College often brings out hidden, rather should we say, unexplored talents in many young men and women. Such is the case with 2006 Middlesboro High School graduate Khalid Eldahan.

For Eldahan, a junior at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, that unexplored talent is music. Although as a student in Middlesboro Eldahan was in the band from elementary school through his middle school years, it was the saxophone and not guitar that he played. At the age of about 14, however he was given an acoustic guitar for Christmas and was soon teaching himself to play as a hobby.

Now that hobby has become a sideline while he pursues a biology degree at Kenyon as he has become a member of What She Said, an on-campus group whose name is catchy as their music.

“The music of What She Said is, for the most part, original songs which take influence from a mix of several genres, including blues, jazz, rock and funk,” Eldahan said in a recent interview with The Kenyon Collegian.

He added that the band’s style is quite diverse, however, they have incorporated some songs that sound like classy 50's songs, as well as a little of the Beatles, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Rush.

Eldahan, who is the son of Ismail and Cathy Eldahan of Middlesboro, plays the lead/rhythm guitar for the group as well as providing backup vocal. Other members are Jeff Hechler of Larchmont, New York, who is the lead singer, and plays bass guitar, piano/synthesizer; and Trevor Ezell of San Antonio, Texas, who plays drums/percussion and provides backup vocal.

Thus far the band has played three shows at Kenyon and the surrounding area, including the Battle of the Bands, the Fall Carnival and Philander's Phling (a school-wide attended formal). Upcoming venues include Live @ Village Inn, Spring Battle of the Bands, Kenyon College Relay For Life, and |ohi:yó| Music Festival (BFEC). They have also been contacted by the group We the Living, an alternative rock group, to perform as the opening act for a possible concert at Kenyon.

A marathon runner, the MHS graduate has competed in several races including the Hartford Marathon. He is currently training to compete in a triathlon (running, swimming, biking).

Even with his extracurricular activities, Eldahan still maintains his studies and in fact has been accepted into the Kenyon College Summer Science Scholars program and will be doing research on hydrogen production in Ecoli this summer.

Eldahan, who plans a career in medicine, is the grandson of Charlie and Juanita Greene of Middlesboro.