Michael Johns (singer): Difference between revisions
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Johns is a keen sportsman. He won a tennis scholarship at the [[Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College]] in [[Tifton, Georgia]], where he majored in drama,<ref name=interview/><ref>{{cite news |title="Idol" Johns Ditched College, Last Name|work=TMZ|date=2008-10-8 |url=http://www.tmz.com/2008/03/07/idol-johns-ditched-college-last-name/}}</ref> and also played [[Australian rules football]] for the [[USAFL]] club, Atlanta Kookaburras.<ref>{{cite news |title=Could a former USAFL player be the next American Idol? |last=Sean |work=World Footy News |date=2008-02-18 |url=http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20080218195156977 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mike goes his own way |work=Atlanta Kookaburras |
Johns is a keen sportsman. He won a tennis scholarship at the [[Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College]] in [[Tifton, Georgia]], where he majored in drama,<ref name=interview/><ref>{{cite news |title="Idol" Johns Ditched College, Last Name|work=TMZ|date=2008-10-8 |url=http://www.tmz.com/2008/03/07/idol-johns-ditched-college-last-name/}}</ref> and also played [[Australian rules football]] for the [[USAFL]] club, Atlanta Kookaburras.<ref>{{cite news |title=Could a former USAFL player be the next American Idol? |last=Sean |work=World Footy News |date=2008-02-18 |url=http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20080218195156977 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mike goes his own way |work=Atlanta Kookaburras |
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Australian Rules Football Club |date=2008-02-27 |url=http://www.atlantafooty.com/content/view/168/1/ }}</ref>. He is unrelated to [[Michael Johns (executive)|Michael Johns]], the American business executive, former [[White House]] speechwriter, and prominent [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] writer of the same name. |
Australian Rules Football Club |date=2008-02-27 |url=http://www.atlantafooty.com/content/view/168/1/ }}</ref>. He is unrelated to [[Michael Johns (executive)|Michael Johns]], the American business executive, former [[White House]] speechwriter, and prominent [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] writer of the same name. |
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He was nicknamed The Navy Killer for he has boned more than 75% of Navy Men. |
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He owns the world record for having the thickest pubic hair. His pubic hair is 10x thicker than regular bush. |
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He has a rare disease of Igotthreeballs. He is the spokesperson for the Igotthreeballs Foundation. |
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Johns came out of the closet in early December. He said he knew he was gay when he saw his dad, Elton Johns, pull out his banana sized penis while taking a bath. He said he got aroused and hard. |
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== Career == |
== Career == |
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Revision as of 04:48, 5 January 2009
Michael Johns |
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Michael Johns (born Michael John Lee[1] October 20, 1978) is an Australian-born rock/soul singer-songwriter who was an eighth place finalist on the seventh season of the television series American Idol.
Biography
Johns was born as Michael Lee Johns in Perth, Western Australia, to William (Bill) Lee and Janet Burke (married to John Burke). He is the youngest of three and has half and step-siblings. He attended Newman College, a K–12 co-educational 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.[2]
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 is a keen sportsman. He won a tennis scholarship at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia, where he majored in drama,[1][3] and also played Australian rules football for the USAFL club, Atlanta Kookaburras.[4][5]. He is unrelated to Michael Johns, the American business executive, former White House speechwriter, and prominent conservative writer of the same name.
He was nicknamed The Navy Killer for he has boned more than 75% of Navy Men.
He owns the world record for having the thickest pubic hair. His pubic hair is 10x thicker than regular bush.
He has a rare disease of Igotthreeballs. He is the spokesperson for the Igotthreeballs Foundation.
Johns came out of the closet in early December. He said he knew he was gay when he saw his dad, Elton Johns, pull out his banana sized penis while taking a bath. He said he got aroused and hard.
Career
Prior to attempting to pursue a solo career, Johns performed in Atlanta with Jeff Bramwell and Hank Barbee and released an EP with local band Film. While he was in Atlanta, he performed solo at an Irish pub called Fado where he went by his real name, Michael Lee. Coincidentally, fellow American Idol (season 7) contestant Carly Smithson worked at the same bar during the time period when Johns/Lee was performing there.
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[6]. The band toured nationally[7], performed on the Rock Boat, The Sharon Osbourne Show[8] 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,[9], 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 multi-award winning documentary, 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. 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[10]) and was one of the first expatriates to make the Top 12 (along with Carly Smithson). He was eliminated from the show on April 10, 2008 with seven other participants remaining. His last song on American Idol was "Dream On" by Aerosmith for Tuesday's theme, Inspirational Songs. His elimination by Idol viewers was considered surprising to some Idol fans and critics.[11] [12]
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.'[13][14]. He has performed on several television programs since being voted off of Idol.
He was a guest on the "David Foster and Friends" PBS Special, taped May 23, 2008 at the Mandalay in Las Vegas, where he performed a version of David Foster's "Man In Motion." The DVD for this concert has been released later in the year.
Johns has stayed connected with close friend and Idol Season 7 fellow contestant, Carly Smithson. Johns and Smithson, both considered to have had the two most shocking eliminations of the show's seventh installment, have performed and appeared at many events after Idol. The duo appeared on Ellen DeGeneres' special episode aired in Chicago, where they did a duet of "Hold On, I'm Coming" and "One". The two also appeared at a private charity event where they performed. Pictures from the event were released, but recordings and videos haven't due to privacy policies. Michael Johns and Carly Smithson both performed together at the Season 7 finale of American Idol, singing The Box Tops' "The Letter". Rumors were released in early September 2008 about a possible recording of them as a duet to be released for purchases and downloads, but they confirmed that the rumor is false and they both want to "focus on their careers and upcoming singles and albums."
In October, Johns performed the National Anthem at NASCAR's 2008 Pep Boys Auto 500[15][16] which aired on ABC. In November, he went on a mall tour in the Philippines where he performed 4 full concerts in front of crowds of thousands of fans.[17] While he was in the Phillippines Michael guested ABS-CBN’s A.S.A.P. ‘08 performing Bohemian Rhapsody, the very song that made him a standout during his run on American Idol[18], with local stars Sarah Geronimo, Rachelle Ann Go and Yeng Constantino.
Michael also appeared on the video of Dan Band's new Christmas song "Please Don't Bomb Nobody" which also featured Christina Applegate, Neil Patrick Harris, Nicole Scherzinger, Kathy Najimy, Meg Ryan, Macy Gray, Nia Vardalos,Ian Gomez, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Mayne, Rachel Harris, Donald Faizon, Janeane Garofalo, Matthew Perry, Cheri Oteri, Nathan Fillion, Ricki Lake, Ming Na, Lucy Lawless. He also performed[19] at the Benefit Dinner held during the 60th Anniversary of the American Australian Association which is chaired by media mogul, Rupert Murdoch.
Post-Idol releases
On December 9, 2008, he released a song titled "Another Christmas," available for purchase on Amazon and iTunes. All proceeds from sales of the song go 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.[20]
Johns intends to release an album with a wide range of influences such as Stones, INXS, Otis Redding [21], Van Morrison and Joe Cocker [22]. His post-idol record will consist of tracks penned by Johns as well as other collaborations with the likes of Diane Warren[23].
In 2008, Johns signed a record deal with TRP Records, and released "Another Christmas" digitally. His album is slated for a March 2009 release.
Discography
- Film, Rolling, 2001, Label: (unknown), 6 tracks (EP)
- The Rising, Future Unknown, 16 September 2003, Label: Maverick, 11 tracks
- The Rising, Live at the Apple Store, 26 August 2003, Label: Maverick, 5 tracks (EP)
- Michael Johns, Michael Johns (2007)[24]
- "Another Christmas", Label: TRP records
References
- ^ a b Ho, Rodney (2008-02-15). "Michael Johns interview (updated)". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Access Atlanta.
- ^ "American Idol contestant Michael Johns dreamed of fame". www.news.com.au, PerthNow. 2008-10-8.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ ""Idol" Johns Ditched College, Last Name". TMZ. 2008-10-8.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Sean (2008-02-18). "Could a former USAFL player be the next American Idol?". World Footy News.
- ^ "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) - ^ "Music Morsels: Crossroads: Michael Lee Of The Rising". www.serge.org. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
- ^ "The Rising's Michael Lee came to the US with a dream on Nashville City Paper". www.nashvillecitypaper.com. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
- ^ "melodic.net: The Film". www.melodic.net. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
- ^ "FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!". www.fmqb.com. Retrieved 2008-01-13.
- ^ Michael Johns dishes on his 'American Idol' journey, surprise ouster
- ^ 'American Idol' Shocker: Michael Johns Goes Home
- ^ 'American Idol' Elimination Shocker: Michael Johns' Dreams Dashed, As Carly Smithson And Syesha Mercado Squeak By
- ^ From outhouse to White House
- ^ Michael Johns' offered recording career after American Idol
- ^ http://americanidollowdown.blogspot.com/2008/10/michael-johns-national-anthem-at-nascar.html
- ^ http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=311652&FS=NASCAR-CUP
- ^ Article from Philstar.
- ^ http://ph.news.yahoo.com/star/20081119/tel-dream-on-aerosmith-michael-johns-dd408b0.html
- ^ http://www.americanaustralian.org/benefitdinner/
- ^ http://www.accesshollywood.com/_article_12434
- ^ http://www.acweekly.com/view.php?id=9188
- ^ http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=311652&FS=NASCAR-CUP
- ^ http://www.accesshollywood.com/michael-johns-celebrates-another-christmas-gears-up-for-2009-album-release_article_12549
- ^ Michael Johns on allmusic.com