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GREENSBORO — Not making the cut at TV’s “American Idol” tryouts this year did not dissuade Marques Haynesworth from his singing career.

“I took the constructive criticism and told myself, 'This is not the end,’ ” he says.

Haynesworth was right. Today, the Greensboro native will display his talent live on national TV, on BET’s “106 & Park” in a segment called “Wild-Out Wednesday.”

The show airs at 6 p.m. on BET.

Haynesworth, 16, will vie for online votes against two other R&B singers. The winner earns $500 and the chance to compete in the 2010 “Wild-Out Wednesday” all-star competition.

Just last month, another local talent — Dudley High School’s male step team, UMOJA — won the show’s all-star round and a $5,000 prize.

Among those who will be cheering for Haynesworth on Wednesday are his parents Donald and Lisha Haynesworth and older brothers Donald Jr. “DJ” and Ramsey.

“Marques has been performing semiprofessionally with some heavy-hitters in the R&B genre, and he is well-deserving of this opportunity,” his mother says.

He has sung with Anthony Hamilton and with “American Idol” winner Fantasia Barrino at her grandmother’s church. He has opened for Ruben Studdard and Mint Condition at Rhythms of Triumph celebrations in Greensboro for Black History Month.
While at Southeast Guilford High School, he juggled singing with honor roll studies, football and track.

Now, Haynesworth attends high school in Atlanta. He and his mother moved there in August after he signed a 17-month contract with Taylord Entertainment.

He was selected for “106 & Park” when a writer for the show heard him sing.

Tonight in New York, he will perform his new single, “I Can Be,” which also can be heard at www.myspace.com/marqueshaynesworth.

Viewers can vote at www.bet.com/106andpark.

Haynesworth says he typically isn’t nervous until he gets ready to walk onstage. “But when I get onstage and the music starts,” he says, “the nerves quickly go away.”

Contact Dawn DeCwikiel-Kane at 373-5204 or dawn.kane@news-record.com