'The Voice,' Sonoma Talent Sings His Way Back Home

SONOMA VALLEY, CA — In the story of Sonoma singer-songwriter Marty O'Reilly, a strange Instagram DM led him to the stage of The Voice, where he was watched by millions and judged by four mega stars.

O'Reilly sang his raspy way through multiple rounds. "Man, the way you sing, the way you howl and growl, there ain’t nothing but the dog in you," Snoop Dogg told O'Reilly during his third round in November. But Michael Bublé chose to give the win to another contestant, releasing O'Reilly from the competition.

O'Reilly left the show but not the stage.

Praised for his style and sound — he counts Woody Guthrie, Howlin’ Wolf, Sister Rosetta Thorpe, Tom Waits as his inspiration, O'Reilly will be back on the home stage at Sonoma's Sebastiani Theatre on New Year's Eve.

In the meantime, he is already booked for several stops between Oregon and Sonoma.

Sept. 29 was O'Reilly's first appearance on The Voice.

"What is your name and where're you from," said rapper Snoop Dogg after hearing O'Reilly sing "Trouble" by Ray LaMontagne for the show's first round "blind audition."

After a rivalry broke out, O'Reilly ultimately chose to join Team Bublé, headed by crooner Michael Bublé.

Read More About O'Reilly's path: On 'The Voice,' Sonoma Talent Sings His Way To Stardom