Josh Gracin
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| Josh Gracin | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Joshua Mario Gracin | |
| Also known as | Josh | |
| Born | October 18, 1980 | |
| Origin | Westland, Michigan | |
| Genre(s) | Country Music | |
| Occupation(s) | Entertainer | |
| Years active | 2003—present | |
| Label(s) | Lyric Street Records | |
| Website | joshgracin.com | |
Joshua Mario "Josh" Gracin (born on October 18, 1980) is a country music singer who arose to fame as the fourth-place finalist on the second season of American Idol. After his departure, his debut album went Gold in 2004.
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[edit] Biography
Gracin grew up in Westland, Michigan. He began playing music in high school, inspired by Garth Brooks among others. Upon graduation he joined the Marine Corps, and eventually became a supply clerk at Camp Pendleton outside of San Diego.
Gracin appeared on the second season of American Idol. His country sound and his ongoing military service immediately made him stand out from Idol's pop- and R&B-oriented contestants. Gracin performed strongly whenever he could sing something with a country flavor, but sometimes struggled in other genres.
Gracin attracted audience support by being willing to butt heads figuratively, and in one case almost literally (Simon Cowell). Some attention was given to why Gracin was permitted time away from his unit to participate in the show, while many other Marine units were being sent to participate in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. However, Gracin had permission from the Marines to do the show, and his unit had not been selected for deployment.
More discussion ensued when with five singers left, Gracin survived a vote in which Trenyce was voted off; many viewers felt the wrong choice had been made, and a camera reaction shot revealed Gracin appearing uncomfortable with the result. In any case, he was voted off the following week, ending in a very respectable fourth-place position.
| Joshua Gracin | |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Josh |
| Place of birth | Westland, Michigan |
| Allegiance | USMC |
| Years of service | 2000-2004 |
| Rank | Lance Corporal |
| Unit | 1st Maintenance Battalion |
| Battles/wars | Operation Iraqi Freedom |
Due to having to resume his Marine commitments, Gracin did not participate in the subsequent American Idol Finalists concert tour of American venues. After four years of service, Gracin was honorably discharged in September 2004.
Now going by Josh Gracin, he was in the meantime signed to Lyric Street Records; Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts had become a booster, after Gracin's performance of their I'm Movin' On on Idol. His debut album Josh Gracin was released on June 15, 2004 and has shipped more than 750,000 units and is certified Gold by the RIAA. It includes the #1 smash Nothin’ To Lose and the Top 5 hits Stay With Me (Brass Bed) and I Want To Live ([1]).
In 2005 Gracin contributed the song Working for the Weekend to the Herbie: Fully Loaded soundtrack, and he also sang on When I See an Elephant Fly on the Jim Brickman album The Disney Songbook.
In March 2006 he released a new single entitled Favorite State Of Mind. This will be the first single off his release set for June of this year. Gracin was also a guest star on The Young and the Restless in June 2006. On October 22, 2006 Josh sang God Bless America during the 7th inning of the Game 2 of the World Series between the Detroit Tigers and the St. Louis Cardinals.
On December 18, 2006 Josh sang the national anthem before the start of the Indianapolis Colts and Cincinnati Bengals game on ESPN Monday Night Football
In 2006, Josh contributed the song Hound Dude to the The Fox and the Hound 2 soundtrack.
Josh's new album titled All About Y'all is set to be released May 1, 2007.
Josh and his wife Ann Marie moved to Franklin, Tennessee; together they have a daughter, Briana Marie Gracin, born on March 30, 2002, and a son, Landon Joshua Gracin, born on August 4, 2005. Their third child, Gabriella Ann Gracin was born November 15, 2006.
Josh has filled in for Lonestar's lead vocalist Richie McDonald in concert on a few occasions. Richie is reportedly leaving Lonestar in 2007, and some rumors have circulated that Josh might replace Richie as lead vocalist in the group. Incidentally, Josh sang Lonestar's song "Amazed" when he was a finalist on the show "American Idol".
[edit] Songs performed on American Idol
- February 25, 2003 (semifinals): I'll Be - Edwin McCain
- March 11, 2003 (Top 12): Baby I Need Your Lovin' - The Four Tops
- March 18, 2003 (Top 11): I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith
- March 25, 2003 (Top 10): Ain't Goin' Down 'Til The Sun Comes Up - Garth Brooks
- April 1, 2003 (Top 9): Celebration - Kool and the Gang
- April 15, 2003 (Top 8): Amazed - Lonestar
- April 8, 2003 (Top 7): Piano Man - Billy Joel
- April 22, 2003 (Top 6): That's When I'll Stop Loving You - 'N Sync
- April 29, 2003 (Top 5): Bad Blood (Neil Sedaka) and Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye (Neal McCoy)
- May 6, 2003 (Top 4): To Love Somebody and Jive Talkin', both by The Bee Gees
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 2004 Josh Gracin (Gold)
- 2007 All About Y'all
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | U.S. | U.S. Country | U.S. Pop | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | "I Want To Live" | 45 | 4 | - | Josh Gracin |
| 2005 | "Nothin' To Lose" | 39 | #1 | - | Josh Gracin |
| 2005 | "Stay With Me (Brass Bed)" | 47 | 5 | 66 | Josh Gracin |
| 2006 | "Please Come Home For Christmas" | - | 51 | - | downloaded single |
| 2006 | "O Holy Night" | - | 59 | - | downloaded single |
| 2006 | "Favorite State of Mind" | - | 19 | - | All About Y'all |
| 2006 | "I Keep Coming Back" | - | 28 | - | All About Y'all |
[edit] External links
| American Idol Season 2 | |
| Ruben Studdard | Clay Aiken | Kimberley Locke | Joshua Gracin | Trenyce | Carmen Rasmusen Kimberly Caldwell | Rickey Smith | Corey Clark | Julia DeMato | Charles Grigsby | Vanessa Olivarez |
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