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Michael Johns (singer)

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Michael Johns

Michael Johns (born Michael John Lee[2] October 20, 1978) is an Australian-born rock/soul singer-songwriter who finished in eighth place in 2008 on the seventh season of the television series American Idol.

Biography

He was born as Michael John Lee in Perth, Western Australia to William (Bill) Lee and Janet Burke. He is of English descent[citation needed] and the youngest of three and has half and step-siblings. He attended Newman College, a K–12 co-educational Roman Catholic school in suburban Perth. As a teenager, he appeared as The Coachman in Pinocchio at the Regal Theatre and was a choir singer in Anything Goes at His Majesty’s Theatre.[3]

He moved to the United States from Australia in 1998 and lived in Atlanta, Georgia, for six years, performing at local venues. He now lives in Los Angeles, California, with his Texan wife, Stacey Vuduris.

Johns has played sports. He won a tennis scholarship at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia, where he majored in drama,[2][4] and also played Australian rules football for the USAFL club Atlanta Kookaburras.[5][6].

Career

Prior to attempting to pursue a solo career, Johns performed in Atlanta and released an EP with local band Film. While he was in Atlanta, he performed solo at an Irish pub where he went by his real name, Michael Lee.

After traveling to Los Angeles to showcase for a number of labels in 2001, he signed with Maverick Records. He then found guitarists Robb Torres and Kevin Haaland, bassist Ari Gorman and drummer Kirke Blankenship and formed a rock band called The Rising[7]. The band toured nationally[8], performed on several television shows[9] and at the opening of a Los Angeles Apple Store in 2003. The latter performance resulted in the release of the Live at the Apple Store EP.

They produced an iTunes album Future Unknown, which was co-produced by Johns and Rick Beato. Although a number of the tracks received some airplay on radio in 2003,[10] the album was not released on iTunes until Johns was a finalist on American Idol.

He also co-wrote and recorded a rendition of "River of Life," featuring Lebo Kgasapane of Soweto, South Africa, which was used as a promotional track for a documentary called Ithuteng.

American Idol

Overview

Johns auditioned for American Idol Season 7 at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium on July 30 and July 31, 2007. He was 28 years old at the time of auditions, and this was his first audition and last year of eligibility for the show. He advanced with a unanimous vote after singing Otis Redding's "I've Been Loving You Too Long," with judge Simon Cowell noting that he is "like a white soul singer." In Hollywood, he sang Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" for his audition and received unanimous praise from the three judges. Johns claimed to be an avid American Idol fan (having watched this show since the beginning[11]) and was one of the first non-US citizens to make the Top 12 (along with Carly Smithson). He was the fifth finalist eliminated from the show on April 10, 2008, with seven additional contestants remaining. He was never in the bottom 3 prior to his elimination. His last song (as a competitor) was "Dream On" by Aerosmith for Inspirational Week, which was the week of Idol Gives Back. His elimination from Idol was shocking to most Idol fans and critics.[12] [13]

Performances and results (during voting weeks)

Week # Theme Song choice Original artist Order # Result
Top 24 (12 Men) 1960s "Light My Fire" The Doors 12 Safe
Top 20 (10 Men) 1970s "Go Your Own Way" Fleetwood Mac 1 Safe
Top 16 (8 Men) 1980s "Don't You (Forget About Me)" Simple Minds 5 Safe
Top 12 Lennon/McCartney "Across the Universe" The Beatles 10 Safe
Top 11 The Beatles "A Day in the Life" The Beatles 4 Safe
Top 10 Year They Were Born "We Will Rock You"/"We Are the Champions" Queen 6 Safe
Top 9 Dolly Parton "It's All Wrong But It's All Right" Dolly Parton 9 Safe
Top 8 Inspirational Music "Dream On" Aerosmith 1 Eliminated


Post-Idol

Johns has received offers from various labels and said he's "confident of having an album out in 2009."[14][15] He has performed on several television programs since being voted off of Idol.

On December 9, 2008, he released a song "Another Christmas." Proceeds from the song were advertised as going to the Red Cross and MDA’s ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) division. Johns penned the song in 2006, when circumstances kept him from returning to his native Australia for Christmas.[16]

Together with Rye Randa and Jeff Foxworth, he performs on the soundtrack for Shaun White's documentary DVD Don't Look Down. The soundtrack, which was produced by Johns, Randa and Foxworth, was released separately by Three Rings Project on January 20, 2009. It consists of 17 songs, 10 of which are vocal. Johns sings on all but one of these songs.[17] He later secured a record deal with Downtown Records[18] with his debut single selling 5,000 copies.[19]

On November 18-21 2008, Johns performed four mall shows in the Philippines. (With Ayala Malls Corporation)

Discography

Albums

Release Date Artist Album Label No. of Tracks
September 16, 2003 The Rising Future Unknown Maverick 11 tracks
August 26, 2003 Live at the Apple Store 5 tracks (EP)
2007 Michael Johns Michael Johns[20] - 12 tracks
2008 Another Christmas TRP records 1 track
2009 Don't Look Down – The Height of Competition 17 tracks
June 23, 2009 Hold Back My Heart Downtown Records 12 tracks[21]

Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
US AC
2009 "Life Is Okay" (f. Brooke White) — Don't Look Down – The Height of Competition
"Heart on My Sleeve" 25[22] Hold Back My Heart

References

  1. ^ http://michaeljohnscentral.com/tag/downtown-records/
  2. ^ a b Ho, Rodney (2008-02-15). "Michael Johns interview (updated)". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Access Atlanta.
  3. ^ "American Idol contestant Michael Johns dreamed of fame". www.news.com.au, PerthNow. 2008-10-08.
  4. ^ ""Idol" Johns Ditched College, Last Name". TMZ. 2008-10-08.
  5. ^ Sean (2008-02-18). "Could a former USAFL player be the next American Idol?". World Footy News.
  6. ^ "Mike goes his own way". Atlanta Kookaburras Australian Rules Football Club. 2008-02-27. {{cite news}}: line feed character in |work= at position 20 (help)
  7. ^ "Music Morsels: Crossroads: Michael Lee Of The Rising". www.serge.org. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  8. ^ "The Rising's Michael Lee came to the US with a dream on Nashville City Paper". www.nashvillecitypaper.com. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  9. ^ "melodic.net: The Film". www.melodic.net. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  10. ^ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". www.fmqb.com. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  11. ^ Michael Johns dishes on his 'American Idol' journey, surprise ouster
  12. ^ 'American Idol' Shocker: Michael Johns Goes Home
  13. ^ 'American Idol' Elimination Shocker: Michael Johns' Dreams Dashed, As Carly Smithson And Syesha Mercado Squeak By
  14. ^ From outhouse to White House
  15. ^ Michael Johns' offered recording career after American Idol
  16. ^ http://www.accesshollywood.com/_article_12434
  17. ^ http://blogcritics.org/archives/2009/01/06/094446.php
  18. ^ http://www.okmagazine.com/news/view/12866
  19. ^ "Archuleta's American Idol Appearance Pays Off, Kelly Clarkson Still Sells Best," USA Today, April 2009.
  20. ^ Michael Johns on allmusic.com
  21. ^ "Michael Johns Shows Off His "Heart On My Sleeve" Today".
  22. ^ [1]

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