‘American Idol’ castoff Josiah Leming’s big recovery
Last January, in a classic “American Idol” preseason meltdown, the hyper-emotional Josiah Leming was sent home — which in his case meant his car.
Now, less than a year later, in one of “Idol’s” unlikely turns of fate, the high school dropout who’d left his ailing mother, out-of-work stepfather and eight siblings in Morristown, Tenn., is back, living the high life in Los Angeles and poised to release his first album on Warner Bros. Records.
“I was kind of down and out, ” said Leming, now 19, over a burger and fries at Canter’s Deli in Los Angeles of his decision to audition for “American Idol.” “So it was kind of like, ‘What the hell?’ Nothing to lose, really.”
Despite his diminutive stature, baby face and boyish clothing, Leming is magnetic in person, his naked lack of inhibition at once disarming and electrifying. And then there’s that inner heartache.
More Idol Headlines After the JUMP…
Josiah Leming Completes His Debut Album for Warner Bros. Records — Due Early 2009
BURBANK, Calif., Oct 27, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Tennessee-born singer and songwriter Josiah Leming has completed work on his eagerly anticipated debut album for Reprise Records, which the label will release in early 2009. The 19-year-old newcomer, who made a splash with his powerfully expressive voice and passionate performance style, spent several weeks over the summer in London with producer/musician David Kosten (Bat For Lashed, Faultline), recording the songs, all of which he wrote himself.
Josiah Leming shows off debut album
Up-and-coming singer/songwriter Josiah Leming [ tickets ] has finished his debut album for Warner Bros. Records and is previewing the set next month with a handful of North American dates.
The season-seven “American Idol” contestant is scheduled to hit the road beginning Nov. 12 in Vancouver and then cross over to the US for nine gigs stretching from Seattle to Memphis. The full itinerary is listed below.
Schneider, Padgett, Schulz, Allan, Blum and More Will Join Hicks in Grease Tour
Complete casting has been announced for the upcoming national tour of the fifties-themed musical Grease, which will launch Dec. 2 at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI.
As previously reported, “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks, who played a summer stint as Teen Angel in the Broadway company of Grease, will reprise that role for audiences across the country in the musical’s national tour.
Idol Chartwatch, October 27: ‹Idol CDs Hold Their Own
It was, overall, a rather slow week for CD sales last week, but Idols on the charts fared pretty well. Jennifer Hudson sold another 46, 000 copies, slipping from #4 to #5 on the Billboard 200. Sales for the album now total 326, 000. Jennifer album also charted on Top Digital Albums (24), Top Internet Albums (20) and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (2).
Never Mind the Mullet; It the Tunes
Sooner or later it had to happen. The immortal hair bands of the 1980s finally receive their due in the brash jukebox musical …Rock of Ages at New World Stages. It a natural fit: the era album-oriented radio ‘ this production has no time for the British synthesizer bands, R.E.M. or the great dance music of the period ‘ was closer to Broadway in its grandiosity than you might expect. But like much of the music that inspires it, …Rock of Ages too often lacks a human pulse.
The paper-thin story, played for laughs, is about saving the farm, here the club: the Sunset Strip Bourbon Room, home of glamsters and metalheads and owned by Dennis (Adam Dannheisser, channeling too much Will Ferrell). While it targeted for demolition by predatory developers (Paul Schoeffler and Wesley Taylor), Sherrie (Kelli Barrett), an aspiring actress from Kansas, meets the gentle busboy and aspiring musician Drew (the …American Idol alumnus Constantine Maroulis, appealingly self-effacing).
Bucky’s New Single Climbs the Charts
With his latest single, …Ill Walk, leaping into the Top 10 on the Mediabase country chart this week, Bucky Covington becomes one of only three male country artists since 2005 ‘ including Josh Gracin and Jason Aldean – to have three consecutive top 10 singles from his debut album. Covington previous singles, …A Different World and …It Good To Be Us, peaked at #5 and #9, respectively, on the Mediabase country chart.
Concert review: Underwood’s vocals shine
As she took great pains to point out Sunday night, Carrie Underwood has come a long way in a short amount of time.
A video shown to the crowd of about 7, 200 early on during her concert at DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven traced the Checotah, Okla., native’s rapid rise since 2005: her “American Idol” win, the release of her record-setting debut album Some Hearts, the seven No. 1 singles, the slew of awards, the magazine covers she has graced, even her “Oprah Winfrey Show” appearance.
The video’s purpose was to pad the show during a costume change and was probably meant to portray the singer’s fairy tale, princess-like transformation. But the actual effect was more like tacky self-aggrandizement. It was one of several bad notes in the staging of a concert that, musically at least, was pitch perfect.
Keith Richards pays tribute to musicians
When Keith Richards flies into town today and heads to Schermerhorn Symphony Center, it won’t be to collect a paycheck. It will be to thank some people who paved his way and who offered inspiration in the form of melody, tone, rumble and twang. Richards is among the stars who will perform or present at the second annual Musicians Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
“People like The Crickets and Duane Eddy . . . these are the Rolling Stones to the Rolling Stones, ” said Musicians Hall director Joe Chambers. “Those are the people that Keith Richards looks up to. The power of what these people did is what brings Keith to Nashville.”
The Crickets, Eddy, Booker T. & The MG’s, Al Kooper, The Memphis Horns, The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section & Friends and Billy Sherrill will be inducted into the Hall this year. And recording artists including Richards, Percy Sledge, Kid Rock, Lee Ann Womack, Barbara Mandrell, Kix Brooks, Melinda Doolittle, Eddy Floyd, Phil Everly, George Jones and Ronnie Milsap will be on-hand, offering thanks and praise and songs.
‘Dancing With the Stars’: Boogie Down Ballroom
Turn and face the strange changes, Dancing With the Stars fans. Last night, the show’s sparkplug-in-chief, Julianne Hough, announced she’ll have to pull out of the competition for a week due to illness; her partner, Cody Linley, will dance with Lady Leg-warmers (Edyta Sliwinska) instead. Meanwhile, Michael ”Lord of the Dance” Flatley stepped in for head judge, Len Goodman, which obviously means that since I insist on calling Len the name on his vanity license plate, DANCMSTR, Flatley will heretofore be referred to as DANCLRD. It softens the blow.
EXCLUSIVE: DWTS’ Lance Bass: What You’ll See on Tonight’s Show
Lance Bass is keeping an exclusive diary only on Usmagazine.com about his experience competing on Dancing With the Stars. Check back each Monday to keep up with Bass’ progress, and get behind-the-scenes dish on ABC’s hit series.
‘DWTS’ Star Julianne Hough to Surgery
“Dancing with the Stars” pro Julianne Hough announced that she will undergo an appendectomy today, but said she hopes to be back on the dance floor next week.
Hough was hospitalized last week with stomach pains and later diagnosed with endometriosis. The pro said on Monday night’s show, “Everything’s okay. I’m going to hopefully be back, if everything goes as planned, next week.”
Dancing With The Stars: Week 6
(S07E12) It’s time to head back to the ballroom, and week 6 brought with it another change to the format. In addition to one regular performance from each couple, they all got together for a big group number as well. Shotyme stopped by to choreograph what was billed as the “Old School Hip Hop” performance. As you might expect, that went better for some than it did for others. We also had a special guest judge this week. Michael Flatley, best known for Lord of the Dance, filled in for Len Goodman. He got the full DWTS experience, witnessing some fantastic performances… and Cloris. A look at all of the performances, is after the jump.
Before They Were Dancing With The Stars
“Extra” tracked down early videos of the professional dancers of “DWTS.” See Lacey Schwimmer, Mark Ballas, Derek Hough, and judge Carrie Ann Inaba — dancing before they hit the ballroom bigtime!
