Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The number of golden ticket recipients from each American Idol audition city far exceed the number of contestants we meet on the show.

Here are the male singers we didn’t meet during the Charlotte audition episode.

I’ve included a blurb on each with information gleaned from their Road to Hollywood videos on americanidol.com.

In cases where a video of them singing or performing could be located, I’ve also included that.

If you know of existing YouTube videos for a contestant who doesn’t have one below, simply let me know and I’ll add it.

And to hear more from American Idol’s other Hollywood bound contestants, head here.

David Leathers

If the name rings a bell, it should. This youngster from Fayetteville, N.C., was one of the last contestants to learn his fate in Vegas in Season 11, then one of four guys considered for a 13th semifinal spot among the guys that went to Jermaine Jones. David says he wants to show America he can go all the way this time. What makes him unique? “Not only do I sing, I can produce and do a little rap here and there,” he says. “It’s not as good as my singing, but people like it.” His favorite former Idol contestant is Scotty McCreery, whom he once defeated in a Rip the Hallways competition featuring the best young vocalists in North Carolina.

“Thinking About You”
For more music from David, head here.

David Willis

This guy from Mount Dora, Fla., calls himself an “eclectic melting pot of old and new music.” He also thinks his singing style will help set him apart. “It’s a little bit of folk, a little bit of blues,” David says. Rather than being inspired by a person, he says he’s inspired by the experience of performing, by “the feeling that wells up inside of you … and makes you want to do it more.” His favorite past Idols are Phillip Phillips and Fantasia, the latter because of the emotion she managed to convey whenever she performed.

“This”
For more music from David, head here.

Dylan Arms

He’s another contestant who benefited from the Keith Urban tiebreaker in Charlotte. He says Nicki Minaj and Keith wanted to put him through to Hollywood, but the vote was deadlocked 2-2 before Keith broke the tie. From Greer, S.C., Dylan says he started singing at age 10 and was inspired by a cousin who’s constantly playing music and plays a number of instruments. Dylan says he’s willing to make sacrifices to improve musically, even if that means setting aside his social life. As for past Idol contestants, he most admires David Archuelta, the Season 7 runner-up. “I think personality wise, we might have some common factors,” Dylan says.

No video located.

Kenneth Harrison

This gent from Woodland, N.C., points to his grandmother as his musical inspiration. “She used to take my hand and guide it down the piano, and we would hum the different keys together until we got the perfect pitch,” he recalls. She also prodded him to sing in front of people in church. And he would watch her perform as well. “I didn’t know music could touch people that way,” Kenneth says. When his grandmother got ill, he stepped in and took over playing the piano at church. Kenneth also thinks his personality sets him apart. “You could be having a horrible day and I’ll make you smile,” he promises. “I bring light into a dark place.”

“Best Thing I Never Had”
For more music from Kenneth, head here.

Kenneth Johnson

Kenneth says he grew up around a musical family. In fact, he says his family helped initiate his church’s choir back in the 1960s and 1970s. That said, no one from his family has ever made it to the national or international stage playing music, and that’s the goal of this guy from Charlotte, N.C. This year marked his first time trying out for Idol “after being intimidated in the past” and he calls getting a golden ticket to Hollywood a “thriller experience.” In terms of past Idols, he admires Season 11’s Skylar Laine, who showed “mad confidence” on stage. He thinks he has that same passion to perform.

No video located.

Raul Quijano

This guy from Cape Choral, Fla., puts it pretty bluntly: “I’ve wanted to be a superstar ever since I was a little boy. And I’ll stop a nothing until I get there.” Raul didn’t think his audition went as well as he would have liked, but said he still had three judges vote yes on sending him to Hollywood. He describes himself musically as “a white boy with soul,” one who has been inspired by a cousin named Domingo who’s “always been a musician.” Raul calls his vocal talent God-given, not taught, but says he thinks he’ll be able to use the judges’ feedback to improve. His favorite Idol: Kelly Clarkson, saying he’s been in love with her since she stepped on the Idol stage and sang “Respect.”

“Sober”
For more music from Raul, head here.