REMEMBER Jo Vill?
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Warrnamboolians of a certain age would remember him as a mainstay of the Warrnambool music scene – being a regular covers performer at the Grand Hotel, the Tatts, and the Lady Bay, among other venues.
Now audiences nationwide have fallen in love with his son, 19-year-old Cyrus Villanueva, who won Tuesday night’s X Factor Australia grand final.
The smooth-singing 19-year-old from Wollongong outshone country mum Louise Adams, 31, from Mt Gambier, who was runner-up.
Sydney duo Jess Dunbar and Matt Price, both 24, finished third.
Villanueva choked with emotion through his new single after being crowned the winner.
He was swamped on stage by supporters and struggled as he teared up while performing his new single, Stone, for the first time as winner.
"I want to thank God for blessing me with the gift of music that I've been so blessed to share with you all," he told the audience.
He also paid tribute to his mentor, crooner Chris Isaak.
Villanueva performed Isaak’s Wicked Game in the second week of the competition. The recording debuted at #6 on the Australian iTunes chart.
"I'm so proud of him," Isaak said.
Villanueva takes home a recording contract with Sony Music and his new single is available on iTunes.
He had been a clear favourite with viewers to win the Seven reality show sing-off.
Villanueva performed with his father in January at the Benefit For Boyd concert at the Whalers Hotel in Warrnambool while Adams is a regular performer at The Loft.
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