His name is Deneco Pittman, but he performs as Neco Starr.
A fitting stage name, I suppose, for someone who wasn’t bashful about telling Idol cameras back in Season 9 that he “has that star quality.”
Deneco made it to Hollywood that year, but says he was sent home because of a bad song choice.
He vowed to pick more wisely in Season 11, after earning another golden ticket at the Savannah auditions.
“I felt like I could have gone farther,” Deneco says of his Season 9 stint on the show. “I felt like I wanted to prove to these judges and American Idol that I really should stay on the show.”
Deneco, 21 at the time of the auditions, says he started singing in church at age 5, but first sang for an audience at a Christmas gathering.
“I began singing, and everybody was like, ‘Oh, my God. Really? Neco can sing.'”
Deneco is from Atlanta, Ga., says his favorite Idol contestant was Adam Lambert and his favorite Idol moment was watching Fantasia win back in Season 3.
As for his chances?
“It’s my time,” Deneco says in his golden ticket interview.
The only example I can find of Deneco singing is the brief snippet we saw of him performing “Grenade” at the Season 11 auditions. If anyone knows of other “Neco Starr” music out there, let me know.
Season 11 Audition
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