The Next American Idol

Chikezie - Age 22 from Inglewood, California

Chikezie currently lives in Inglewood, CA.

Chikezie began singing when he was 13 years old.

Before auditioning for AMERICAN IDOL, he was a T.S.A. (Transportation Security Administration) screener and a cashier.

He also studied singing at Santa Monica College.

The person he would most like to meet is Jesus.

Chikezie draws inspiration from his faith.

He hopes to differentiate himself on American Idol by having a unique style and a lot of energy.

If given the chance, he would not change himself in any way because that's the way God made him.

His favorite American Idol moment was when Elliott Yamin sang Donny Hathaway's I Believe to My Soul.

The toughest obstacle in his life is going through numerous rejections in musical endeavors.

He had a favorite comfort room in high school, but he only found out it was a women's comfort room when one day the door was closed.

List of Chikezie's Songs on American Idol:

• February 19, 2008 - More Today Than Yesterday by Spiral Staircase
• February 26, 2008 - I Believe to My Soul by Donny Hathaway
• March 4, 2008 - All the Man That I Need by Whitney Houston
• March 11, 2008 - She's a Woman by The Beatles
• March 18, 2008 - I've Just Seen a Face by The Beatles
• March 25, 2008 - If Only for One Night by Luther Vandross

The proudest moment in his life is being born again.

His name is Nigerian.

If he wasn't talented in music, he'd like to have the ability to focus on other things besides music.

He thinks people would be surprised to learn that he is a soap opera junkie.

His goal in life is to change the music industry for the better.

He thinks his friends would be surprised to know that he owns Aerosmith's Get a Grip.

His rituals before performing are to learn the lyrics very well.

The most embarrassing moment in his life was when he forgot all the lyrics to a song on stage and made them all up.

His fans call themselves "The Eze Riders."

His musical influences are Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, John Legend and Sam and Dave.

He auditioned for American Idol at San Diego, California where he sang, All the Woman I Need by Luther Vandross.

His audition number for American Idol was 613.

Other than singing, Chikezie believes he has no other talent.

He had some formal singing training in community college.

Will Chikezie Be the Next Americal Idol?

Will Chikezie Be the Next Americal Idol?

Favorites:

Legends are made where genius meets hard work and timing.

Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, B.B. King and Bobby Blue Bland.

Anita Baker, Alicia Keyes, Nina Simone, Norah Jones, Sarah McLachlan and Aretha Franklin.

Simon Cowell because he has a good eye.

Jennifer Hudson

Quotes by Chikezie

As far as my music, my happiest moment came when I got my first standing ovation.

I'm trying to learn guitar, so I'm decent, I can get a few chords in and same with piano, I can get a few chords in, but I'm trying to get better with those. Talent's, I don't know. Singings just kinda' been my thing for awhile, you know?

I honestly don't remember when I first started singing. When I first started really, really singing, it was probably like the end of middle school, something like that, but my mom tells these stories about me, like in stores, like 3, 4 singing to songs that I don't even know the words to, just going "Wahahaha," and just totally making a complete fool of myself.

When I first found out I was in the top 24 it was just, it was a dream you know? It was like, I was on cloud nine, and I still am. It still hasn't sunk in, it's kinda' weird. It's probably gonna sink in when I get on that stage, but it's just, it's amazing 'cuz you see the commercials all over the place, you see the billboards and like, I'm part of that. You just look at the ratings, I'm part of that.

Will Chikezie Be the Next Americal Idol?

Will Chikezie Be the Next Americal Idol?