 April 2002, when Justin Guarini auditioned for what became
the phenomenal hit Fox TV show, American Idol, the 24 year old was just a
number, number 126 in fact - a number he'll never forget. Six months later he
was voted the USA's favorite male solo artist and after a seven week arena tour
playing to more than 200,000 fans from Seattle to New York with his fellow
Idols, he reminded us just why he is adored across the nation.
Talent is a word banded around carelessly when describing artists, but it is a
word that has been earned and is deserving of this young man. His remarkable
voice and star quality was recognized at the very early age of four years old,
when he was admitted to the Atlanta Boys Choir, two years early. Twenty years
later he is set to become a huge music industry name and is living proof that
talent, hard work and focus really do pay off.
Justin Guarini has music running through his veins. He is a music fanatic. "My
parents gave me a free reign when it came to listening to music. I've grown up
listening to all sorts of sounds from jazz and R&B to rock. I like to keep open
minded," he says. And he has. Instead of focusing solely on his voice, Justin
decided that he wanted to probe and delve into all areas of performing arts from
singing to acting, to give himself what he describes as "more knowledge of all
areas of entertainment and better ability to perform."
After leaving college in Philadelphia, where he studied vocal performance and
theater studies, he moved to New York to focus on combining his acting and
singing. Within just a few months, his talent again shone through and he was
approached by scouts from Broadway and offered a role in 'The Lion King'.
Justin, then 22 years old, did join the cast in their master classes, further
widening his experience in the industry. However, he had a feeling that
something better may be around the corner, and it was ... American Idol, the
biggest Fox TV show the USA has ever seen.
It was Justin's mother who told him about the TV advertisement for American Idol
and within minutes he was on the Internet to find out more. Weeks later, Justin
Guarini joined more than 1,000 other young hopefuls in New York, 126th in line,
not quite knowing what to expect but feeling lucky. "I had no idea what it was
going to be like, but I was excited and nervous. I had a good feeling about it."
For ten weeks he performed live to a TV audience of millions and week by week
improved his game and generated more and more fans. "My one defining moment was
my first performance in front of a live audience. I felt something really going
on. I knew immediately that this was where I wanted to be and I felt at home,"
said Justin.
Not surprisingly, he was signed at once by Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment who
brokered him a global recording deal with RCA and he started work on his debut
album almost immediately. Talking about his musical direction, he says; "I want
to make good music that makes people happy. I love soul funk music and raw
vocals without too much post production which really lets me demonstrate what I
can do."
With so much achieved already, what are his dreams and ambitions? "I'd like to
break internationally." In fact, he is already known overseas, but for a very
different reason - his hair! "It wasn't always like this," he laughs, "I can't
believe I'm known for it in the UK. It's always been very conservative but I let
it go its own way in 2001 and it's had a life of its own ever since. Hopefully
the next time they hear of me, it will be for my music!"
Justin Guarini continues to entertain in various locations all over the country,
and the world, and looks forward to many more concert, television, and film
appearances.
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