The Unofficial Danny Gokey FanSite

Idol Alumni Give Back At Feeding America Food Banks
Jason Castro’s Debut Album Has Arrived
Album News from Bo Bice and Adam Lambert
‘Idol’ Monday rehearsals: a view from the inside
VIDEO: Idol Confessions with Jason Castro
Jason Castro’s new album: The critics weigh in
Wednesday ‘Idol’ chat at 1 p.m.
‘Idol’ alumni join forces with Feeding America for ‘Idol Gives Back’
Dancing to the ‘Idol’ stars

Idol Alumni Give Back At Feeding America Food Banks

Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:12 PM PDT

This week, former American Idol finalists from all around the country, including Amy Adams, Bo Bice, Didi Benami, Lacey Brown, Kevin Covais, Bucky Covington, Diana DeGarmo, Julia DeMato, Melinda Doolittle, Chikezie, Gina Glocksen, Danny Gokey, Mikalah Gordon, RJ Helton, David Hernandez, Mandisa, Michael Johns, LaKisha Jones, <a href="http://www.americanidol…. read more
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Jason Castro’s Debut Album Has Arrived

Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:12 PM PDT

Season 7 finalist Jason Castro released his self-titled debut album today. The album includes his singles Lets Just Fall In Love Again and Thats What Im Here For. The 23 year old has had a very busy year. This summer, after releasing his single Lets Just Fall In Love Again, he embarked on a tour that hit up malls all across the nation. A week after marrying Mandy Mayhall, Jason released The Love Uncompromised EP and then went on tour with singer-songwriter Matt Hires.

The Jason Castro track listing is:

Lets Just Fall In Love Again
This Heart of Mine
Thats What Im Here For
Heart of Stone
If I Were You
You Can Always Come Home (Feat. Serena Ryder)
Love Uncompromised
Closer
All Wrapped Up
It Matters To Me
Hallelujah
Lets Just Fall In Love Again (Acoustic)
Sweet Medicine
Over The Rainbow

As you may have noticed on this song list, Jason included two of his American Idol Season 7 hit performances on the album: Hallelujah and Over The Rainbow.

Now that his full album has been released, fans will be happy to hear that Jason will … read more
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Album News from Bo Bice and Adam Lambert

Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:12 PM PDT

Theres big album news from two popular American Idol runner-ups, Season 4s Bo Bice and Season 8s Adam Lambert.

Bo Bice is currently working on his third album, appropriately named 3, which is scheduled for release on May 18 via Saguaro Road Records in association with Bos Sugar Money Records. The album will stay true to Bos music roots, combining soulful southern bluesy rock with hints of country and gospel mixed in. Bo teamed up with drummer Steve Gorman of The Black Crowes, AJ Croce (son of Jim Croce), and other notable artists for 3. The Alabama native told Tennessean.com, There’s something for everyone – country, soul, rock ‘n’ rollIt’s like your favorite pair of jeans; it just feels right.

This weeks Season 9 mentor, Adam Lambert, released his Remixes EP today. The EP includes the following hit songs from Adams debut album, For Your Entertainment, redone by hot DJs:

Whataya Want From Me (Fonzerellis Electro House Club Remix)
Whataya Want From Me (Brad Walshs A-Vivir Mix)
Whataya Want From Me (Jason Nevins Electrotek Extended Mix)
For Your Entertainment (Bimbo Jones Vocal Mix)
For Your Entertainment (Brad Walsh Remix)
Voodoo

Be sure to watch American Idol tomorrow on FOX for Adam Lamberts performance of Whataya Want From Me.

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‘Idol’ Monday rehearsals: a view from the inside

Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:12 PM PDT

For the second week in a row, we got to sit in on Monday's rehearsal and see a little of how the "American Idol" magic comes to life. Truth be told, it wasn't all that different from the first time — not only because there are still nine contestants left, thanks to last week's judges' save of Michael "Big Mike" Lynch, but in a machine of this size with so many moving parts, having a strict weekly regiment is key, and this Monday was no different.

With that in mind (and without revealing the songs and spoiling it for everybody), one thing these contestants constantly have to think through is their stage positioning. There are cameras to consider, judges, the studio audience, folks watching at home plus the basic logistics of singing while walking, running, sliding (we're looking at you, Tim Urban) or dancing. That was the central narrative of Monday — whether to stand front and center, Casey James-style, run behind the judges to the riser as Andrew Garcia had done last week, start at the stairs and walk down, a la the bagpipe guy (who will not be making an encore, so rest easy), or stick a stool on a pod and call it a day — yes, that happened.

The other major decision every "Idol" contender must make is whether to play an instrument. This season has, for better or worse, been dubbed the year of the singer-songwriter, and this week is no exception as more than half opted to accompany themselves.

In speaking with Brooke White on Sunday, she told us a fitting story about her decision to play an acoustic guitar during season 7's '70s week:

"It was my second week, and I picked 'You're So Vain' and that was the first time I decided to incorporate the guitar. I brought it up there, and I played, and Ricky Minor, the [show's] very established musical director, said, 'I don't mean this to hurt your feelings, but I don't think you're quite strong enough on the guitar to play on the 'Idol' stage.' [Sigh] Defeated … I remember walking behind a curtain and just crying. So I went home devastated, and my husband was, like, 'Well, just keep playing and see what happens.'

The thing is, [Ricky] was right. I wasn't good enough yet. So I went home and practiced and practiced and practiced, and the next day, I had this feeling like, 'You need to do what you planned and play.' So I said, 'Ricky, thank you for your feedback, and I hope you don't mind that I've decided to play.' And he said, 'OK, great.' But because of what he said, I was so much better … and when we went to rehearse it, he was like, 'Wow! What did you do overnight?' So at the moment, it hurt my feelings, but it made me better and it was necessary."

What do you think? Did she make the right decision?

But back to season 9, the finalists all looked refreshed and ready to rock following their weekend mentoring session with Adam Lambert. So what did we learn on this first day back? Plenty. Like:

If it's a jam session you seek, Lee DeWyze is your man… The Chicago native is rarely without his guitar or an audience and can kick into a "Kumbaya"-like sing-along circle faster that you can say Gibson. Equally adept at the Foo Fighters' "Everlong" as he is on Steve Miller's "The Joker" and Bush's "Machine Head," Lee is also going through a serious Simon-and-Garfunkel phase of late, so much so that he led a group that included Andrew Garcia and vocal coach Debra Byrd in an impassioned chorus of "The Boxer."

Siobhan Magnus continues to impress… with her T-shirt collection. Last week, it was "Night of the Living Dead"; this week, Siobhan sported a rad "Eraserhead" shirt to go along with her punk rock tights, jean shorts and white Doc Martens. And, oh yeah, the pipes weren't bad either — understatement of the decade (so far, at least). Ditto for Katie Stevens, who rocked an adorably frilly purple top, while acknowledging that it didn't quite belong with her comfy brown Uggs.

Does Casey have a stance issue? Stage manager Debbie Williams, ever the cheer captain, chaperon and unofficial mom for the "Idol" team, teasingly mocked Casey for standing "like a girl" when he played guitar — which is pretty much always. By that she means legs together and at attention rather than spread apart like, well, a dude. Now before the Casey cougars get all bent out of shape, let us assure everyone that she was joking. But Casey did try sitting for a run-through. And all had a laugh.

Andrew, Lee and TMZ? Here's a paparazzi video we're looking forward to seeing: Apparently, on Sunday night, the TMZ cameras caught Andrew and Lee at the Grove, where the guys instantly broke into song and dance. Specifically, a little ditty they like to call "Silly Salamander" complete with obligatory child-like lisp.

"Dancing with the 'American Idol' Executive Producers?" It turns out Nigel Lythgoe isn't the only "Idol" bigwig who's got some impressive dance moves. Ken Warwick, taking a page straight out of the Lythgoe playbook, opted to demonstrate some proposed choreography on his own rather than explain it. It takes a brave soul in deed, but this Brit's got rhythm — for real!

Reading material is key at rehearsals. When you're stuck in a single location for north of six hours, it's good to have a thick book at the ready. In Crystal Bowersox's case, it's "The Last Train to Memphis" by Peter Guralnick. Sporting her usual flip-flops and jeans, she also had these pretty strings of beads laced through her dreads. Here's hoping Crystal wears them for the performance show.

All hail the craft services tent! From their delicious potato-leek soup to the hot pink glazed doughnuts that Casey and Aaron Kelly feasted on at rehearsal's end, it's snack heaven mere yards away outside in the parking lot. Tim Urban is familiar; Crystal too. But we'll bet the most popular item on this day wasn't the brie cheese, the nachos or the chocolate — it was the tea, for the Brits working on the production as well as the rest of us who were just cold.

– Shirley Halperin

Follow @IdolTracker on Twitter

Upper photo: Lee DeWyze backstage during "Idol's" April 7 results show. Credit: Michael Becker / PictureGroup

Lower photo: Crystal Bowersox poses with flowers she received from Melissa Etheridge backstage at the April 7 results show. Credit: Michael Becker / PictureGroup

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VIDEO: Idol Confessions with Jason Castro

Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:12 PM PDT

Season 7's beloved fourth-place finisher, Jason Castro, stopped by the L.A. Times video studio a couple months back to talk about his "Idol" memories — from that nerve-wracking first time on the big stage to his shining moment playing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" during Inspirational Music week. He also performed a couple of songs for us, "Let's Fall in Love Again" and "That's What I'm Here For," off his debut, "The Love Uncompromised EP." For more of Jason's music, check out his self-titled full-length album, which is out on Tuesday.

Jason Castro sings "Let's Fall in Love Again"

More music after the jump…

Jason Castro sings "That's What I'm Here For"

Check back every week for new sit-downs with "Idol" alums, and view Idol Tracker's video archive here.
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Jason Castro’s new album: The critics weigh in

Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:12 PM PDT

Jason Castro's self-titled album hits stores today — we have lots of Idol Confessions video with him today — and the reviews are rolling in fast and furious. They are a mixed bag.

On the plus side, Newsday calls the Season 7 "Idol" finalist's debut "a charming, well-crafted collection of catchy pop-folk." The Houston Chronicle says, "Every song here, in fact — 'This Heart of Mine,' unabashedly sweet 'It Matters to Me,' should-be-a-summer-anthem 'Closer' — is effortless. Castro manages to stay true to the sound he mined on 'Idol' while still establishing a unique musical identity." Entertainment Weekly gives the album a B+ and says it "comes on like an early spring day," adding, "You can feel the sun shining through hummable tracks like 'Closer,' but hints of a harsher season remain on 'It Matters to Me' and the heartbreaking 'You Can Always Come Home.'"

But not everyone is as impressed: New York Daily News writer Jim Farber gives the album a mere two out of five stars and complains about the music's "overeager and perky character." "Castro comes off less like Jeff Spicoli goofing through 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' than Bobby McFerrin skipping through 'Don't Worry, Be Happy,'" Farber gripes. "In less than a year, he has transformed from red-eyed hippie to cockeyed optimist, which may just confuse whatever audience he has left."

Then again, Dallas Morning News finds Castro "familiar" and chides would-be detractors of the album, which it calls an "earnest folk-pop effort both sunny and sincere." "One listen and it's as if you've known Castro for years. He's an affable guy that makes feel-good music," writes the paper's reviewer, who gives the album a B. "There's nothing wrong with that."

Is there? You can listen to a few songs at his site and make up your own mind.

– Amy Reiter

VIDEO: Idol Confessions with Jason Castro

Previous Idol Tracker coverage of Jason Castro

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Wednesday ‘Idol’ chat at 1 p.m.

Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:12 PM PDT

With no elimination on last week's "Idol," there's still lots to talk about — not only will two of Season 9's Top 9 go home on Wednesday, but Adam Lambert is also this week's mentor and performing, all of which should make for an exciting episode. So join us in our weekly chat, where we'll also talk about Tuesday's "Idol Gives Back" alumni reunion at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

It all goes down on Wednesday at 1 p.m. Pacific. Sign up below for a reminder.

<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=db30ecacbb" >'American Idol' chat</a>
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‘Idol’ alumni join forces with Feeding America for ‘Idol Gives Back’

Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:12 PM PDT

Former "American Idol" finalists are banding together to help feed America. As part of "Idol Gives Back's" initiative with Feeding America, some 11 "Idol" alumni — including Kimberley Locke, Didi Benami, David Hernandez, Amy Adams, Chikezie,
Mikalah Gordon, Elliott Yamin, Kevin Covais, Michael Johns, LaToya
London and Brandon Rogers — will convene at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank on Tuesday to pack boxes of food for people in need.

As the week goes on, other Idols will do their part all over the U.S. Megan Joy will assist a group of volunteers at the Utah Food Bank in Salt Lake City. On Wednesday, Gina Glocksen and Amanda Overmyer will pack disaster-relief boxes in Chicago; in Nashville, Lacey
Brown, Bucky Covington, Melinda Doolittle, Bo Bice, Phil Stacey and
Mandisa will do the same; Blake Lewis is volunteering in Seattle.

On Thursday in New York City, Ace Young, Diana DeGarmo,
Jorge Núñez, Julia DeMato and RJ Helton will work with City Harvest to deliver food to hungry New Yorkers, and Lakisha Jones will help the Houston Food Bank inspect donated food and prepare it to be
redistributed to 400 agencies.

On Friday, Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard will work with United Way Community Food in his hometown of Birmingham, Ala., and last season's third-place finisher Danny Gokey will assist volunteers in Las Vegas via Three Square.

"Idol Gives Back" performers Carrie Underwood, Alicia Keys and the Black Eyed Peas have already been announced for the April 21 show, and thanks to a tweet on Sunday by "Idol" stylist Miles Siggins, we now know that David Cook will be making an appearance (and hopefully, a performance will accompany that dashing outfit). Stay tuned for more info in the coming days…

– Shirley Halperin

Follow @IdolTracker on Twitter

Photo: David Cook walks with 7-year-old Mekdes during a
March visit to Biruh Tesfa, a United Nations program supported by the UN
Foundation, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Credit: Stuart Ramson / UN Foundation

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Dancing to the ‘Idol’ stars

Posted: 13 Apr 2010 08:12 PM PDT

Talk about meta — not only do the shows "Dancing with the Stars" and "American Idol" tape at adjacent stages and share many common areas, but Monday's ballroom spectacular featured music by two recent "Idol" grads, one of whom will be gracing those very halls later Tuesday night. On "Idol," not "Dancing." (Head spinning yet?)

To follow up last week's disastrous Paso Doble (to the tune of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi"), Kate Gosselin and Tony Dovolani danced the Tango to Adam Lambert's "For Your Entertainment," while a few couples earlier, Aiden Turner and Edyta Sliwinska did the Rumba to Kris Allen's "Live Like We're Dying."

Of course, both were sung by the ballroom band, not the original artists, which begs the question: Bad dancing aside, whose soundtrack worked better? And what do you think Kradam would make of the versions?

Kate and Tony dance the Tango to Adam Lambert's "For Your Entertainment"

Aiden and Edyta dance the Rumba to Kris Allen's "Live Like We're Dying"

– Shirley Halperin

Follow @IdolTracker on Twitter

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