons of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.”

His son calls it “the angry sax” or “sax with attitude,” Alas shares.

From lively Latin beats to an emotionally moving instrumental of the Beatles classic, “Hey Jude,” the local saxophonist can do it all.

Alas took up saxophone in middle school and played through high school and also as part of his praise and worship team in church. He joined the United States Air Force right out of high school but had “nothing to do with music” at that time, he recalls. His military service meant he worked the world over, but he was often stationed in his familiar hometown of Miami.

His work in nuclear security eventually landed him in Cheyenne, Wy., where he was told there were two types of music in the local music scene: Country and Western.

Even so, it turned out Monday nights were blues nights at the Midnight Rodeo Saloon in Cheyenne. Alas recalls wanting to join the band there: Mr. Coffee and Grounds for Divorce.

Alas wasn’t quite ready to perform with that blues act, but his time was coming soon.

While the airman was stationed in Europe, MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) in Ramstein, Germany, hosted a local talent show, and Alas won as best solo musician.

His next stop was the regional competition where he won again.

That led to securing a spot in the Air Force Talent Program, “Tops in Blue.” After rehearsing for three months, Alas hit the road for nine months, during which time he visited every U.S. Air Force base on the planet. During the whirlwind experience, he performed in USO shows with keyboardist George Duke, singer-songwriter Anita Baker and country music star Clint Black.

Eventually, with support of family and friends, Alas began to claim his place front and center on stage. In 2012, his church asked him to do a jazz concert, his first gig as a frontman. The concert was a smashing success.

Alas maintained his day job while pursuing his musical goals. After serving with the Air Force, he worked as a Federal air marshall and continued a career in security/law enforcement, always with “music on the side,” he says.

He began writing songs and recording in the studio, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when live performances were nonexistent. His instrumental remake of “All I Do” by Stevie Wonder made the Top 50 charts. Roughly six weeks later, it hit No. 1 on the Smooth Jazz Charts.

Typically, songs that reach the top of the charts mean calls and offers for artists. In this case, Alas heard, alas, nothing.

The pandemic was to blame, but things would pick up.

Fast forward to November 2021. The saxophonist’s song titled, “Together Forever,” made the top slot on the Indie Smooth Jazz charts, and musical doors started opening.

With the famous Latin artist Jon Secada, Alas co-starred in an homage to Santana. The two performed live together and plan to take their show on tour in 2023.

That’s not all next year has in store for the local musician. Alas will be opening for and performing with contemporary jazz saxophonist Kenny G.

Next year also promises to be big for Alas on the local music scene. In cooperation with Newnan Cultural Arts Commission, he will produce the Smooth Jazz Festival at the Coweta County Fairgrounds in Newnan. Details are being finalized, including famous names being added to the roster. Visit newnansmoothjazzfestival.org to keep up with the details.

Alas says he’s happy with music work that takes him all around – and then back to his home in Palmetto.

“I’ve accomplished more musically in Coweta than all the years I lived in South Florida,” he says. “This area truly is a haven and a real gem for arts in general, not just music.”

That surely is music to the ears of his fans.

Adrian Smith Jr.: Singer-Songwriter

Written by JENNY ENDERLIN | Photographs courtesy of RAY WARD JR.

Audio producer and R&B musician Adrian “Yarray” Smith Jr. says he’s always been surrounded by music.

“I beat on paint cans with chicken bones just to make noise,” says the Newnan resident, recalling some of his earliest memories of music making.

Recognizing his natural talent, Smith’s father and grandfather taught him to play the drums and he eventually picked up guitar, bass and piano, too.

When he was a teenager, Smith joined the family gospel band, a group consisting of him, his dad, his stepdad and his stepdad’s friend. They had all known each other for years and maintained a friendly dynamic. The group played at churches throughout the Southeast. Smith says that, for him, it was mostly about being a musician and having fun.

“Even though I was physically in church all the time, I was still a young man making mistakes,” he says.

It was not until Smith joined the U.S. Army that his personal faith grew and he formed a relationship with God.

“I personally believe that if you make one step, God will take two,” says Smith, adding the caveat, “as long as I have faith and am trying to go in the right direction. If I’m headed in the wrong direction, he will put something in the way to block me.”

During his tour in Afghanistan, Smith wrote songs on night shifts to keep himself awake and performed for his fellow soldiers during the day. The experience allowed him to gauge which songs resonated with listeners, and he teamed up with a sergeant in his unit who had speakers and a laptop that could make beats.

During Smith’s two weeks of deployment leave, he visited friends in Germany who introduced him to several noteworthy people in the entertainment industry. The connections he formed led him to take a trip to Jamaica where he visited the studio where Bob Marley recorded. He vividly remembers the smile on the face of Marley’s sound engineer. It struck him then, says Smith: “It must be good to be old and still love what you’re doing.”

On June 1, 2012, Smith had a near brush with death when his base in Afghanistan was attacked by suicide bombers. Smith was washing his hands and had not yet caught up to his friends in the main dining area when the attack occurred.

“I’m slow, thank God,” he says.

The blast pushed him back and he temporarily lost his hearing. When his hearing returned, the first thing he heard was someone shouting, “Get down, get down!” He crawled through the rubble, looking for his battle buddies. Eventually he located them outside, but a fire fight ensued between the soldiers and insurgents that would last for the rest of the day.

Everything surrounding the experience reinforced for Smith that he didn’t want to reenlist for a third tour. He thought about becoming a radiologist, but the sergeant with whom he used to perform said, “You’re too talented.”

“Because of him, I looked into Full Sail University,” recounts Smith, who fell in love with the school in Winter Park, Fla., that specializes in studio, design, computer animation and business education. Smith took courses on everything from recognizing sound frequencies to audio postproduction.

Since then, he’s experimented in rapping and performed in two shorts, “Inclusive” and “Witness,” which are available on Amazon and YouTube. In October, he performed in Turks and Caicos Islands at an event designed to bring attention to domestic violence.

For the past three years, Smith has used Yarray as his professional name. He got the unique moniker by reversing the first three letters of his middle name, Raynard, and then adding them back in the correct order: Yarray.

In 2021, he opened his own production company, Yarray Audio Corporation, in Newnan.

“The majority of what I do is based around relationship,” says Smith, who explores the theme in his compositions.

His most recent song, “It Ain’t Over,” was inspired by the fear he felt for his wife and son during the March 2021 tornado in Newnan, his gratitude for their safety, and the value of community in the aftermath.

“That tornado was really devastating, but it’s also brought a sense of unity as we rebuild,” he reflects. NCM