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Idol 2003:
Gary Beal
Top 2
Eye on Idol caught up with 2003's Canadian Idol runner-up Gary Beals at the 2004 Canadian Idol auditions in Halifax, where he was on hand to lend advice to aspiring singers and give back support to the city that carried him to the top.
"It's a good feeling to actually come back here and to lend support to the people who are going to audition for this season, you know, because I know what they're going through," Gary said. "I know how nervous they are and at the same time, how excited they are."
Gary admits having a good time spending a few minutes with each Idol hopeful, answering the many questions they had for the hometown hero, from picking the right songs to Gary's own Idol experience.
From having no expectations during his audition in 2003 to almost becoming Canada's first Idol, Gary Beals has come a long way. These days, the soulful singer from Dartmouth is busy putting the finishing touches on his first album, "Raised By Grace," as well as performing live. He recently appeared with Idol winner Ryan Malcolm for a House of Blues concert in Halifax.
Gary also performed on the East Coast Music Awards broadcast on CBC and was a special guest on the comedy show, "Royal Canadian Air Farce."
Along with fellow Idol finalist Toya Alexis, Gary is now under Plasma Management and Productions Inc. (www.plasmacorporate.com) -- Canadian Idol Judge Farley Flex's company.
Gary Beal
Top 2
Eye on Idol caught up with 2003's Canadian Idol runner-up Gary Beals at the 2004 Canadian Idol auditions in Halifax, where he was on hand to lend advice to aspiring singers and give back support to the city that carried him to the top.
"It's a good feeling to actually come back here and to lend support to the people who are going to audition for this season, you know, because I know what they're going through," Gary said. "I know how nervous they are and at the same time, how excited they are."
Gary admits having a good time spending a few minutes with each Idol hopeful, answering the many questions they had for the hometown hero, from picking the right songs to Gary's own Idol experience.
From having no expectations during his audition in 2003 to almost becoming Canada's first Idol, Gary Beals has come a long way. These days, the soulful singer from Dartmouth is busy putting the finishing touches on his first album, "Raised By Grace," as well as performing live. He recently appeared with Idol winner Ryan Malcolm for a House of Blues concert in Halifax.
Gary also performed on the East Coast Music Awards broadcast on CBC and was a special guest on the comedy show, "Royal Canadian Air Farce."
Along with fellow Idol finalist Toya Alexis, Gary is now under Plasma Management and Productions Inc. (www.plasmacorporate.com) -- Canadian Idol Judge Farley Flex's company.
Billy Klippert
Top 3
Blonde-haired, Calgary rocker Billy Klippert, who won fans over with his unique vocals during 2003's Canadian Idol will continue to rock fans this year with the release of his debut album in June 2004.
The following is from The Orange Record Label website -- Billy Klippert's recording company:
In a parallel universe Billy Klippert is probably playing an accordion. Billy was born into a musical family, his father's musical instrument store still a fixture in Calgary. As a toddler, Billy's playground was the store, his toys the fascinating instruments (many of which, he confesses, he broke).
Billy's father is a world-class accordion player and every year, Billy and his brother Bennie, were taken to the Kimberly Accordion International Championship to watch their father play. "We had to pack at least 300 accordions into the family motor home, and man, they were heavy", relates Billy, his dad not only a great player but the largest accordion dealer in Western Canada. But Billy had other ideas.
"When I heard Metallica, I felt really guilty that I liked it", confessed a recalcitrant Billy. But his musical course was set. Leaving polkas and waltzes behind, Billy embarked on the life of a rock 'n' roller. "Hey, I learned guitar for the same reason every guy does...to impress the ladies."
Billy plays guitar, piano and bass and has taught guitar at the family store. In 200l, he packed his bags and moved to Australia where he picked fruit, chipped cotton, slept on beaches and eventually became a professional musician in a most traditional manner. He played a variety of sidewalks in towns up and down Australia's Gold Coast, his patrons, passers-by who would occasionally throw a few coins into the busker's guitar case. He didn't have a permit but the cops liked his sound and would show up now and then and request their favourite tunes. The pay wasn't great but it beat picking cotton and the experience ignited his passion to make music his career.
Back home in Calgary, Billy formed a band with his brother, a hard rock outfit called Kovered In Lies. The band developed a loyal local following, Billy's gravely-edged voice, his commanding 6'2" frame and blonde-spiked hair making him a compelling front man.
It was Billy's sister who re-directed Billy's fate. She insisted that he audition for a new television talent show that was holding auditions in Calgary. She went so far as to get into line at 3 o'clock in the morning with the hundreds of other talented and not-so talented Canadian Idol aspirants. A call at about 5 in the morning from sister to brother convinced Billy to come down to the audition and replace her in line. The rest, as they are fond of saying, is history. By 9:30 pm that same day, Billy had his ticket to Toronto and the Canadian Idol finals. And for any of you who have been out of the country for a year, Billy was the 2nd runner-up, a position that his loyal fans still debate and ponder.
In the winter of 2003, Billy was approached by The Orange Record Label. The fledgling label, recording home for singer/songwriters, were intrigued by something they saw in those TV appearances, a talent who seemed to be ill-suited for a talent show, an artist whose fans adored him, a songwriter whose voice and stage presence could make him a successful recording artist.
Partnered with producer Harry Hess (former singer for Harum Skarum), Billy Klippert has recorded an album that stays close to his rock roots while maintaining a link with his broad fan base. Billy has writing credits on 6 of the album's 11 songs. First single from the album is "Levon", an ode to his fans and the song that made him a household name across Canada. Billy's eponymous album will be released in June of 2004.
Audrey De Montigny
Top 4
Audrey de Montigny has been busy leading the life of a budding popstar. Her debut album, "Audrey", was released in April 2004 and since then, she's been touring and promoting her album which features a mix of French and English songs.
Before the release of "Audrey", the singer already had a hit with her single, "Meme les Anges", which premiered at #2 on Canada's Singles Charts and remained there for 28 weeks.
Aside from singing, the photogenic Audrey has also been gracing fashion magazines such as Flare and Adorable and appearing on television -- in Quebec's reality series, "Loft Story."
Since her idol win, Audrey has performed in several concerts including American Idol winner Ruben Studdard's concert in Montreal. She also shared the stage with Canadian Idol winner Ryan Malcolm on one of the stops in his concert tour.
Along with Ryan, Audrey was also a presenter at the 2004 Juno Awards held in Edmonton.
Audrey kicked off her first solo concert at Ottawa's Tulip Festival in May and will continue to tour and promote her new album.
Visit Audrey's official website: www.audreymusique.com