Jon Peter Lewis
Encyclopedia
Jon Peter Lewis is an American
singer and songwriter
, and was one of the finalists on the third season
of the reality/talent-search television series American Idol
. He would frequently be referred to by the judges and Ryan Seacrest
as simply JPL.
in a local children theater's production of The Hobbit in the summer of 1997. Lewis performed in other numerous theatrical productions and was a band member of various rock and roll bands throughout his high school and college years.
where he sang '"Crazy Love" by Van Morrison
. Praised by Simon Cowell
for his "very, very good voice," Lewis went on to display an uninhibited stage personality that won the hearts of millions of Idol fans. Simon Cowell later hailed Jon as "the dark horse to win the competition," and Rolling Stone
magazine pegged Jon as a "pick to win," while Elton John
praised JPL's voice for his "excellent pitch and phrasing."
Affectionately known as 'JPL' by his fans, Lewis was a member of the third group of semifinalists and performed the Elton John song "Tiny Dancer
". After performing "A Little Less Conversation
" in the wild card round, JPL was put through as a finalist by audience vote, receiving 22% of all votes cast.
On April 15, 2004, Lewis was voted off in eighth place after a flashy rendition of "Jailhouse Rock
" during movie songs week. During the competition, he had displayed a three-octave vocal range and developed a strong fan following. As part of the Top 10, Lewis participated in the 50-city American Idols Live tour in the summer of 2004.
of Henson Recording Studios
, among other notable entities in Hollywood. "Turn to Grey" was among the first songs that he wrote; he composed it while on tour with the Idol finalists. Jon recorded part of the song as a homage to Jennifer Hudson
after she told him that she loved singing the song around her house.
In 2005, he collaborated with Canadian songwriter/actor James Collins
to write and record "It's Christmas," which was released by EMI/Universal in Canada as part of the "Now Christmas 2" album, and went to #13 on the Canadian radio charts in two weeks. In addition, a second original holiday song "California Christmas" was recorded by Jon and released in 2006 for the album Breaking for the Holidays by Breaking Records. The upbeat holiday song was called a "Christmas Classic" by Chuck Taylor of Billboard
magazine.
In September 2006, Lewis released his second single containing the songs "If I Go Away" and "Man Like Me" through his independent label, Cockaroo Entertainment. His limited release debut album, Stories from Hollywood, was released on his 27th birthday, November 7, 2006, making Jon the first Idol finalist to independently release an album of original songs. The album is a collection of energetic rock and roll and intimate acoustic tracks.
Jon's second full-length album, Break the Silence, hit the streets July 22, 2008. The album was released through Cockaroo Entertainment in conjunction with Adrenaline Music Group. Chris Garcia, who has worked with Santana
and Michelle Branch
, Dido
and Jewel
, produced the album under the guidance of executive producer Don Grierson, a former head of A&R for Capitol and Epic Records involved with Bob Seger
, Heart
, Duran Duran
, Cheap Trick
, Celine Dion
and Tina Turner
. Jon wrote or co-wrote several tracks for the album, and it features such esteemed musicians as guitarist Nick Lashley (Alanis Morissette
, Natasha Bedingfeld), drummer Kenny Aronoff
(John Cougar Mellencamp, Indigo Girls
) and Blake Mills (Jakob Dylan
, Band of Horses
.) The CD has received critical praise including a "Critic's Choice" review from Billboard magazine. It was called "one of the best pop/rock CD's of the year" by Monica Rizzo of People
magazine and "Impressive" by Ken Barnes of USA Today
. The title track single, hit the top 30 charts on Hot AC radio and in November 2008 was 1 of only 50 songs pre-programmed into all of the new iPhones on display at Apple Stores and AT&T stores across the country. Jon went on to release a self-titled EP in February 2010, and is currently working on a fourth album due out in early 2011.
In 2009, Lewis launched an Internet show titled American Nobody. The quirky program takes an inside look at the music business as well as a tongue-in-cheek view of pop culture. The show received early critical praise. American Nobody was added to TV Guide
s "Hot Web List" and the Los Angeles Times
called it "the most brilliant and biting satire of Idoldom ever written."
He has been a contributor to MTV, Entertainment Weekly
, Rolling Stone magazine, The Los Angeles Times, and AOL Entertainment, and continues to be a frequent and favorite guest of national television and top 20 radio markets.
Members of JPL's band have included Sky Elobar, Andrew Synowiec, Ian Hendrickson, Craig Macintyre, Stuart Johnson, Blake Mills, Austin Nicholsen, Adam Range and Tyler George Beus. Lewis and his band are on tour throughout the country.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and was one of the finalists on the third season
American Idol (Season 3)
The third season of American Idol premiered on Monday, January 19, 2004 and continued until May 26, 2004. The third season was won by Fantasia Barrino, who defeated Diana DeGarmo by an approximate margin of 2% ; the vote total was the highest recorded vote total in the show's history until the...
of the reality/talent-search television series American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. He would frequently be referred to by the judges and Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
as simply JPL.
Biography
Lewis lived in various cities across the United States with his roving family before leaving home at the age of 18. He graduated from Central High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1998. He starred in the lead role of Thorin OakenshieldThorin Oakenshield
Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thráin, son of Thrór, King Under the Mountain is a major character in The Hobbit and is mentioned in passing in The Lord of the Rings...
in a local children theater's production of The Hobbit in the summer of 1997. Lewis performed in other numerous theatrical productions and was a band member of various rock and roll bands throughout his high school and college years.
American Idol
At the age of 23, Lewis cashed in his college loans to audition for the third season of American Idol in Honolulu, HawaiiHonolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
where he sang '"Crazy Love" by Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
. Praised by Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
for his "very, very good voice," Lewis went on to display an uninhibited stage personality that won the hearts of millions of Idol fans. Simon Cowell later hailed Jon as "the dark horse to win the competition," and Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine pegged Jon as a "pick to win," while Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
praised JPL's voice for his "excellent pitch and phrasing."
Affectionately known as 'JPL' by his fans, Lewis was a member of the third group of semifinalists and performed the Elton John song "Tiny Dancer
Tiny Dancer
"Tiny Dancer" is a 1971 song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It appears on John's fourth album, Madman Across the Water, and was released as a single in 1972...
". After performing "A Little Less Conversation
A Little Less Conversation
"A Little Less Conversation" is a song written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange that was originally performed and written for American rock and roll icon Elvis Presley for the 1968 film Live a Little, Love a Little. When the song was released as a single with "Almost in Love" as the b-side, it became...
" in the wild card round, JPL was put through as a finalist by audience vote, receiving 22% of all votes cast.
On April 15, 2004, Lewis was voted off in eighth place after a flashy rendition of "Jailhouse Rock
Jailhouse Rock (song)
"Jailhouse Rock" is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller that first became a hit for Elvis Presley. The song was released as a 45rpm single on September 24, 1957, to coincide with the release of Presley's motion picture, Jailhouse Rock...
" during movie songs week. During the competition, he had displayed a three-octave vocal range and developed a strong fan following. As part of the Top 10, Lewis participated in the 50-city American Idols Live tour in the summer of 2004.
American Idol Performances
| Week | Theme | Song | Artist | Order | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semifinal Group #3 | Contestant's Choice | "Tiny Dancer Tiny Dancer "Tiny Dancer" is a 1971 song by Elton John with lyrics by Bernie Taupin. It appears on John's fourth album, Madman Across the Water, and was released as a single in 1972... " |
Elton John Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor... |
4 | Eliminated |
| Wild Card | Contestant's Choice | "A Little Less Conversation A Little Less Conversation "A Little Less Conversation" is a song written by Mac Davis and Billy Strange that was originally performed and written for American rock and roll icon Elvis Presley for the 1968 film Live a Little, Love a Little. When the song was released as a single with "Almost in Love" as the b-side, it became... " |
Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King".... |
1 | Selected By Public |
| Top 12 | Soul Music | "Drift Away Drift Away "Drift Away" is a song written by Mentor Williams and originally recorded by John Henry Kurtz on his 1972 album Reunion. In 1973 the song became Dobie Gray's biggest hit, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, though it did not enter the charts in the United Kingdom.This song is also a... " |
Dobie Gray Dobie Gray Dobie Gray is an African American singer and songwriter, whose musical career has spanned soul, country, pop and musical theater... |
5 | Safe |
| Top 11 | Country Music | "She Believes in Me" | Kenny Rogers Kenny Rogers Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur... |
7 | Safe |
| Top 10 | Motown Music | "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) "This Old Heart of Mine " is an Isley Brothers song from 1966 that was a hit for them during their brief tenure on Motown's Tamla label... " |
The Isley Brothers The Isley Brothers The Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper... |
2 | Safe |
| Top 9 | Elton John | "Rocket Man" | Elton John | 2 | Safe |
| Top 8 | Movie Soundtracks | "Jailhouse Rock Jailhouse Rock (song) "Jailhouse Rock" is a song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller that first became a hit for Elvis Presley. The song was released as a 45rpm single on September 24, 1957, to coincide with the release of Presley's motion picture, Jailhouse Rock... " - Jailhouse Rock |
Elvis Presley | 3 | Eliminated |
Post-Idol
Rather than accepting business offers to use his "Idol" fame to release a quick pop album, Lewis decided to work on his own musical style and create original music. From late 2004 to 2006, Lewis spent the majority of his time composing original music working closely with music producer Alex GibsonAlex Gibson (music producer)
Alex Gibson is an American record producer, engineer, mixer, and composer. He resides in Los Angeles, California.-Biography:...
of Henson Recording Studios
Henson Recording Studios
Henson Recording Studios was established in 2000 at the former A&M Studios. The remake of We Are the World was recorded at Henson Recording Studios in February 2010 to benefit the Haiti earthquake victims....
, among other notable entities in Hollywood. "Turn to Grey" was among the first songs that he wrote; he composed it while on tour with the Idol finalists. Jon recorded part of the song as a homage to Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Kate Hudson is an American recording artist, actress and spokesperson. She came to prominence in 2004 as one of the finalists on the third season of American Idol coming in seventh place...
after she told him that she loved singing the song around her house.
In 2005, he collaborated with Canadian songwriter/actor James Collins
James Collins (songwriter)
James Collins is a Canadian songwriter, actor and singer.- Life and career :As a songwriter, James has co-written, with Vancouver-based songwriter Dave Pickell over 20 Top 40 hits in Canada....
to write and record "It's Christmas," which was released by EMI/Universal in Canada as part of the "Now Christmas 2" album, and went to #13 on the Canadian radio charts in two weeks. In addition, a second original holiday song "California Christmas" was recorded by Jon and released in 2006 for the album Breaking for the Holidays by Breaking Records. The upbeat holiday song was called a "Christmas Classic" by Chuck Taylor of Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine.
In September 2006, Lewis released his second single containing the songs "If I Go Away" and "Man Like Me" through his independent label, Cockaroo Entertainment. His limited release debut album, Stories from Hollywood, was released on his 27th birthday, November 7, 2006, making Jon the first Idol finalist to independently release an album of original songs. The album is a collection of energetic rock and roll and intimate acoustic tracks.
Jon's second full-length album, Break the Silence, hit the streets July 22, 2008. The album was released through Cockaroo Entertainment in conjunction with Adrenaline Music Group. Chris Garcia, who has worked with Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
and Michelle Branch
Michelle Branch
Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and actress. During the early 2000s, she released two top-selling albums, The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper, and was subsequently nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2003...
, Dido
Dido (singer)
Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong , known as Dido, is an English singer-songwriter.Dido shot to worldwide success with her debut album, No Angel...
and Jewel
Jewel (singer)
Jewel Kilcher , professionally known as Jewel, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, actress and poet...
, produced the album under the guidance of executive producer Don Grierson, a former head of A&R for Capitol and Epic Records involved with Bob Seger
Bob Seger
Robert Clark "Bob" Seger is an American rock and roll singer-songwriter, guitarist and pianist.As a locally successful Detroit-area artist, he performed and recorded as Bob Seger and the Last Heard and Bob Seger System throughout the 1960s...
, Heart
Heart (band)
Heart is an American rock band who first found success in Canada. Throughout several lineup changes, the only two members remaining constant are sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. The group rose to fame in the 1970s with their music being influenced by hard rock as well as folk music...
, Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
, Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
, Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
and Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
. Jon wrote or co-wrote several tracks for the album, and it features such esteemed musicians as guitarist Nick Lashley (Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette
Alanis Nadine Morissette is a Canadian-American singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actress. She has won 16 Juno Awards and seven Grammy Awards, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and also shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination...
, Natasha Bedingfeld), drummer Kenny Aronoff
Kenny Aronoff
Kenny Aronoff is an American drummer. He has played drums for many musicians, including John Mellencamp, Bob Seger, Belinda Carlisle, Elton John, John Fogerty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Meat Loaf, The BoDeans, Gregg Alexander, The Smashing Pumpkins, Tony Iommi, Jon Bon Jovi, Vasco Rossi, Cinderella and...
(John Cougar Mellencamp, Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls
The Indigo Girls are an American folk rock music duo, consisting of Amy Ray and Emily Saliers. They met in elementary school and began performing together as high school students in Decatur, Georgia, part of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
) and Blake Mills (Jakob Dylan
Jakob Dylan
Jakob Luke Dylan is the lead singer and songwriter of the rock band The Wallflowers and is a son of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and Sara Dylan. He has also recorded two solo albums.-Personal life:...
, Band of Horses
Band of Horses
Band of Horses, originally briefly known as Horses, are an American rock band formed in 2004 in Seattle by Ben Bridwell. They have released three studio albums, the most recent and most successful of which is 2010's Grammy nominated Infinite Arms...
.) The CD has received critical praise including a "Critic's Choice" review from Billboard magazine. It was called "one of the best pop/rock CD's of the year" by Monica Rizzo of People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine and "Impressive" by Ken Barnes of USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
. The title track single, hit the top 30 charts on Hot AC radio and in November 2008 was 1 of only 50 songs pre-programmed into all of the new iPhones on display at Apple Stores and AT&T stores across the country. Jon went on to release a self-titled EP in February 2010, and is currently working on a fourth album due out in early 2011.
In 2009, Lewis launched an Internet show titled American Nobody. The quirky program takes an inside look at the music business as well as a tongue-in-cheek view of pop culture. The show received early critical praise. American Nobody was added to TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
s "Hot Web List" and the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
called it "the most brilliant and biting satire of Idoldom ever written."
He has been a contributor to MTV, Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, Rolling Stone magazine, The Los Angeles Times, and AOL Entertainment, and continues to be a frequent and favorite guest of national television and top 20 radio markets.
Members of JPL's band have included Sky Elobar, Andrew Synowiec, Ian Hendrickson, Craig Macintyre, Stuart Johnson, Blake Mills, Austin Nicholsen, Adam Range and Tyler George Beus. Lewis and his band are on tour throughout the country.
Singles
- "Turn to Grey" download single. Blues-funk. (2004)
- "Stories From Hollywood" download single. Alternative rock. (2005)
- "It's Christmas" single peaked at # 13 on Canada's Top 50 Pop Adult BDS chart (2005)
- "If I Go Away/ Man Like Me" double-sided single. Alternative rock and pop. (Cockaroo Entertainment) (2006)
- "Crazy Love" (2010)
Albums
- "American Idol Season 3: Greatest Soul ClassicsAmerican Idol Season 3: Greatest Soul ClassicsAmerican Idol Season 3: Greatest Soul Classics is a soul music compilation that was released on April 27, 2004. It contains one cover song from each of the twelve finalists of the third season of American Idol and one ensemble....
". JPL covers "My Girl" and joins in the Season 3 American Idol Finalists' ensemble cover of "Ain't No Mountain High EnoughAin't No Mountain High Enough"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is an R&B/soul song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla Motown label. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, becoming a hit again in 1970 when recorded by former Supremes...
". (2004) - "Now Christmas 2" compilation album. JPL contributed the pop song, "It's Christmas," which went up to No. 13 on Canadian radio charts. Album released in Canada. (EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
) (2005) - "Breaking for the Holidays" compilation album. JPL contributed the harmonic pop song, "California Christmas." (Breaking Records) (2006)
- Stories from Hollywood album of original music released November 7, 2006. Alternative rock, soul, and pop.
- Break the Silence. July 22, 2008. Full-length album released through Cockaroo Entertainment in conjunction with Adrenaline Music Group.
- Jon Peter Lewis (EP) - 2010