Josiah Leming the homeless 'Idol'
All of the discussion about Josiah Leming on Anne's blog from Tuesday night's auditions from Atlanta sent me on an expedition to learn more about Atlanta's final auditioner...
A Google search brought up a Knoxville, TN newspaper blog in the Knoxville News Sentinel Tele-Buddy blog:
Knoxnews exclusive: Morristown 'American Idol' contestant speaks out
Gives a little background on Josiah's home life... One of nine kids, to a mother sick with cancer and a father laid-off, struggling to make ends meet... Josiah hit the road to discover America, earning money singing and waiting tables in the towns where he stopped...
Singing you say?
Yeah, that little song he sang last night of original composition wasn't so bad was it? Turns out, he's got himself a little talent. On his MySpace page, he's got a handful of songs, and I'll admit, they aren't too bad! In fact he has 2 EPs and an album for sale on his MySpace page! [He also has his own site, although there isn't much to it right now.]
He's part David Gray, part Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace, part Chris Martin of Coldplay.
Listening to his songs on his MySpace page, I have to give him more props than I did before. Maybe there might be a little indie label who'd be willing to sign him, if things don't work out on American Idol.
You can find a few videos on YouTube of Josiah as well.
-- Dave Valenzuela
