In Focus: Blake Lewis

While try-outs for American Idol Season Seven was running in different states including Miami and Philadelphia, American Idol winner and runner-ups of the sixth season are also running…with projects, shows, and the American Idol Live! Tour which kicked off July 6 and runs through Sept. 22.

Besides the big winner Jordin Sparks bagging a deal with Jive Records and having her latest single “Tattoo” released, runner-up Blake Lewis also is up at work. This American Idol Season Six’s beatboxing top second scored a deal with Marcus Errico of 19 Recordings/Arista Records a month ago, setting in motion his debut album with, as the label describes, ‘a stellar lineup of producers and songwriters.’ The album has no title yet, but they’ve announced that the album’s release would be in late 2007.

Lewis, 26, who apparently has formed a strong girl crowd during the show and a stronger one after (including The Blaker Girls), is popular for his fancy grooves and voice pyrotechnics during American Idol Season Six. His Idol renditions of Bon Jovi’s “You Give Love a Bad Name” and The Zombies‘ “Time of the Season” have already landed on Billboard Hot 100. Several original versions of the songs Lewis performed also re-entered Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart shortly after the show, including “Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane and Tim McGraw’s “When the Stars Go Blue.” His groundbreaking performance of “You Give Love a Bad Name” was ranked among the top 20 all-time greatest American Idol performances on AOL.com.

Blake’s favorite artists include Robin Thicke, Jamiroquai, Maroon 5, and 311 which are among the artists he chose to give his renditions to in the show, including “Virtual Insanity” (Jamiroquai) All Mixed Up and Lovesong (311 original and cover) “When I Get You Alone” (Thicke) “This Love” and “She Will Be Loved” (Maroon 5). Blake’s other talents include photography, songwriting, producing, and characters kisser.

Simon Fuller, AI’s creator, describes Blake as one of the most unique Idol contestants he’s even seen. Blake indeed brought something original and fresh to the competition thus winning fans all over America.