Josh Gracin American Idol

No fooling, there has been a lot on the plate of the young man performing April 1, at the Manchester High School gymnasium.Josh Gracin, frustrated young musician turned Marine and family man, turned "American Idol" contestant, turned recording star will take the stage with his brand of country music to benefit student programs at Manchester Independent School."We have plenty of good seats available, there really is not a bad seat in the place," said Manchester High School Principal Jeff Stricklett.The venue seats about 2,000 people, said Stricklett.For those who don't already know, Gracin, a native of Westland, Mich., grew up in a family filled with sisters; he was the only boy. He drifted more toward music after his parents discouraged him from playing football in high school. He opted to stick with playing saxophone in the marching band and performing in local musical productions instead.From saxophone to center stage, Gracin followed his musical dream after high school. With his musical career not going the way he wanted, Gracin signed up for the Marine Corps. He credits the training there with preparing him for the rest of his life. Music took a back seat to the Marine Corps, marriage and a new daughter.
About two years into the four-year military stint, music called to him again and Gracin entered the "American Idol" contest. By the time he was well into the show the U.S. invaded Iraq. American flags filled show audiences and encouragement to keep singing, as encouragement to other Marine Corps families came in e-mails and letters, said Gracin. Compared to going through basic training for the Marine Corps, Gracin seemed to face off with "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell with ease; making it to fourth place in the second season of the show.Thanks to a performance during the show of a song originated by Rascal Flatts, members of the group put Gracin in touch with the right people on Music Row. Lyric Street Music signed Gracin to a recording contract shortly after that. Included on his self titled album is Gracin's debut single "I Want To Live".Following the success of past Manchester concert performances by Trace Adkins and Blake Shelton, this year there is an added attraction of a local opening act."Steve Parks, a country music performer from Peebles, will be playing for 30 minutes, starting at 7 p.m., then Josh Gracin will go on stage at 7:30 p.m.," said Stricklett.

Do Older Contestants Enhance Idol?

Recognizing that pop idols can actually be pushing 30 is the best thing Fox has done to breathe fresh life into "American Idol." This cycle of the top-rated show has six of 10 final contestants 25 or over. And it shows. The performances have been far more mature and accomplished than in the past, raising the bar on the show from a giggly karaoke contest to a truly professional singing competition.
Just look at a couple recent performances like the searing rendition of "I Walk the Line" from 26-year-old Chris Daughtry to Katherine McPhee's (at 21 bucking the trend) brilliant torch song version of an Ella Fitzgerald '50s standard.
And when Taylor Hicks belted out Stevie Wonder's golden oldie "Living for the City," there was scant age difference between the singer and the 32-year-old song.
Hicks, 29, and other "Idol" finalists edging near 30 are testing the limits of just how old an aspiring pop star can be and still gain acceptance from the music industry and the public - while the TV contest reaps the rewards of showcasing older performers.
The top-rated Fox show is attracting a bigger audience than ever in its fifth edition as it offers a wider range of talent, which producers say is why they raised the audition age limit from 24 to 28 last year.
This season, the change opened the door for half of the dozen finalists: Besides Hicks, who turned 29 after making the cut, there's Mandisa, also 29; Bucky Covington, 28; Daughtry, 26; Elliott Yamin, 27, and Ace Young, 25.
"There's a lot of really good singers we were turning down because of the age limit, and we realized it was silly," said executive producer Ken Warwick. "You're certainly not over the hill by 28."
Not yet, but there are uncomfortable hints the crest may be in sight, said Mandisa, a veteran performer who dedicated her powerful voice to Christian music pre-"American Idol."
"A lot of people say it's kind of the end of the road for me, so to be able to have this competition and be right at the brink where I can still make it, it's a dream come true," she said after being voted a finalist. "There's really no turning back."
That's right - and it's wrong, according to music business insiders and observers. It's certainly true that young consumers and the artists they favor dominate the music marketplace, to an extent that makes TV look relatively age-inclusive.