Josh Gracin soaring since American Idol 2
Tonya Parker Morrison
July 21, 2005
Josh Gracin may be the first aspiring singer to audition before Nashville, Tenn.'s, elite and not have his knees knock. That calm facade no doubt served the Michigan native well during the grueling process that was "American Idol 2."
"I was fourth overall, but I still ended up getting to live my dream of having a record deal and becoming an actual full-fledged recording artist," the former Marine said.
"It's pretty humbling, though, to know that you have achieved something that millions of people work years and years for and may never realize. I feel very fortunate."
He is fortunate indeed.
He reached the top five out of about 70,000 "American Idol" performers and did so with such aplomb that no one seemed really surprised by the fruits of his labor. For starters, he was country when most of the top contestants were pop. He doesn't giggle, and he doesn't mince words, which made him stand apart from his contenders on the show right away.
Growing up just down the road from Detroit, a city known for churning out rowdy rockers like Kid Rock, Alice Cooper and KISS, and made famous by its Motown greats, Gracin never doubted he was in control of his future. The confidence and poise he's shown since "American Idol" are certainly not new attributes. After all, he has made music for audiences of all sizes ever since he was almost too small to reach the microphone.
Raised in a household where pop and rock music flowed freely during most of his childhood, he switched gears when his main musical influences, his parents, got turned on to country music. He warmed quickly to the heartbroken tales of woe crafted by country crooners and felt the beat of the honky tonkin', two-steppin' songs right down to his soul.
By the time he took the stage in front of a worldwide viewing audience and belted out the Rascal Flatts song "I'm Moving On," the down-to-earth vocalist had already spent a lifetime sharpening his singing style.
"I did want to play football and go the whole athletic route in school, but my parents just weren't into it. I'm glad now, of course, that they helped me choose the path I'm on because if they hadn't, who knows where I'd be today?"
His disciplined nature was part of what caught the attention of Rascal Flatts, primarily bass player Jay DeMarcus, who was so impressed that he put the up-and-comer in touch with their co-producer. A couple of auditions later, Gracin had that most coveted of Music City prizes -- a record deal. His self-titled debut album is available in stores now, featuring the current single "Stay With Me (Brass Bed)."
"Anyone who says that they can do this without the help of anyone is just going about it all wrong," Gracin said.
"You don't have to know someone in the business to get noticed and speed things up, but it certainly doesn't hurt if you do. There are just too many people out there wanting to do the exact same thing you're doing for them to notice everyone, no matter how talented they are."
"I was fourth overall, but I still ended up getting to live my dream of having a record deal and becoming an actual full-fledged recording artist," the former Marine said.
"It's pretty humbling, though, to know that you have achieved something that millions of people work years and years for and may never realize. I feel very fortunate."
He is fortunate indeed.
He reached the top five out of about 70,000 "American Idol" performers and did so with such aplomb that no one seemed really surprised by the fruits of his labor. For starters, he was country when most of the top contestants were pop. He doesn't giggle, and he doesn't mince words, which made him stand apart from his contenders on the show right away.
Growing up just down the road from Detroit, a city known for churning out rowdy rockers like Kid Rock, Alice Cooper and KISS, and made famous by its Motown greats, Gracin never doubted he was in control of his future. The confidence and poise he's shown since "American Idol" are certainly not new attributes. After all, he has made music for audiences of all sizes ever since he was almost too small to reach the microphone.
Raised in a household where pop and rock music flowed freely during most of his childhood, he switched gears when his main musical influences, his parents, got turned on to country music. He warmed quickly to the heartbroken tales of woe crafted by country crooners and felt the beat of the honky tonkin', two-steppin' songs right down to his soul.
By the time he took the stage in front of a worldwide viewing audience and belted out the Rascal Flatts song "I'm Moving On," the down-to-earth vocalist had already spent a lifetime sharpening his singing style.
"I did want to play football and go the whole athletic route in school, but my parents just weren't into it. I'm glad now, of course, that they helped me choose the path I'm on because if they hadn't, who knows where I'd be today?"
His disciplined nature was part of what caught the attention of Rascal Flatts, primarily bass player Jay DeMarcus, who was so impressed that he put the up-and-comer in touch with their co-producer. A couple of auditions later, Gracin had that most coveted of Music City prizes -- a record deal. His self-titled debut album is available in stores now, featuring the current single "Stay With Me (Brass Bed)."
"Anyone who says that they can do this without the help of anyone is just going about it all wrong," Gracin said.
"You don't have to know someone in the business to get noticed and speed things up, but it certainly doesn't hurt if you do. There are just too many people out there wanting to do the exact same thing you're doing for them to notice everyone, no matter how talented they are."
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