Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Allen Burton

This 23-year-old from Avon, Conn., was a veritable veteran of Idol competitions by the time he tried out last summer. After all, he won the UConn Idol competition in 2007 by singing “One Song Glory” form Rent; then repeated the feat as a senior at the university when he won with a rendition of Gavin Degraw’s “Chariot.” Of course, there were a few more contestants in the hunt for the real American Idol crown. Allen wound up being eliminated during group night on Idol. Link: Go here to watch Allen’s Idol video interview.

Amadeo DiRocco

We met this 28-year-old and his large Italian family in a feature segment during the Boston auditions. Then he blew the judges away with a rendition of Muddy Waters’ “Hoochie Coochie Man.” Idol’s blue bar identified him as a bartender, “but I hope I don’t have to do it anymore,” he told Idol in his video interview. He’s been singing since at least junior high, when he was part of an ensemble that won a competition in what he calls his most memorable musical performance. Link: Go here to watch Amadeo’s audition again.

Antwan Michael

Before his MySpace page disappeared (a sign he might be doing very well in Hollywood), this 19-year-old from Highstown, N.J., had a bio there indicating that he’s been writing and arranging music for years. He also says he enjoys all types of music, but prefers country. Beside the sounds like section on MySpace, he wrote this: “Hard-hitting melodies that get stuck in your mind.” In his Idol video, he says one of his most memorable performances was in a third-grade talent show, when he performed “I Believe I Can Fly.” He was asked to do an encore performance because his music teacher missed the first version. Link: Here’s a video of Antwan singing “If I Ain’t Got You.”

Benjamin Bright

This 24-year-old from Rome, N.Y., is a recent graduate of the Crane School of Music and teaches music and chorus at Cumberland Head Elementary School in West Chazy, N.Y. On MySpace, he identifies himself as a singer/songwriter whose sets include originals as well as well-known songs from a variety of bands. When Idol asked him about special talents, he said he can sing in a variety of languages and especially recalls a fifth-grade performance with his twin brother in which they were both decked out in top hats and doing a number with canes. Link: Here’s a link to a video of Benjamin covering Coldplay’s “Yellow.”

Bosa Mora

This 22-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, identifies himself as a singer-songwriter and actor whose “music blends American soul with the West African music of his parents who were born and raised in Nigeria.” His MySpace bio says he’s performed all along the Midwest and East Coast and recently completed a CD, which will be available soon. In his Idol video interview, he credits his girlfriend with talking him into trying out for the show, but admits “I just didn’t expect to go through.” Link: Go here, to Bosa’s MySpace to hear six of his songs.

Bryce Larsen

A 26-year-old from Long Island, N.Y., Bryce is lead singer and a guitarist for a group called Stealing Jane, made up of six guys who went to high school together. They classify their music as pop/alternative/R&B and they’ve released two EPs, “Say Something” in 2007 and “The Signal” in July of last year. In fact, Bryce says his most memorable performance came when his band opened for OneRepublic at a show in Hartford, Conn. If that isn’t enough, Bryce also released a solo album, “Sport of Kings,” in September 2008. All three are available on iTunes. Link: Go here to listen to five songs by Stealing Jane; go here to listen to some of Bryce’s solo work.

Jason Shorter

The only info I can find on this Hollywood contestant is what’s provided in his Idol video interview. He’s 26, from Randolph, Mass., and says he really isn’t that short. After receiving his golden ticket, he said he hopes his patience would set him apart from the other contestants. “It takes a while for me to get angry,” he said, meaning he should be able to cope with some harsh criticism from Mr. Cowell. His most memorable performance came at age 17, when he performed at the Apollo Theater in New York. He called it the biggest “and toughest” crowd he’d performed in front of to that point. Link: Go here to watch Jason’s Idol video interview.

Joshua Blaylock

Josh is the guy the Idol judges had to coach on assertiveness, challenging him to tell Simon to “shut up” after he’d called the singer forgettable. It worked, because Josh got his golden ticket after singing “God Bless the Broken Road.” He’s 28, he’s from New York, and he said he had auditioned for Idol in the past, but failed to make it to Hollywood. In his Idol video interview, Josh reveals that he got hooked on singing in the first grade, when he performed while his brother played the piano. He’s also a huge Reba McEntire fan. Link: Go here to watch Joshua’s audition and his assertiveness training.

Justin Gray

This gent is one of several students or former students from the Berklee College of Music to take advantage of Idol’s decision to hold auditions in Boston. He’s a sixth-semester music production and engineering major at the school. He graduated from Meadville High School in 2006 and played for the Meadville Bulldog ice hockey team. In fact, he says he’s been playing hockey since age 4. As for music, he said he was inspired by Kris Allen. “He kind of reminded me of myself,” the 21-year-old says in his Idol interview. “He kind of gave me the courage and hope that this could actually happen for me.” Link: Go here to watch Justin’s video interview.

Justin Williams

What? This guy has been eliminated already? You must be kidding. Between his good looks, his backstory (he’s a cancer survivor), the fact that he’d already been to Hollywood last year and the fact that he doesn’t mind singing covers, I figured he was a sure bet for the finals and perhaps a contender for the Idol season nine crown. He was 27 when he auditioned, so I suppose it’s possible we could see this Sandy, Utah, resident again next year. He seems to have the musical resume, too, having won a John Lennon singer/songwriter competition. He’s also working on an album titled “Familiar Stranger.” Link: Go here to listen to 14 Justin Williams’ songs, including a cover of David Archuleta’s “Crush.”

Luke Shaffer

Ah, another of those Idol name games. This 24-year-old, a 2008 graduate of Bowling Green University, typically performs as Luke James. In fact, he has a single, “Bella,” available via iTunes under that name, not to mention a MySpace full of music. He classifies his music as acoustic/pop/alternative, and apparently tried out in season eight as well, but failed to make it to Hollywood. He now lives in New York, where Idol’s blue bar identified him as a waiter. He says one of his most memorable performances was opening for Danity Kane. “My genre of music and their genre is incredibly different … So I got a few cheers and a few ‘whats.'” Link: Go here to listen to some of Luke’s music. Make sure to check out “This Town.”

Mike Davis

This guy is the actor on the speed boat named Codzilla that takes people on rides around the Boston harbor. He performed “Yesterday” during the audition. Like Randy, I didn’t think his voice was that good. But he made it to Hollywood on the strength of the girl vote on the panel. During his Idol interview, he says he took part in an Idol-like competition on a local access TV show named “Community Auditions” with local celebrity judges and made it to the finals. The 19-year-old from Medford, Mass., says his mom convinced him to audition. Link: Go here to watch Michael’s audition again.

Tyler Grady

Looking for a Pa. contestant to root for on season nine of Idol? This might be your guy. The 20-year-old from Nazareth (think Easton/Allentown area) showed up at the Idol audition with both arms in casts after falling out of a tree, but it didn’t affect his singing of Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” Frankly, I’m far more impressed with his performance as lead vocalist for a group called Wailing Waters. They have a three-song EP available on iTunes. The group plays original music and has won three battle of the band competitions, according to its MySpace. Link: Go here to listen to four Wailing Waters songs. “Runaround Rodeo” is particularly good.