DeWyze was born in Mount Prospect, Illinois. His father, Lee DeWyze, Sr., labored as a postal provider in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, and his mom, Kathleen DeWyze (née Donahue), He has older sisters, Sarah and Shannon, and a younger brother, Mike. His musical influences embrace, Cat Stevens, Eric Clapton, Ben Harper, and Simon & Garfunkel.
Schooling
DeWyze attended Saint James Catholic Elementary School in Arlington Heights, Illinois and Prospect High School up until his senior year. After leaving Prospect Excessive, he attended Forest View Alternative School in Arlington Heights, having been inspired both by his lecturers and his curiosity in music to return to his studies. While he by no means graduated from both high school, he ultimately received his GED.
Private Life
DeWyze has a few of the lyrics to "Father and Son", a traditional Cat Stevens tune, tattooed on his arm.. He has three other tattoos, together with a silhouette of the Chicago flag on his proper arm.. DeWyze said on his blog that he owns a bulldog named Capone, is afraid of heights, and loves enjoying Scrabble.
Pre-Idol profession
After leaving school, DeWyze worked as a paint salesman. At the time of applying to American Idol and till the Hollywood rounds of the show, he had been promoting paint for six years at the "Mount Prospect Paint" store.
DeWyze started singing at an early age and was discovered by the Chicagoan Louis Svitek who noticed DeWyze, then 17, enjoying guitar and singing at a house occasion in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. Svitek, who runs the impartial record label WuLi Data with Ryan McGuire in Chicago signed him to the label. Dewyze shaped the "Lee DeWyze Band". Fellow band members included Louis Svitek, Ryan McGuire and Jeff Henderson. DeWyze recorded albums, So I am Advised (2007) and Slumberland (2010) each produced by Ryan McGuire. In 2008, as a favor to Lee DeWyze Band member Jeff Henderson, DeWyze and the band recorded a disc for Sq. One Natural Child Meals Company, a company owned by Jeff Henderson's wife. DeWyze recorded six songs on the "Square One Natural" promotional CD, additionally produced by Ryan McGuire.
On account of touring in the area and performing at many venues, DeWyze and his band's music were recognized regionally, even getting radio play on WXRT lengthy earlier than him making use of for American Idol. The band was featured on The Chicago Huddle hosted by ABC 7's Ryan Chiaverini the place DeWyze sang the composition "Another Sleep Tune" from his second album Slumberland.
Beside singing, DeWyze also had an appearing function in 2006 in a low-funds short horror movie Deadscapes: Damaged Highway . He played one of a trio in a land overrun with the undead.
American Idol
DeWyze auditioned in Chicago on the United Middle for the ninth season of American Idol on June 22, 2009 after encouragement from his good friend Vincent Ferrara who was additionally trying out for the contest in Chicago. He auditioned with the track "Ain't No Sunshine". He was certainly one of only thirteen folks from Chicago, the bottom quantity out of all 7 audition cities, to make it by to Hollywood week. During Hollywood week his group included Aaron Kelly and Crystal Bowersox, all of whom made the Prime 24 and subsequently the Prime 5. Crystal Bowersox and DeWyze made it to that top two, by which he won.
His closest pals among the many rivals were Siobhan Magnus and Andrew Garcia. Garcia was his roommate all through the season until he was eradicated in the Top 9. Other contestants he's close to are Alex Lambert, Lacey Brown and ultimately runner-up Crystal Bowersox. Before every efficiency, DeWyze would name his family.
DeWyze was one in all finalists on the show and was the certainly one of contestants in Season 9 to by no means land within the backside three, the other being Crystal Bowersox. The judges praised him for shedding his shy persona throughout the season and showing, with confidence, that he was "in it to win it."
On Might 14, 2010, DeWyze carried out at the Arlington Park Race Monitor in Arlington Heights, Illinois with more than forty one,000 folks attending as a part of his American Idol Homecoming day.
On May 26, Leon DeWyze was crowned the winner of American Idol Season 9. On account of profitable the season, DeWyze additionally won a recording contract. Based on the iTunes Retailer, his publish-Idol album is anticipated to be released on October 26, 2010, containing twelve tracks.
Author Resource:
For more info on Leon DeWyze please visit http://leedewyzefanclub.org
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