Idol's young Will Makar ready for his first real gig
By ANDREW DANSBY Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Will Makar can take a knock.
Some spotty things were said about the 17-year-old Woodlands native during his short American Idol run (he was a tender 16 at the time). But he took them with endearing calm.
Makar says his family has no photos of the performance, and he seems unfailingly honest, so it's unlikely he's hiding them. So it says something about him that he'd volunteer such a Christmas Story-esque story without a second thought.
Since being bounced from the competition on March 9, Makar has made some National Anthem-type appearances, but Aug. 8 he'll have his first proper gig: Two sets at McGonigel's Mucky Duck.
Makar got bounced after an iffy run through How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You (although Lady the previous week didn't help matters, either). He admits to having had rock-star ambitions when he was younger, but Makar says these shows will showcase his three-year romance with "jazzier" fare sparked by his voice coach who introduced him to (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66.
"For the past few months I've been trying to develop a style that's my own," he says. "This show is going to be the first time I show who I am as an artist."
This month brings a particularly good break for Makar: His contract with Idol expires. If the labels affiliated with the show � Arista, J Records, etc. � choose not to sign him, Makar can chart his own path.
Admittedly that might mean no big-budgeted debut album with songs written by committee and soft, airbrushed cover art. But the upshot is it also means no songs written by committee and soft, airbrushed cover art. Rocker and Season 4 runner-up Bo Bice's The Real Thing was anything but a real thing: His rough (by Idol standards) edges were buffed into middling adult contempo fare. It took 17 songwriters to make his album, which has sold a paltry 646,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Without significant sales growth, he'll find himself without a label.
Nobody will accuse Makar of having rough edges. But without an overbearing label calling the shots, he might avoid forced edginess. He can make or break based on his own bright-eyed charm.
But why worry about that now? He talks about doing some early college courses "to get a few out of the way," and possibly attending music school.
"That's one good thing about being 17," he says. "I've got time."
Ken Barnes of USAToday's Idol Chatter blog compiled download statistics from Nielsen Sounc Scan on this year's 12 finalists.
1 Taylor/Do I Make You Proud : 114,000 2 Chris/Wanted Dead or Alive : 94,000 3 Taylor/Takin' It to the Streets : 69,000 4 Katharine/Somewhere Over the Rainbow : 67,000 5 Katharine/My Destiny : 47,000 6 Elliott/Moody's Mood for Love : 23,000 7 Katharine/Think : 21,000 8 Ace/Father Figure : 11,000 9 Paris/Midnight Train to Georgia : 9,100 10 Kellie/Walkin' After Midnight : 8,400 11 Mandisa/I'm Every Woman : 7,400 12 Melissa/What About Love : 6,400 13 Bucky/Superstition : 4,000 14 Lisa/Signed Sealed Delivered : 3,700 15 Kevin/When I Fall in Love : 2,600
John Mayer // Elton John // Idols 08 // Daughtry // Jonas Brothers // Rascal Flatts
Paris Bennett will be featured on the soundtrack of the new animated film "Everyone's Hero". The song "The Tigers" is credited to "John Debney featuring Paris Bennett". The soundtrack drops September 12, three days ahead of the movie premier.
The latest Idol to sign a recording contract is Top 24 contestant Ayla Brown. She signed a deal with Double Deal records and will release her first single September 14th. Her CD will drop sometime in October.
John Mayer // Elton John // Idols 08 // Daughtry // Jonas Brothers // Rascal Flatts
Brown’s full album, at the moment, is slated to be called "Forward," and will have about 11 songs on it. It may include a song entirely written by Brown herself, in addition to one she helped write. Scott Brown said it is expected that some Grammy Award-winning songwriters and singers may be involved in his daughter’s debut album. The details are still being worked on, he said. "We won’t know until we get down there who’s involved," he said. Brown’s single is expected to be released Sept. 12. She will debut her single on KISS 108 on Aug. 29 at 7:15 a.m. The September single release will be followed by release of Brown’s full album Oct. 16
John Mayer // Elton John // Idols 08 // Daughtry // Jonas Brothers // Rascal Flatts
Wait, on AI Ayla made such a big deal about her scholarship to BC for basketball, and now she's making a cd? Um...wow. Um so how will she be able to balance her school, basketball, and now her cd lol?
Originally posted by BigNLiddle: Idol's young Will Makar ready for his first real gig
By ANDREW DANSBY Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Will Makar can take a knock.
Some spotty things were said about the 17-year-old Woodlands native during his short American Idol run (he was a tender 16 at the time). But he took them with endearing calm.
Makar says his family has no photos of the performance, and he seems unfailingly honest, so it's unlikely he's hiding them. So it says something about him that he'd volunteer such a Christmas Story-esque story without a second thought.
Since being bounced from the competition on March 9, Makar has made some National Anthem-type appearances, but Aug. 8 he'll have his first proper gig: Two sets at McGonigel's Mucky Duck.
Makar got bounced after an iffy run through How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You (although Lady the previous week didn't help matters, either). He admits to having had rock-star ambitions when he was younger, but Makar says these shows will showcase his three-year romance with "jazzier" fare sparked by his voice coach who introduced him to (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66.
"For the past few months I've been trying to develop a style that's my own," he says. "This show is going to be the first time I show who I am as an artist."
This month brings a particularly good break for Makar: His contract with Idol expires. If the labels affiliated with the show � Arista, J Records, etc. � choose not to sign him, Makar can chart his own path.
Admittedly that might mean no big-budgeted debut album with songs written by committee and soft, airbrushed cover art. But the upshot is it also means no songs written by committee and soft, airbrushed cover art. Rocker and Season 4 runner-up Bo Bice's The Real Thing was anything but a real thing: His rough (by Idol standards) edges were buffed into middling adult contempo fare. It took 17 songwriters to make his album, which has sold a paltry 646,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Without significant sales growth, he'll find himself without a label.
Nobody will accuse Makar of having rough edges. But without an overbearing label calling the shots, he might avoid forced edginess. He can make or break based on his own bright-eyed charm.
But why worry about that now? He talks about doing some early college courses "to get a few out of the way," and possibly attending music school.
"That's one good thing about being 17," he says. "I've got time."
Ah, that was nice of you to post that about Will! Will was my favorite this season; I love his voice! He's got a great fansite (WillMakarWeb.com, check it out-it's terrific-it really is! ) where there are videos of him singing from the "Mucky Ducky" and other engagements. He did two shows there because the first sold out. There was another group there but I can't think of their name. He also has another mini tour coming with other idols, Ruben Studdard being one of them (I know how you love Ruben) Will's done quite a bit of singing since he left AI! Frankly, that's why I haven't been posting over here much; I've been too busy on Will's forums (call it obsession) but Jon's never far from my thoughts!
Does Mandisa have a record deal? This Q&A with Mandisa with her hometown newspaper, the Sacramento Bee, reveals that she has been talking to some gospel labels:
I'm talking to four different labels. I definitely think I'll be doing a gospel album -- I'm sticking to my roots. It's not about the money for me -- it's about picking the right label. Right now, it looks like my CD will come out the beginning of the year.
Mandisa is also modeling plus-sized fashions for Ashley Stewart. Click on box #3 to see her model a kimono-style tunic.
And this interesting interview with Mandisa's high school music teacher reveals that Mandisa hung with the wrong crowd in high school, until a parent-teacher conference/intervention convinced Mandisa that she had a musical gift worth developing. Afterward, she turned things around and pursued singing with a passion.
Interesting little fact: Mandisa, in an attempt to fit in with the "cool kids", re-named herself "Kandi" in high school. She said it was because she was "so sweet"...
John Mayer // Elton John // Idols 08 // Daughtry // Jonas Brothers // Rascal Flatts
While in Nashville, TN with the Idol tour, Kellie began recording her record:
Plus, not only were we touring there [Nashville], I began recording the album too, which comes out October 31. Yeah, my first time in the studio recording for my album, I will never forget that feeling! During my first session this man walks in the door and I looked over my shoulder and quickly took a second look. I was so excited when I realized who it was…it was Kenny Chesney!!!!! I couldn’t believe that he was standing next to me! It was so weird because just last year I went to one of his concerts and after his show I remember going home and calling my friend Summer and telling her that after seeing Kenny on the stage that night, I knew that that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
If her release date doesn't change, her album will be the first release from this year's crop of Idols.
John Mayer // Elton John // Idols 08 // Daughtry // Jonas Brothers // Rascal Flatts
Brooks & Dunn, Five For Fighting`s John Ondrasik and former "American Idol" contestant Paris Bennett will be featured on the soundtrack to the upcoming Twentieth Century Fox animated film, 'Everyone`s Hero.'
Lonestar will take a swing at the classic baseball anthem "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" while Kix Brooks and Ondrasik tag-teamed writing "Keep on Swinging" for Brooks & Dunn on the Columbia/Sony Soundtrax release, due Sept. 12. The film, originally devised and produced by the late Christopher and Dana Reeve, opens Sept. 15.
Bennett is featured on "The Tigers" by John Debney, who also contributes "Yankee at Bat." "That`s So Raven" star Raven-Symone, who is the voice of one of the prominent characters, contributes "Keep Your Eye on the Ball." New tracks from Wyclef Jean featuring Kontrast ("What You Do") and Chris Botti featuring Lyle Lovett "Chicago (That Toddling Town)" round out the package.
Here is the track list for 'Everyone`s Hero:
'The Best,' John Ondrasik
'Keep on Swinging,' Brooks & Dunn
'Dream Like New York,' Tyrone Wells
'Chicago (That Toddling Town),' Chris Botti featuring Lyle Lovett
'The Best Day of My Life,' Jon Randall and Jessi Alexander
Small Town Girl is the title of her album. From EW:
"It's about growing up in a small town," says Joe Galante, chairman os Sony BMG Nashville. "But it's also about falling in love and having a good time." Adds Pickler:"The title of one single comes from my shoe obsession. I have these favorite red heels, so I created a girls' anthem around them."
According to this week's Entertainment Weekly, Kellie Pickler's new album, due to be released October 31, will be called "Small Town Girl". The first single, "Red High Heels" drops this week. It's co-written by Kellie, who dubs it a "girls anthem". Joe Galante, (Dixie Chicks), is producing.
Also, via kelliefans.com: Kellie will also be, singing the National Anthem at the Charlotte race in Oct, shooting a video for the single in Nashville the first week of October, and singing at the Mall of America in Minnesota in December.
John Mayer // Elton John // Idols 08 // Daughtry // Jonas Brothers // Rascal Flatts
Bucky Covington Teams with Sawyer Brown Front Man Mark Miller
According to the Huntington, WV Herald-Dispatch, Bucky Covington has signed a management deal with Frank Miller and Ron Harris of Nashville based O-Seven Artist Management. Bucky is also signed with Creative Artists Agency as his booking agency.
Additionally, Mark Miller, the frontman/producer/songwriter for the country group Sawyer Brown has signed on to produce Bucky's first CD, scheduled to be released in 2007.
Congratulations Bucky...
John Mayer // Elton John // Idols 08 // Daughtry // Jonas Brothers // Rascal Flatts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
Mandisa is looking good! Yes, very pretty. She has a big heart too.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.. It's about learning to dance in the rain."
)
) Will's done quite a bit of singing since he left AI! Frankly, that's why I haven't been posting over here much; I've been too busy on Will's forums (call it obsession) but Jon's never far from my thoughts! 
