SImon Cowell has named David Arculeta as the singer against which all others will be measured this season on “American Idol.” Archuleta, 17, has his own cheering section on the show and sings with a poise and depth that’s remarkable for someone so young, whether it’s The Miracles Motown classic “Shop Around” or John Lennon’s iconic ballad “Imagine.” He may look like a kid giving his first grade-school recital, but this high school junior from Murray, Utah, has been singing since age 7 and won the junior category – and the $100,000 prize- on CBS’ “Star Search” at age 12.
“He has incredible control over his voice,” says Mauli B, the vocal coach for ABC’s “Dance War: Bruno vs. Carrie Ann,” who also worked with “Idol” also-rans Sundance Head and Sabrina Sloan. “David has this unique, warm-sounding layer of air that comes through that gives him a really smooth tone,” she says. “Some people try to get notes they can’t quite get to. But he’s smart. He knows his limitations.”
Those limitations could make the difference between winning and losing. Shortly after picking up the “Star Search” prize, Archuleta came down with a bad case of bronchitis that left him with one partially paralyzed vocal chord. An ear-nose-and-throat doctor recommended surgery, but as Archuleta revealed during “Idol” auditions, he said no because “it was way risky and I wanted to sing.”
That was five years ago. He’s had a voice coach ever since to help him recover.
Mauli B worries that Archuleta isn’t using his voice properly. “When you sing, you either sing with your vocal chords together or apart. His vocal chords aren’t all the way together. And as often as he’s going to be singing, that’s going to be hard on his voice.”
Not surprisingly, Archuleta, who has a brother and 3 sisters, comes from a musical family. His dad is a jazz trumpeter and his mom sings in English and Spanish. He also regularly sings in his hometown Mormon church.
“He has intentions to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints,” says Murray’s mayor, Daniel Snarr, referring to the Mormon mistradition of sending people to foreign countries to spread the Good Word. “But that would be after high school because you have to be 19.”
Archuleta is unlikely to stave off stardom that long.
The mayor and his staff want to snag him for this year’s Fourth of July celebration.
“I said, ‘Book him now before he wants $100,000 or more to come in and perform,'” says the mayor, with a laugh.