Danny Gokey
Danny Gokey |
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Daniel Jay Gokey (born April 24, 1980), known as Danny Gokey, is an American singer and church music director from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and the third place finalist on the eighth season of American Idol.[1][2]
Biography
A devout Christian, Gokey started singing with his family in church, but stated he would rather record mainstream music than perform solely contemporary Christian music. He has been the worship director at his church in Milwaukee, Faith Builders International Ministries, for several years.[3] On May 15, 2004, Gokey married his girlfriend of seven years, Sophia Martinez.[citation needed]He is the second youngest of six children. He has a brother, Charles, and four sisters.[4][5] He has acknowledged the influence of Jeffrey and Robin Pruitt, the pastors of the church he works at and said his faith is the, "key to who I am."[6]
On July 9, 2008,[7] four weeks before he auditioned for American Idol, Gokey's wife underwent routine surgery for congenital heart disease.[8][9] It was her third surgery, but she died from complications.[8][10] The couple had been together for 12 years, and he credits her for his success.[11] Sophia was a fan of American Idol and encouraged Gokey to be a contestant,[8] and Danny started a foundation in her name[12] with some of her family members who are also musicians. The foundation includes a program to provide donated musical instruments to students.
Career
American Idol
Gokey rose to national fame with his participation in the eighth season of American Idol. On August 8, 2008, he auditioned in Kansas City, Missouri, along with his friend Jamar Rogers, who is also from Milwaukee. Both made it through to Hollywood, but Rogers was eliminated from the competition prior to the semifinals. Gokey was recently nominated in his state of Wisconsin for a WAMI (Wisconsin Area Music Industry) award for Best Christian/Gospel Artist of the Year. However, he lost to Chad James, a local Christian artist in April 2009 during his run on Idol.[13]
Gokey auditioned for American Idol only four weeks after his wife's passing in July 2008.[14] Possibly due to discussing Sophia's death and openly grieving during his audition, as well as what some felt was too much screen time and judge favoritism given to him early in the season, Gokey became a target for much criticism.[15] During Gokey's reprise of "Hero", a friend held up a photo of Sophia, inflaming the criticism.[16] Gokey, along with runner-up Adam Lambert, were judge favorites throughout the season, consistently earning high praise from all four judges. Approximately a month before the finale judge Simon Cowell said that he expected Gokey would make the finale, going head to head with Lambert,[17] but Kris Allen went on to win the season.
During Rock Week (Top 4 week), Gokey's take on Aerosmith's "Dream On" earned him even more criticism due to the extended scream with which he finished the song.[18] Gokey was eliminated during Top 3 week, despite his performance of Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful," which Cowell described as a "vocal master class"[19][20]. Judge Paula Abdul appeared to fight back tears when he reprised it after being eliminated.[21][22]
During the season 8 finale on May 20, 2009, Gokey performed a duet with r&b superstar Lionel Richie. The performance opened with Gokey singing a true-to-the-original solo of Richie's "Hello," which season 7 winner David Cook also covered during his season as a rock power ballad,[23] and then Richie joined Gokey for a duet of his hits "Just Go" and "All Night Long".[24]
Performances/Results
- Template:Fnb Due to the judges using their one save to save Matt Giraud, the Top 7 remained intact for another week.
- Template:Fnb It was only announced that Allison Iraheta received the lowest number of votes this week. The other member(s) of the bottom two or three were never revealed.
Post-Idol
Gokey plans to start recording an R&B album over the summer, and continue doing work on his foundation, Sophia's Heart, which was set up to help disadvantaged children.[25]
Gokey is known for his many pairs of eyeglasses that he often wore on the show, and has stated he may start an eyewear line to help raise funds for his foundation.[26]
Discography
Other charted songs
| Year | Song | US | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | "You Are So Beautiful" | 125[27] | American Idol performance |
References
- ^ Danny Gokey: 'Idol's New Hero.
- ^ "Introducing Danny Gokey: Get to know Hollywood Hopeful Danny Gokey." American Idol.
- ^ "American Idol finalists are church worship leaders" Associated Press via WNCT, February 20, 2009.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "American Idol Top 36: Danny Gokey" by Leslie Anne Wiggins, WITI-TV FOX 6,
- ^ "Milwaukee's Gokey wows judges, makes 'Idol' finals" Tim Cuprisin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, February 18, 2009.
- ^ Social Security Death Index
- ^ a b c "Milwaukee man says he's prepared to give his all to make 'Idol' finals" by Tim Cuprisin, Feb. 13, 2009, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ^ "'Idol's grieving Danny Gokey hopes to lighten up" Jill Serjeant, Feb 19, 2009, Reuters.
- ^ "American Idol Selects First Three Finalists", AP story run in the New York Times.
- ^ "‘Idol’s’ Danny Gokey: My Wife ‘Is The Reason For My Success’" Access Hollywood, February 20, 2009.
- ^ "Danny Gokey Photo Gallery" WITI February 18, 2009
- ^ Danny Gokey: East Troy Singer Beats Danny R. Gokey at WAMI Awards
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ "Semis - Group 1 - Results". Retrieved 2009-06-07.
- ^ [4]
- ^ "'American Idol' Rock Week Makes Us Scream On Like Danny Gokey". Retrieved 2009-05-08.
- ^ [5]
- ^ [6]
- ^ [7]
- ^ [8]
- ^ [9]
- ^ [10]
- ^ [11]
- ^ [12]
- ^ [13]
External links
- Template:AI contestant
- Danny Gokey on Twitter
- Sophia's Heart Foundation (Official charity website)
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|| UNKNOWN | MISSING = Year of birth missing {{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:}}||LIVING=(living people)}}
| #default = 1980 births
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