Josh Gracin Biography (Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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.

Biography

Gracin grew up in Westland, Michigan. Josh's vocal debut was at a 7th grade talent show at Stevenson Jr. High where he performed the hit Standing Outside The Fire by one of his all time Idol's in country music Garth Brooks. Upon graduation from John Glenn High School in Westland, he attended Western Michigan University before he joined the United States Marine Corps. After basic training, he came home and married, eventually became a supply clerk at Camp Pendleton outside of San Diego and appeared on the second season of the hit TV show American Idol.

After his Idol stint and his discharge from the Marine Corps, Josh and his wife Ann Marie moved to Franklin, Tennessee in pursuit of his singing career. Together they have two daughters, Briana Marie Gracin, born March 30 2002 and Gabriella Ann Gracin, born November 15 2006, as well as a son, Landon Joshua Gracin, born August 4 2005.

American Idol

Joshua 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's best performances usually came when he was able to sing songs with a country flavor, but he often struggled in other genres.

Gracin attracted audience support by being willing to butt heads figuratively, and in one case almost literally, with judge 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, his unit had not been selected for deployment, and Gracin had permission from the Marines to do the show. This is incorrect information. Josh Gracin was part of 1st Maintenance Battalion, which became known as CSSB-7, which was deployed to Iraq on February 1, 2003. CSSB-7 crossed the lines into Iraq the day the war began, and led a hard charge, eventually ending their push in Al Kut. Josh Gracin requested Mast, and was awarded permission to remain in California while the rest of 1st Maintenance Battalion deployed for the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.

Gracin's semifinal performance of Edwin McCain's "I'll Be" was a standout and is felt by many to be his high-water mark in the competition. A country-tinged rendition of Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" was also well received; however, his country-fied performance of Kool and the Gang's "Celebration" was panned strongly by judges and viewers alike.

A mild controversy 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, as Trenyce had performed two songs well the night before while Gracin struggled with both "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" and Neil Sedaka's "Bad Blood", sparring uncharacteristically crossly with Cowell after the latter performance. A camera reaction shot when the results were announced revealed Gracin visibly dismayed when told he had avoided the Bottom 2. Gracin was voted off the following week, an episode that ironically included one of his best performances, that of the Bee Gees' To Love Somebody. He finished in fourth place.

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, he was honorably discharged in September 2004.

Musical Career

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 680,000 units and is certified Gold by the RIAA. It includes the #1 country hit "Nothin" To Lose" and the Top 5 hits "Stay With Me (Brass Bed)" and "I Want To Live" ().

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 May 2007. 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.

Gracin has filled in for Lonestar's lead vocalist Richie McDonald in concert on a few occasions in late 2006 when McDonald had laryngitis.

Songs performed on American Idol

February 25 2003 (semifinals): "I'll Be" - Edwin McCain
March 11 2003 (Top 12): "Baby I Need Your Loving" - 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

Discography

Albums

2004 Josh Gracin (Gold)
2007 I Keep Coming Back (to be released)

Singles

Year	Single	U.S. Country	U.S. Hot 100	Album
2004	"I Want To Live"	4	45	Josh Gracin
2005	"Nothin' To Lose"	1	39
2005	"Stay With Me (Brass Bed)"^A	5	47
2006	"Please Come Home For Christmas"	51		downloaded singles
2006	"O Holy Night"	59		downloaded singles
2006	"Favorite State of Mind"	19		I Keep Coming Back
2006	"I Keep Coming Back"	28		I Keep Coming Back

^A"Stay With Me (Brass Bed)" also peaked at #66 on the Pop 100.

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