Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > October > 10 > Entry
10/10: Interview with John Stevens
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“American Idol Rewind” offered up a few of the lesser known “Idols” from seasons three and four to talk to to promote the syndicated show (also seen on TV Guide Channel.). I decided on John Stevens, the cute redheaded singer from season three who managed to finish sixth ahead of Jennifer Hudson.
Stevens, who is now a senior at the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston, didn’t feed me any cool insider anecdotes or shocking insights. But he sounds very grounded and ready to work when he graduates next year. I liked him on the show though he was clearly uncomfortable stretching into genres he was unfamiliar with at the time.
“I’m much more confident with my own voice and everything,” he said. “My repertoire has expanded so much. I’ve got so many more tools. I could be able to pull off from different genres now.”
He said he had only performed solo for a couple of years before “Idol,” unlike Diana DeGarmo, who was the same age but had done so since he was age five. (The two still keep in touch. He also keeps tabs with Jasmine Trias, who continues to make a living in the Phillipines.)
Though Stevens could imitate Dean Martin (the audition was replayed in the first “Rewind” episode), he was actually the youngest contestant on the show in its history, having just turned 16 at the time. After the show, he released an album “Red,” which featured standards such as “Come Fly With Me” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.” It sold modestly. After touring in 2005, he chose to go to Berklee.
He did so because he felt like he didn’t know enough about music. During his “Red” tour, he had worked with a seven-piece band, guys from ages 24 to 30 who had gone to college for music. “There was this communication barrier,” he said. “I needed to go back to school and get accustomed to the language.”
While in school, he’s learned to write his own music, which he said remains jazz flavored. He is also taking acting classes. He performs with swing orchestras in Boston and does regular gigs whereever he can. He is surrounded by musicians from 70 countries at his school and has learned much more about jazz and bebop. He also has gotten into Afro Cuban, R&B, pop, rock. But can he still do a mean Dean Martin? “I can still do those imitations but I keep them on the back burner,” he said.
He said he did receive “a lot of flak” for outlasting Hudson in 2004, but such befuddlement has receded with time.
“She’s obviously gone on to do much bigger and betting things and done fantastic for herself,” he said. “We were actually very close on the tour. I would say she’s one of my best friends from that show.” But he hasn’t heard from her recently and has been seeking a way to track her down while she’s busy winning Oscars and promoting “Spotlight.” (So, Jennifer, the folks at BWR public relations has his number if you want to catch up with him!)
-The Birmingham News talked to Taylor Hicks about his “Grease” gig, plus his new album. He finally explains why he chose his current deal with Artist to Market rather than a traditional label after RCA and he split.
“In today’s marketplace, having the control as the artist is key,” Hicks says. “I’m in control of where I spend my marketing dollars, who I want to record with, and in control of the companies I hire out. It allows me a really focused release. Basically, I am my own record label.”
He plans to write or co-writer almost everything on this album and will cross-promote by singing his single during the show. (How that will work is kind of strange to me but maybe he’ll have a song that relates to “Grease”?)
-David Archuleta is singing “God Bless America” tonight during the seventh inning stretch for the ACLS matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox. I doubt that will be televised though someone will post the video on YouTube almost immediately.
Comments
By Deirdre
October 10, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this
I always thought John Stevens was cute if not totally out of his element. Thanks for the interview, Rodney.
By flats
October 10, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this
Keep rocking it Rodney.John Stevens is the best.I’ve always wondered what happend to him.Good morning everyone!!!GO DAWGS BEAT THE VOLS!!!!!
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
October 10, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Mornin’ Mushbloggians, those who still are around… I’m with you D, I thought Stevens had a lot of potential, and really did a nice Deano, but it sounds as if he himself figured out what he needed, wanted, and has worked to get where he wants to go in the industry. I wish him well.
catch ya’ later!
p.s. Thanks Rodney for another good interview :-)
By flats
October 10, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this
John Stevens…Does anyone know if this big timer will be in the southeast anytime soon?I’m willing to travel.
By Woodpappy
October 10, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
Hey…Anybody see Man from Mars last night? Had a great sound track to go with the year 1973!
By flats
October 10, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
Rodney…”cute redheaded singer”?
By flats
October 10, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this
Rodney…”cute redheaded singer”?
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
October 10, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this
WP, i dvr’d it so i could watch 11th Hour, so i’ll be watching LoM this weekend. (Life on Mars) It looks like a fun show, especially for those of us who were in our ahem prime in the 70s
~¿@
By JTesla
October 10, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
Flats, I think Rodney has to say “cute” whenever he is talking about someone that looked like they were 8 years old when they were on Idol. From the 20 seconds of Idol Rewind that I saw, today he looks like a completely different person. The power of puberty.
By flats
October 10, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
LOL!!!!!!Not sure on that one JT.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
October 10, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
greg, give it up. you’re showing your azz today; why not go back to the nice guy you’ve pretended to be for the last little bit? it’s ever so much nicer. Adults can call children “cute” without it meaning anything other than just that. At the time, 16-y/o John Stevens was a child. He was “cute”. Get OVER it. or just go away again for a couple of weeks if you can’t be nice. you just cannot STAND to let things be calm can you?
By flats
October 10, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
LOL!!!!!Where did that come from?
By Woodpappy
October 10, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
Hey Linny, thanks for the correction (Life on Mars), that’s what I meant. I think you will enjoy it too. I started my policing career in 1973 and it brought back alot of…OMG did we look and act like that???
By flats
October 10, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this
Linny,please calm down hun.I know you kiss this mans a$$ everytime you get.I was making a joke.I’m not rodneys #1 fan like you AND D!!!!!!
By flats
October 10, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
Woodpappy…You going to the game this weekend?
By JTesla
October 10, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Flats… all of which leads us, once again, to the big blog question: why are you here?
By Woodpappy
October 10, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this
Flats, No tickets this time !
By flats
October 10, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
I DONT KNOW!!!I LIKE IT HERE!!!!
By flats
October 10, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
I’ve always been the same person on here.It’s a trip listening to yall bicker over these average talent show winners and runnerups.It started out that way and i just never went away.I’ll stay around as long as i damn well please and wont let Linny or anyone else tell me what to say and what not to say.
By JTesla
October 10, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
You like it here, really flats? Because it seems if you aren’t insulting a regular with something that is derogatory and offensive, you are insulting the person who runs the blog. And more importantly you don’t even seem to like the subject matter. The very core of the blog is something that does not interest you.
Its mind boggling, really it is.
By flats
October 10, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
Thanks JT……I didn’t insult anyone to start off with.I questioned something in rodneys blog.JT,dont worry i still love you!!!!I will never leave this AMERICAN IDOL BLOG!!!!!!
By JTesla
October 10, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
Fine by me flats I’m not telling you to go away, I’m just perplexed. BTW, the insult I was refering to was in your 11:37 post.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
October 10, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
JT, you’re really a champ, you know?!!! No wonder i’m vicariously and virtually in love with you (yeah yeah i know, you already HAVE a redheaded wife, so i have to be reeeeeally careful!!!) … as opposed to another, who can be a real CHUMP.
Flats, I’ll show you the same respect you show me. Which is none. I’m not your “hun” under ANY conceivable circumstances. I don’t kiss anyone’s butt and you darn well know it. It utterly amazes me…you come back, all nice and congenial, we start talking to you and dayumed if you don’t go and blow it all over again. Nuff said, back to totally ignoring your presence. Lesson learned. You do not exist.
Hope Nana’s doing ok, that procedure she’s going through sounds AWFUL!!! And here she’s been having to pack up her office for a move! To a place she doesn’t even want to go! Prayin’ for you, gal!
Y’all have a nice weekend, hope your team(s) win unless they’re playing against one I want to win, then, oh well, so sorry!!! grin
peace!
By flats
October 10, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
LOL…THANK YOU!!!!
By flats
October 10, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
JT,LINNY AND D.You guys are my faves.Pleas never change.One more thang JT,That was not insult either.Just stating what observe as total obsession over a man that writes a blog for people to AGREE OR DISAGREE with!!!Darn if someone disagrees you 3,yall freaking jump all over them like you run the darn thang!!!!LOL!!!!!
By flats
October 10, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
OK…And to all my fans out they’re i’m very sorry if i insulted yall.I think dirty books and 976 numbers made me this way.GO DAWGS!!!!!
By JTesla
October 10, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
Flats, I have to add a little dose of reality into the discussion. Linny, Deirdre, and I have disagreed with each other, many times. When it comes to reality TV D. and I disagree with each other quite a bit. So the idea that we are all conspiring against everyone who disagrees with us is kind of silly.
By flats
October 10, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this
They love you JT…You put flats right in his place.Good luck on your nba season coming up and hope more reality tv comes your way!!!!
By flats
October 10, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
JT!!!!!YOU OWN FLATS!!!!!!!!!!!
By Deirdre
October 10, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
JT…it’s useless…honestly. He searches for chinks in the armor and once he’s found them, he digs and picks trying to drive you insane under the guise of “just kidding around”. You’re smart in that you never gave him any material to work with. linny and I need to make our posts short…and would if it wasn’t already too late.
Thanks for the support! :-)
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
October 10, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
JT I think the fact that we can disagree without disrespecting each other is something that some people just don’t get. Frequently people come in and see us bantering about some point on which we disagree and jump in with both feet (which feet are shod with muddy boots or worse) thinking they can say anything, no matter how insulting or rude. I don’t get that, YOU don’t get that either I’m thinking — but some people can’t seem to find the line between “funny” (or even “sarcastic”) and downright “rude” or “belligerent” or even “crude”. We obviously go through that on days we are on the “front page” electronically — thank goodness most of the ruder ones just move on; those who have some humor and sense of respect who stay are so gladly welcomed!!! As are many others welcomed. I personally feel the more the merrier, the more interesting, the more challenging. However I truly do not like to see people disrespected. I guess it’s like my momma taught me (or tried to…) “It’s not WHAT you say, its HOW you say it that matters.”
breaktime is over, so i’ll catch you guys later!
peace :-)
By flats
October 10, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this
OK…One more thang i’ll leave this alone.I posted at 11:21 and linny posted at 11:29 that blasted me.Who jumped down who’s throat for quoting something from the thread?I bet i’m not the only one that caught that about the cute redhead!Sorry Linny but you were wrong this time.You started this one.
By JTesla
October 10, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
Flats I’m weeping because you are being unjustly persecuted! Granted I had to pull a nose hair to get the tears, but that still counts right? ;)
By flats
October 10, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
LOL!!!!!!!11:21 AND 11:29…CHECK IT OUT!!!!
By JTesla
October 10, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this
Moving right along: after 8 hours John Stevens has gotten zero outside traffic. If a solo music career is in his future he will need to re-build his fan base.
By flats
October 10, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this
JT….D AND LINNY WILL BE ALONG SHORTLY TO GIVE U PROPS ON THAT ONE.
By Harmony
October 10, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this
Was Ferdinand ever found?
By flats
October 10, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
so jt he was cute at 16..is he hot now?
By JTesla
October 10, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
Thanks for reminding me Harmony, I found this from KATU news in Portland:
“UPDATE: Ferdinand the turtle was found Tuesday afternoon on the other end of the farm about a quarter mile from where he escaped, according to Matt Roloff. The turtle is said to be doing well.”
No soup for me.
By harrietth
October 10, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
Wow, guys. I am home sick and just peeked in to see what was going on. Flats, I am in mourning for your kinder, gentler self. Linny and D, you deserve better. And, JT, you manage to get to the heart of things while staying a bit above the fray. glad I was sick today.
Just FYI for Donald Braswell fans, I visited his website and found out that the MGM Grand has booked him for a show in Las Vegas on October 17. So, it looks like he is still on his way—just without the million!
By Harmony
October 10, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
That’s great news for Ferdinand. It’s good that you didn’t find him first, no one ever sent you any turtle recipes.
By flats
October 10, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
H……I dont understand..I didn’t start it today.sorry.
By harrietth
October 10, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this
flats, whether you started it or not, you were the one who took it for a nasty turn. Sorry too.
By JTesla
October 10, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
harrietth, I hope you get to feeling better. I think it is safe to say that today I pretty much was the fray.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
October 10, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
JT… i’m still trying to figure out if you EVER sleep!!! no matter what time i get on (and you all know my sleeping habits are horrible) you seem to be there — NOT that I mind, mind you, in fact, i love it!!!! but… for someone so sharp witted, you seem to be permanently awake… impressive!
Harrietth, hope you feel better soon!
D if you’re still around, have a great weekend, hope Mom’s doing well… catch you guys … sometime or other, LOL!!!
with Tennessee invading the Athens environs, I’ll probably be locked in my house for a while to avoid … um … well, just to avoid it all!!! so i might be online, perhaps! woohoo, i know i know, just what you were waiting to hear, right???
~¿@
peace out, chillen’
By harrietth
October 10, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
bye everyone.
By Nana
October 10, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this
Hi Guys/Gals. Just wanted to let you all know that I’m fine. I think I’m coherent enough to post logically. Everything went okay with the exception of complications with my blood pressure. Once that was under control, the doctor went ahead with the procedure. I’m here to tell you, I do not, repeat DO NOT, want to go through that again. It was not fun and was painful even with the numbing. I had planned on going to my granddaughter’s cheerleading competition tomorrow, but can’t go now. However, she will have others. Under some strict instructions on do’s and don’t’s.
Y’ll have a great night.
By Deirdre
October 10, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
Glad to hear that you’re ok, Nana. Have a good weekend and I hope you keep the pain controlled.
By JTesla
October 10, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the update Nana.
By Harmony
October 12, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
What can I say? That was a nerve-wrecking sitting on the edge of your seat coclusion to the Falcons/Bears game. YAY Falcons!!!!!
By Deirdre
October 12, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
Michael Vick???? Who’s that???? :-)
By Harmony
October 12, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this
Matt Ryan !!!!!!
By Deirdre
October 13, 2008 7:23 AM | Link to this
Morning!
Nana! They’ve named a tropical storm after you! Congrats!
By Woodpappy
October 13, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this
Hey Deirdre and Harmony….When Ryan thru that last pass and it was caught on the sideline, I said outloud, VICK WHO ?????
By flats
October 13, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this
Good morning everyone!!!!!!!woodpaps the dawgs dominated the vols balls!!!!!!
By flats
October 13, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
Woodpappy..mike vick was the guy atlanta made there franchise player…LOL!!!!!!!!
By Woodpappy
October 13, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this
Yes indeed the Dawgs looked good flats. However compared to others in the top ten….The Dawgs arn’t good enough yet for the top 5.
By Deirdre
October 13, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
Matt Ryan could be the next Peyton Manning…the kid has skills!!!!
By Nana
October 13, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this
Good Morning to one and all. I’m late getting started this morning. When I tried to get on internet at home around 4:30, it was down, so I couldn’t post my normal good morning.
Deirdre I haven’t heard about the tropical storm name. If its anything like me, it’s going to be a doozy. Lord help us all!!!!!
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
October 13, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
Mornin’ y’all. Nana glad you’re ok. Yep. Matt Ryan has, I believe, successfully erased MV from the minds of MOST people, except in the say expressed above “michael who?” “who vick?” “what was that guy’s name?” This young man, i hope and pray, will keep a good clear head about finances, business, not to mention his —shall we say— ‘social’ contacts, and keep someone around to keep him from being “used” by unscrupulous vultures and buzzards and assorted rats or roach-like personages, all looking to feed on his success.
congrats to falcons, bucs, dawgs, and to the rays, too
By Deirdre
October 13, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
Don’t forget the Yellow Jackets! :-)
By flats
October 13, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
LO @ LINNY…dont worry linny,He grew in a NEIGHBORHOOD!!!!
By flats
October 13, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
Yall are great,really make my day !
By Deirdre
October 13, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
I watched the last 15 minutes of Randy Jackson co-hosting with Kelly on Regis and Kelly this morning. He was(much to my surprise) pretty good.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
October 13, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this
sorry D, of course! the Jackets too!
By Nana
October 13, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
Did RJ say anything about the upcoming season of AI or any past idols? How many times did he say Dawg?
Thank linny. I’m fine, just tired. Had to make a fast trip to LaGrange yesterday and have my dad admitted to the hospital with double pneumonia. Got home around 12:30am this morning. Really hated to leave him. Going back down this afternoon when I get off work.
By Rodney Ho
October 13, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
New blog entry!