American Idol Finalist to Sing at Fair
By Diane Booth Conway,
Merced County Fair Publicity Director

   "American Idol 2" star Josh Gracin, the young Marine who won the hearts and votes of country music fans across the nation, will perform at the 2007 Merced County Fair.
   Gracin, known as "American Idol's American Patriot," who finished fourth place in the phenomenally popular reality show, will kick off the fair's opening day, Tuesday, July 17, in the Toyota Outdoor Theatre.
   The fair previously announced country star Collin Raye will headline at the fair, Saturday, July 21 and singer/songwriter Phil Vassar will perform Thursday, July 19. The remaining headline acts will soon be announced.
   The fair runs July 17-22. All entertainment acts performing at the fairgrounds Toyota Outdoor Theatre will give one concert at 9 p.m. As always, all fair headline acts are free with the price of admission. The 2007 Fair theme is "Gateway to Great Cheese," a salute to cheese, one of the county's top agricultural products.
   Gracin, who outlasted 70,000 aspiring performers in front of 20 million viewers on nationwide TV, finished fourth in the American Idol second season competition that saw Ruben Studdard win and Clay Aiken came in second with Kimberley Locke in third place.
   His first album -- Josh Gracin-- debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's country chart. The collection includes his debut single, "I Want to Live," "Nothin' To Lose," "Favorite State of Mind," and "Stay With Me, (Brass Bed)".
   "When I'm up on stage it's like a whole new world for me. I love performing. I'm a firm believer that it's really great for a singer to have a good voice, but to bring it to another level you have to draw the audience in and make them part of the music, make them feel what you're feeling."
   Gracin's leap from highly successful "A12" contestant to recording star began when he sang Rascal Flatts' "I'm Moving On" on one American Idol episode. The guys in Rascal Flatts were watching the show on their tour bus and bass player Jay DeMarcus was so impressed with Gracin's talent that he put the rising star in touch with Marty Williams, who co-produced both Rascal Flatts' breakthrough album and its big follow-up. That set in motion a string of events that led to Gracin's record deal.
   Born and raised in Westland, Michigan, a Detroit suburb, Gracin grew up listening to Elvis, the Beatles and vintage rock and pop. When he was 11, his favorite radio station changed formats to country and he fell in love with country music listening to Garth Brooks, George Strait and Randy Travis.
   Gracin's first public appearance was at an 8th grade talent competition where he sang Brooks' 1993 hit, "Standing Outside the Fire." "After the reaction I got from the crowd, I knew right then and there I wanted to sing country music."
   Growing up the only boy with four sisters, Gracin's parents wouldn't sign a release for him to play sports. He was in a marching band and played saxophone for 11 years. "I'm really glad I did that rather than play sports because -- who knows" -- if I hadn't, I might not be here today."
   As a member of the school choir and a pop orchestra he sang everything from opera to Motown but his love of country music continued and he was part of a talent competition that took him to the Grand Ole Opry stage. "Just knowing I was on a stage where so many stars and country legends had performed made me glad for the experience."
   He studied music at Western Michigan University for a year and dropped out. Gracin knew he had some growing up to do and decided to sign up for the Marine Corps. Stationed at Southern California's Camp Pendleton, Gracin said his time in the Marines changed him. "It's really helped prepare me for the rest of my life mentally, physically and emotionally." He reunited with girlfriend, Ann Marie, and they were married in 2001, right after he finished boot camp. Daughter, Briana, was born in 2002.
   About two years into his four-year stint in the Marines, Gracin saw the first American Idol show. "I hadn't sung in a couple of years because I was in the Marines and I thought it might be a good chance for me to get back out there and sing." His superiors approved, his first audition in November 2002 went well and he was on his way.
   After he became part of the Idol show, the US invaded Iraq in March 2003. Marine Headquarters gave him the go ahead to keep singing when he made the American Idol finals. "I felt guilty because I was singing on this show and there were fellow Marines over there in foxholes." But fan mail convinced him he was doing the right thing.
   "People who remember Josh from American Idol want to see him succeed," said Host Ryan Seacrest. "Josh, when he stays in that country genre, excels because he has the self-confidence. He knows that's what he's meant to do."
   "The night I was voted off, I pulled my daughter up on stage," Gracin said. "That was not something that was scripted. It was just something I did. I had done a lot of growing in the past few years, and I wanted to show her that it's possible to go from where I had been to where I was then, and that someday she would be able to do the same if she'd try hard. And if she ever doubts that, I can just pop in the tape and say, 'there you are on stage with me.' I'm no longer just some kid with a dream. I'm a father and a husband and this has turned into an accomplishment and an experience that's going to help me raise my daughter and show her what's possible."
   Gracin and his family live in Franklin, Tennessee, outside Nashville.
   For information, call the fair office at 722-1507 or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com or fax at 722-3773. Visit the 2007 Merced County Fair’s award-winning website, www.MercedCountyFair.com

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