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Michael Johns Profile |
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Birth Date: October 20, 1978
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Birth Place: Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Birth Name: Michael John Lee
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Height: 6'3"
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Biography |
Michael Johns (born October 20, 1978) is an Australian-born
rock/soul singer-songwriter and was an American Idol season
7 finalist.
Michael John Lee was born in Perth, Western Australia, to
William (Bill) Lee and Janet Burke (married to John Burke).
He is the youngest of three and has half- and step-siblings.
He moved to the United States from Australia in 1998 and
lived in Atlanta, Georgia for six years, performing at local
venues including CJ's Landing and Tin Roof in Buckhead. He
now lives in Los Angeles, California with his Texan wife,
Stacey, where he performs at venues such as Genghis Cohen
and the Viper Room.
At 6'3", Johns is a keen sportsman and this was his focus
prior to his singing career. He won a tennis scholarship at
the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia.
He also played Australian rules football for the USAFL club,
Atlanta Kookaburras.
Prior to pursuing a solo career, Michael Johns performed in
Atlanta with Jeff Bramwell, Hank Barbee, Anitra Holley and
Brian Wiltsey, and released an EP with local band Film.
After traveling to Los Angeles to showcase for a number of
labels in 2001, he signed with Maverick Records. He then
found guitarists Robb Torres and Kevin Haaland, bassist Ari
Gorman and drummer Kirke Blankenship and formed a rock band
called The Rising. The band toured nationally, performed on
the Rock Boat The Sharon Osbourne Show and at the opening of
a Los Angeles Apple Store in 2003. The latter performance
resulted in the release of the Live at the Apple Store EP.
Their debut album Future Unknown was co-produced by Johns
and Rick Beato and scheduled for release on September 16,
2003. Although a number of the tracks received airplay on
national radio at that time, the album was not actually
released until appearing on iTunes while Johns was a
finalist on American Idol.
Johns also co-wrote and recorded a rendition of River of
Life featuring Lebo Kgasapane of Soweto, South Africa (who
died of AIDS at 22 after singing about her school to
filmmakers but prior to Johns' release) which was used as a
promotional track for the multi-award winning Ithuteng
documentary. |
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Other Information |
He auditioned for American Idol in San Diego.
He lived in Buckhead, Georgia (a suburb in Atlanta) for 6
years before he was relocated to L.A.
He moved from Perth, Western Australia to U.S. in 1998.
He guaranteed a tennis scholarship at the Abraham Baldwin
Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia. |
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since April 26, 2008