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Biography
Use dmy dates|date=October 2011Use Australian English|date=October 2011Infobox musical artist| name = Michael Johns| image = MichaelJohns.jpg| caption = Michael Johns at the American Idol , Season 7, Top 12 party on 6 March 2008.| background =| birth_name = Michael John Lee| background = solo_singer| birth_date = Birth date and age|df=yes|1978|10|20| birth_place = Perth, Western Australia|Perth , Australia | origin = Los Angeles, California , United States | genre = Pop music|Pop , pop rock , Soul music|soul , soft rock , Rock music|rock | occupation = Singer , songwriter | Instruments = Vocals , guitar | years_active = 2000–present| label = Beverly Martel Music Maverick Records TRP records Downtown Records (2009–present)| associated_acts = Brooke White , The Rising|website = Michael Johns (born 20 October 1978 as Michael John Lee Cite news|title=Michael Johns interview (updated) |first=Rodney |last=Ho |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |publisher=Access Atlanta |date=15 February 2008 |url= http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/idol/entries/2008/02/15/215_talking_wit_1.html) is an Australia n singer-songwriter who finished in eighth place on the American Idol (season 7)|seventh season of a United States television series, American Idol , in 2008.
Biography
Early life
Johns was born Michael John Lee in Perth, Western Australia . He attended Newman College, Perth|Newman College . As a teenager, Michael John Lee appeared as The Coachman in Pinocchio at the Regal Theatre and was a choir singer in Anything Goes at His Majesty's Theatre, Western Australia|His Majesty’s Theatre .Cite news|title=American Idol contestant Michael Johns dreamed of fame |work=www.news.com.au, PerthNow |date=8 October 2008 |url= http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,23358080-5016669,00.html Dead link|date=August 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot
He moved to the United States in 1998 on a tennis scholarship and majored in drama at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia|Tifton before dropping out after two quarters.Cite news|title="Idol" Johns Ditched College, Last Name|work=TMZ|date=8 October 2008 |url= http://www.tmz.com/2008/03/07/idol-johns-ditched-college-last-name/ He then lived in Atlanta, Georgia for six years, performing at local venues. He also played Australian rules football for the USAFL club Atlanta Kookaburras.Cite news|title=Could a former USAFL player be the next American Idol? |last=Sean |work=World Footy News |date=18 February 2008 |url= http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20080218195156977 Cite news|title=Mike goes his own way |work=Atlanta Kookaburras Australian Rules Football Club |date=27 February 2008 |url= http://www.atlantafooty.com/content/view/168/1/ He currently resides in Los Angeles, California with his Texan wife, Stacey Vuduris, who is an interior designer.
Career
After traveling to Los Angeles to showcase for a number of labels in 2001, he formed a rock band called The Rising, where he met his long time girlfriend Jill Stephens, Cite web|url= http://www.serge.org/musicmorsels/2003_10/musicmorsels1003.htm |title=Music Morsels: Crossroads: Michael Lee Of The Rising |publisher=www.serge.org |accessdate=2008-01-13 |last= |first= and performed on several television shows. Cite web|url= http://www.melodic.net/newsOne.asp? newsId=1905 |title=melodic.net: The Film |publisher=www.melodic.net |accessdate=2008-01-13 and at the opening of a Los Angeles Apple Store (retail)|Apple Store in 2003. The Rising produced an iTunes Store|iTunes album Future Unknown . Although a number of the tracks received some airplay on radio in 2003,Cite web|url= http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp? id=16771|title=FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!|publisher=www.fmqb.com|accessdate=2008-01-13|last=|first= the album was not released on iTunes until he was on American Idol .
Johns auditioned for American Idol Season 7 at San Diego 's Qualcomm Stadium in July 2007. At 28 years old, it was his first audition and last year of eligibility. He claimed to be an avid American Idol fan (having watched this show since the beginning http://www.realitytvworld.com/news/michael-johns-dishes-on-his-american-idol-journey-surprise-ouster-6919.php Michael Johns dishes on his 'American Idol' journey, surprise ouster) and was one of the first non-US citizens to make the Top 12. He finished eighth place in the Season 7 competition. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24054892/ http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1585223/20080411/jordin_sparks.jhtml
Following the show Johns performed on the American Idols LIVE& #33; Tour 2008 which toured 53 cities from 1 July 2008 to 13 September 2008.
Shaun White 's documentary DVD ''Don't Look Down'' features Johns singing all but one track, along with Rye Randa and Jeff Foxworth. Released on 1 January 2009 by Three Rings Project it consists of 17 songs, 10 of which are vocal. http://blogcritics.org/archives/2009/01/06/094446.php Interview: Rye Randa Discusses Shaun White's Don't Look Down
Johns released a song, "Another Christmas," on 12 December 2008, which he penned in 2006 when circumstances kept him from returning to his native Australia for Christmas. Proceeds from the song were advertised as going to the Red Cross and MDA's Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis|ALS division. http://www.accesshollywood.com/_article_12434 Michael Johns To Release Christmas Song In Aid of ALS & Red Cross In 2009, he released a single called Heart on my Sleeve and an album titled Hold back my Heart , which has sold 20,000 copies. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/post/2010/01/the-best-selling-idol-albums-from-2009/1 Idol Chatter 01-15-2010 "The best-selling Idol albums from 2009"
American Idol 7 Persondata|NAME=Johns, Michael |ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Lee, Michael John |SHORT DESCRIPTION=Australian rock/soul singer/songwriter; American Idol finalist |DATE OF BIRTH=20 October 1970 |PLACE OF BIRTH= Perth, Western Australia |DATE OF DEATH= |PLACE OF DEATH= |Labels: TRP records DEFAULTSORT:Johns, Michael Category:1978 births Category:Living people Category:American Idol participants Category:Australian expatriates in the United States Category:Australian male singers Category:Australian rock singers Category:Australian soul singers Category:People from Perth, Western Australia Category:People educated at Newman College, Perth Category:Musicians from Western Australia
