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Josh Gracin

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Joshua Mario "Josh" Gracin (born on October 18, 1980) is a country music singer who arose to fame as the fourth-place finalist on the second season of American Idol. After his departure, his debut album went gold in 2004.

Biography

Gracin grew up in Westland, Michigan. Josh's vocal debut was at a 7th grade talent show at Stevenson Jr. High where he performed the hit Standing Outside The Fire by one of his all time Idol's in country music Garth Brooks. Upon graduation from John Glenn High School in Westland, he attended Western Michigan University before he joined the United States Marine Corps. After basic training, he came home and married, eventually became a supply clerk at Camp Pendleton outside of San Diego and appeared on the second season of the hit TV show American Idol.

After his Idol stint and his discharge from the Marine Corps, Josh and his wife Ann Marie moved to Franklin, Tennessee in pursuit of his singing career. Together they have two daughters, Briana Marie Gracin, born March 30 2002 and Gabriella Ann Gracin, born November 15 2006, as well as a son, Landon Joshua Gracin, born August 4 [[2005].

American Idol

Joshua Gracin appeared on the second season of American Idol. His country sound and his ongoing military service immediately made him stand out from Idol's pop- and R&B-oriented contestants. Gracin's best performances usually came when he was able to sing songs with a country flavor, but he often struggled in other genres.

Gracin attracted audience support by being willing to butt heads figuratively, and in one case almost literally, with judge Simon Cowell. Some attention was given to why Gracin was permitted time away from his unit to participate in the show, while many other Marine units were being sent to participate in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. However, his unit had not been selected for deployment, and Gracin had permission from the Marines to do the show.

Gracin's semifinal performance of Edwin McCain's "I'll Be" was a standout and is felt by many to be his high-water mark in the competition. A country-tinged rendition of Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" was also well received; however, his country-fied performance of Kool and the Gang's "Celebration" was panned strongly by judges and viewers alike.

A mild controversy ensued when, with five singers left, Gracin survived a vote in which Trenyce was voted off. Many viewers felt the wrong choice had been made, as Trenyce had performed two songs well the night before while Gracin struggled with both "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" and Neil Sedaka's "Bad Blood", sparring uncharacteristically crossly with Cowell after the latter performance. A camera reaction shot when the results were announced revealed Gracin visibly dismayed when told he had avoided the Bottom 2. Gracin was voted off the following week, an episode that ironically included one of his best performances, that of the Bee Gees' To Love Somebody. He finished in fourth place.

Joshua Gracin
Nickname(s)Josh
AllegianceUSMC
Years of service2000-2004
RankLance Corporal
Unit1st Maintenance Battalion
Battles / warsOperation Iraqi Freedom

Due to having to resume his Marine commitments, Gracin did not participate in the subsequent American Idol Finalists concert tour of American venues. After four years of service, he was honorably discharged in September 2004.

Musical Career

Now going by Josh Gracin, he was in the meantime signed to Lyric Street Records; Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts had become a booster, after Gracin's performance of their I'm Movin' On on Idol. His debut album Josh Gracin was released on June 15 2004 and has shipped more than 680,000 units and is certified Gold by the RIAA. It includes the #1 country hit "Nothin’ To Lose" and the Top 5 hits "Stay With Me (Brass Bed)" and "I Want To Live" ([1]).

In 2005 Gracin contributed the song "Working for the Weekend" to the Herbie: Fully Loaded soundtrack, and he also sang on "When I See an Elephant Fly" on the Jim Brickman album The Disney Songbook.

In March 2006 he released a new single entitled "Favorite State Of Mind". This will be the first single off his release set for May 2007. Gracin was also a guest star on The Young and the Restless in June 2006. On October 22 2006 Josh sang "God Bless America" during the 7th inning of the Game 2 of the World Series between the Detroit Tigers and the St. Louis Cardinals.

On December 18, 2006 Josh sang the national anthem before the start of the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals game on ESPN Monday Night Football

In 2006, Josh contributed the song "Hound Dude" to the The Fox and the Hound 2 soundtrack.

Josh's new album titled I Keep Coming Back is set to be released Late 2007.

Gracin has filled in for Lonestar's lead vocalist Richie McDonald in concert on a few occasions. McDonald is reportedly leaving Lonestar in 2007, and although some rumors have circulated that Gracin might replace Richie as lead vocalist in the group, the guys from Lonestar have assured fans that these rumors as false.[citation needed] Gracin sang Lonestar's song "Amazed" when he was a finalist on the show American Idol.

Songs performed on American Idol

Discography

Albums

Singles

Year Single U.S. Hot 100 U.S. Country Album
2004 "I Want To Live" 45 4 Josh Gracin
2005 "Nothin' To Lose" 39 1 Josh Gracin
2005 "Stay With Me (Brass Bed)"A 47 5 Josh Gracin
2006 "Please Come Home For Christmas" - 51 downloaded single
2006 "O Holy Night" - 59 downloaded single
2006 "Favorite State of Mind" - 19 I Keep Coming Back
2006 "I Keep Coming Back" - 28 I Keep Coming Back
  • A"Stay With Me (Brass Bed)" also peaked at #66 on the Pop 100.
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