Idol Chatter & Voice Views

His audition: Jim Ranger, 38, of Bakersfield, Calif., auditioned with “Blue Ain’t Your Color” by Keith Urban. He prompted quick chair turns from John and Gwen. Blake turned as well for his passionate performances of the Keith Urban hit. John said he felt “the spirit.” Blake said he loved the build in Jim’s performance. Jim opted to join Team Blake, who predicted Jim would be great in “the lives.”

Here’s more about Jim:

* Jim is among a number of Voice Season 19 contestants who have tried their hand at a televised singing show in the past.

* In his case, he was featured on Season 9 of American Idol back in 2010, earning a golden ticket with an original song called “Drive.”

* At the time, Jim was 27, married and the father of three young children.

* His goal in music, he said, is “to bring hope and motivate dreams, all the while making your foot tap a little.”

* Since appearing on Idol, Jim has released a pair of Christian albums — “Fall Into Me” in 2011 and “You Call Me” in 2014.

* The latter was made with the help of a KickStarter campaign that raised more than $13,000.

* In his Kickstarter pitch, Jim said his goal with that latest album was to offer something a bit different to the world of worship music — “something a little more ‘down home’ and ‘groovy.’ Something I like to call Americana Worship.”

* That album includes nine originals he wrote, plus a cover of “This Is Amazing Grace” by Phil Wickham, and “my favorite hymn ‘It Is Well’.”

* Jim also released a pre-Idol secular album called “Remember” in 2007.

* He grew up a pastor’s son and says his life has always revolved around worship music. Both of his parents were musicians and singers.

* He’s currently campus pastor at New Life Church in Bakersfield, Calif., but has performed around the country and offers mentoring and coaching through his website.

Jim on social media:
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