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 some of the talented male singers we didn’t meet during the Long Beach 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.

Elijah Liu

This gent from Rowland Heights, Calif., refers to himself as a late-bloomer. After all, he just started singing about a year and a half before the Season 12 auditions were held in the summer of 2012. But he’s also off to Hollywood for a second straight year and thinks he has a good chance of going deeper into the competition this time around. “When I perform, it’s not just about being vocally precise. It’s about that connection with your audience … That’s what I want to do on American Idol,” said Elijah. His favorite past contestant is Adam Lambert, partly because of the progression he has made as a performer since he first appeared on the show.

“Young Girls”
For more from Elijah, head here.

Engelo Charles

It’s easy to see why this guy made it past the Idol judges. He’s different and personable. From Clovis, N.M., Engelo says: “I have a performer’s heart. I love entertaining. It’s the high of knowing that you’re giving people some joy and they’re enjoying what you’re doing.” He also thinks his performances are unique because he draws from many different genres of music. “I take little pieces from here and there and try to piece them together. Sometimes it works. Sometimes maybe not so much. But it’s me.” His favorite past Idol is Kelly Clarkson. His favorite Kelly Clarkson performance on Idol: her rendition of “Respect.” Engelo says he still remembers how special it was.

“Goodbye Sorrow (original)”
For more from Engelo, head here.

Kevin Quinn

Kevin, from Wilmette, Ill., describes himself as “an oldies but goodies kind of guy.” Translation: He doesn’t just sing the latest, hottest pop song out there. He enjoys classic hits as well. Which isn’t surprising once you learn about his musical inspiration. He says his dad would always play The Beatles’ music as Kevin was growing up. He became a fan, too, especially because the music was “so touching.” “I realized I could try to touch people the way they touched me,” Kevin says. “And that’s what I want to do for the rest of my life.” His favorite past Idol contestant is James Durbin from Season 10 because he seems “like a really fun guy.”

“When You Were Mine”
For more from Kevin, head here.

Mario Jose

Some of the favorite words this young man has ever heard came from Randy Jackson aboard the Queen Mary: “Yo, dawg, you’re going to Hollywood.” Says the lad from Concord, Calif.: “It was surreal. There’s no feeling like it.” Of course, keep in mind that Mario has dreamed of being on Idol since the show first aired. He says his parents are his inspiration. Both are musicians and they’ve shown incredible support for his musical ambitions, Mario says. He also thinks he’s unique and viewers will be a bit surprised when they hear him sing. “When I sing, it’s like my whole soul opens up. I don’t think anyone sounds like me.” His favorite past Idol contestant is Adam Lambert.

“New York State of Mind”
For more from Mario, head here.

Marvin Calderon

Marvin says he sings with soul and admires performers who pour passion into their songs, like past Idols Elliott Yamin, Jennifer Hudson and Joshua Ledet. But I don’t think any of them ever explained their voice the way this young man from San Diego, Calif., does. “My voice has been described as butter,” Marvin says. “It’s funny, but people say that my voice is smooth, good and delicious. But also dangerous. Especially for the ladies.” He comes to Idol with performance experience, having been a member of a theater arts company where dancing and acting are also required. And he says the end of his Idol audition was something special because the show allowed his friends and family members onto the set. All 20 of them. “It was amazing,” Marvin recalls.

“Chasing Pavements”
For more from Marvin, head here.

Micah Johnson

Yes, we met Micah during the Long Beach audition show, but I’m including him here because I couldn’t find additional video of him performing. He’s the guy with the speech impediment, the result of tonsil surgery that went wrong. Regardless, he wowed the judges with a performance of “Chicken Fried,” a song form the Zac Brown Band. This guy from Morrow, Ga., says he thinks his passion for contemporary country music helps set him apart. His mother has been his biggest inspiration, Micah says. “She had me in church every time the doors were open and she always sang.” Now he wants to prove that a person can overcome their disabilities. “I talk a little funny,” he says, “but it could be worse.”

No video located.

Nicholas Crossen

At just 15, this high school student from Antioch, Calif., says he’s had a lot of inspiration, including his voice teacher, an aunt who’s very involved in music, a grandmother who passed away shortly before the auditions and a fourth-grade teacher who encouraged him to be himself. He said he takes that advice to heart, and points to it as something that makes him unique. “I don’t really care what other people think,” he said. “I’m just crazy and who I want to be.” His favorite past Idol is Kelly Clarkson for her talent and her post Idol success. “That’s very inspiring,” he says. “I really look up to her.”

“Cry Me A River”
For more from Nicholas, head here.

Rick VanderKleign

This gent comes to American Idol all the way from Amsterdam. Well, not really. He now lives in Santa Monica, Calif., but he’s from the Netherlands. He’s also a singer-songwriter who says he has a knack for writing catchy music and who is hoping that his exposure to a wide range of music will help set him apart from the competition. “I’ve been doing music a long time,” he says. “I kind of know who I am and what I sound like and what I should be doing.” Elton John and Paul McCartney are among his musical inspirations, but he says he’s also listened to classical music. His favorite past Idols include Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood for the post-Idol success they’ve enjoyed.

“The Scientist”
For more from Rick, head here.

Sean Curtis

From Cheyenne, Wyoming, Sean is a country singer who counts Blake Shelton among his inspirations and Scotty McCreery as his favorite past Idol. He likes the way Blake “carries himself,” plus the way he’s demonstrated that you can have a successful career and a married life at the same time. As for himself … “I’m not really outgoing all of the time, but when I’m performing and singing, it comes out of me. I bring a different presence to the stage. I involve the crowd. I think that really does set me aside from some other people.” And even if he doesn’t win, he says he plans to use every piece of advice he gets on Idol to make sure he improves.

“I Drive Your Truck”
For more from Sean, go here.