David Archuleta facts for kids

David James Archuleta (born December 28, 1990) is an American singer and songwriter. When he was ten years old, he won the children's part of the Utah Talent Competition. This led to more singing appearances on TV. At twelve, he became the Junior Vocal Champion on Star Search. In 2008, he came in second place on the seventh season of American Idol.

In August 2008, he released "Crush", which was the first song from his first album, David Archuleta. This album came out three months later and quickly became popular, selling over 750,000 copies in the United States and more than 900,000 worldwide.

In October 2010, he released his third album, The Other Side of Down. In March 2012, he took a break from music for two years to be a missionary in Chile. He said he would continue his music career after his mission. By February 2012, he had sold over 1.1 million albums and 3.3 million songs in the United States.

In March 2012, he released his fourth album, "Forevermore", only in the Philippines. This album was his first to feature Original Filipino Music (OPM) songs. It quickly became a gold-certified album in the Philippines.

His fifth album, Begin, was released in August 2012. A collection of songs, No Matter How Far, came out in March 2013. His sixth studio album, Postcards in the Sky, was released in October 2017, and his second holiday album, Winter in the Air, came out in 2018. His eighth studio album, Therapy Sessions, was released in May 2020.

Early Life and Beginnings

Growing Up and Finding His Voice

David Archuleta was born on December 28, 1990, in Miami, Florida. His mother, Guadalupe Mayorga, is a salsa singer and dancer, and his father, Jeff Archuleta, is a jazz musician. David's mother is from Honduras, and his father has Spanish, Danish, Irish, and German family roots. David can speak Spanish fluently. He has four brothers and sisters.

When David was six years old, his family moved to Sandy, Utah, near Salt Lake City. He went to Murray High School before he became famous on American Idol.

David started singing when he was six, after being inspired by a video of the musical Les Misérables. He said, "That musical is what started all of this." He began performing in public at age 10. He sang "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton in the Utah Talent Competition and won the Child Division.

When David was 21, he volunteered for two years as a full-time missionary in Rancagua, Chile. David also graduated from Barbizon Modeling and Acting School in Salt Lake City.

Music Career Highlights

Early TV Appearances: Star Search

In 2003, David Archuleta sang on several episodes of the TV show Star Search. He became the Junior Vocal Champion on "Star Search 2". He competed against other talented young singers, including Alexandréa Lushington, who later also made it to American Idol with him.

Before Star Search, David appeared on The Jenny Jones Show. He met the finalists from the first season of American Idol and sang a song for them without music. Kelly Clarkson, who won that season, praised his singing. This led to more TV appearances on CBS's The Early Show. After Star Search, David learned he had a problem with his vocal cords, but he chose not to have surgery and feels much better now. He limited his singing to special events, like the Stadium of Fire celebration.

David also started writing his own songs after Star Search. He wrote at least three songs and released his first singles, "Dream Sky High" and "Don't Tell Me," in 2002.

Becoming a Star: American Idol

David Archuleta got his chance to audition for American Idol in San Diego in July 2007. He sang John Mayer's "Waiting on the World to Change". He was 16 during the Hollywood auditions and continued school while on the show.

Because he was under 18, a parent or guardian had to be with him. David often played the piano while he sang on American Idol, for songs like "Crazy" and "Another Day in Paradise".

During the 1970s-themed week, David sang John Lennon's "Imagine". He chose to sing the last part of the song, explaining that it was his favorite because it had "a great message."

After his performance of "We Can Work It Out", judge Simon Cowell said it was "a mess." There were reports that David's father, Jeff, was putting pressure on him, but Jeff Archuleta denied this. An article in May 2008 mentioned that David's father had him add a line from another song into "Stand by Me", which caused extra costs for the show. This led to his father being asked not to go backstage during rehearsals. David defended his father, saying he was "a great guy."

In the Top 7 results show, David was the only contestant not put into a group, showing he was safe. When asked to choose which group he thought was safe, he refused and sat down on the stage.

In the finale, he sang "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", "In This Moment", and "Imagine". Simon Cowell said David won the night, and even David Cook, who ended up winning, thought David Archuleta would win. David Archuleta received 44 percent of the votes. During the finale, commercials for the game Guitar Hero showed David Archuleta and David Cook acting out a famous scene from the movie Risky Business.

American Idol Performances

Archuleta performing during the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2008

After American Idol, David's songs from the finale, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me", "In This Moment", and "Imagine", appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June 2008. "Imagine" was his first song to reach the top forty.

David signed with Jive Records in June 2008. His first album, David Archuleta, came out in November 2008. His first single, "Crush", was released in August 2008. "Crush" quickly reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100, selling 166,000 downloads in its first week. It has sold over 1.9 million digital copies in the U.S.

David Archuleta and American Idol winner David Cook were named "Breakout Stars of 2008" by Forbes magazine. They also presented an award together at the 2008 Teen Choice Awards, where David Archuleta won an award for "Most Fanatic Fans."

New Albums and Tours (2009-2011)

Archuleta signing autographs at a Mardi Gras parade in 2009.

After his first album, David released new songs like "Let's Talk About Love" and "Zero Gravity." In 2009, he toured the United Kingdom with the band McFly and later opened for Demi Lovato's tour.

On April 22, 2009, David returned to American Idol to perform his song "Touch My Hand". He also made his first UK TV appearance. In May, David and David Cook visited the Philippines for concerts. David also announced he was working on two new albums: a pop album and a Christmas album. In August 2009, he won three Teen Choice Awards for Breakout Artist, Love Song ("Crush"), and Music Tour (with Demi Lovato). He also won the Year in Music – Rising Male Star award at the ALMA Awards.

David made his acting debut on Nickelodeon's iCarly in an episode called "iRocked the Vote." He also appeared on the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana and sang a duet with Miley Cyrus called "I Wanna Know You".

In June 2010, David released a book called Chords of Strength: A Memoir of Soul, Song, and the Power of Perseverance. The book became a bestseller.

He returned to American Idol in April 2010 to sing "Imagine" again. He also sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "Stand by Me" at the A Capitol Fourth concert in Washington, D.C. on Fourth of July.

David's album The Other Side of Down was released on October 5, 2010. He was also a special guest at the annual Christmas concert of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in December 2010. A CD and DVD of this performance, Glad Christmas Tidings, was released in 2011.

In February 2011, David left his record label, Jive Records, and his management team. He wanted to focus on writing his own music. In July 2011, he toured Asia, performing in Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

At the end of his "My Kind of Christmas Tour" in December 2011, David announced he would take a two-year break to serve as a missionary. He said he would return to music afterward.

Missionary Work and New Music (2012-2014)

In early 2012, David signed a contract with TV5 in the Philippines to star in a TV mini-series called Nandito Ako (which means "I'm Here"). It aired from February to March 2012. An album of Original Pilipino Music covers, Forevermore, was released in the Philippines in March 2012.

David began his two-year mission in Chile on March 28, 2012. While he was away, a pre-recorded album called Begin was released in the United States in August 2012. It included cover songs and a new original song, "Broken." In February 2013, a new song called Don't Run Away was released. A collection album, No Matter How Far, came out in March 2013, featuring songs previously only available in Asia and two new original songs. David finished his mission and returned home to Utah on March 24, 2014.

After his mission, David went on a Military Tribute Tour.

Recent Years and The Masked Singer (2015-Present)

Archuleta performing in 2018

In September 2014, David released a new song called "Glorious" as a free download. This song was used in the movie Meet the Mormons and later included on his holiday album Winter in the Air.

In April 2016, David performed with other singers on the finale of American Idol's fifteenth season. He officially returned to his music career in 2016 with the single "Numb." In 2017, he released "Up All Night" and "Invincible," followed by his sixth studio album, Postcards in the Sky, in October 2017. He then toured the Philippines and the United States.

In June 2018, David collaborated with Peter Hollens on a video for the Scottish folk song "Loch Lomond". In August 2019, he released the single "Paralyzed."

In November 2019, David released a special version of his 2018 album Winter in the Air with three extra songs. He also released a music video for "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays," featuring Lance Bass and Chris Kirkpatrick.

David's eighth studio album, Therapy Sessions, came out in May 2020. He also released "Just Breathe" as a single and a music video dedicated to people working on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic. Money from YouTube views of this video was donated to help with COVID-19 relief.

In March 2021, David released a self-written song called "I Know He Lives." He also released several other singles in 2021, including "Be That for You," "Losin' Sleep," "Movin'," and "Beast." In 2022, he released "Faith in Me," and in 2023, "Up," "I'm Yours," and "Afraid to Love."

David also wrote a children's book called My Little Prayer, which was released in 2021.

From July to September 2022, David starred in his first musical, playing Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Utah.

In 2023, David competed on the TV show The Masked Singer as "Macaw" and finished in second place.

In 2024, David became very popular on TikTok for his cover versions of Sabrina Carpenter's songs "Espresso" and "Please Please Please." He also released new singles "Hell Together" and "Rather Be Lonely."

Helping Others

David Archuleta is involved in helping others. He works with Do Something and the Dunkin' Brands Community Foundation to help teenagers make a difference in disaster relief. He also joined the "Teens for Jeans" charity, which gives denim clothes to homeless teenagers. In January 2010, after a big earthquake in Haiti, David joined other celebrities in a TV fundraiser to answer phones and collect donations.

David partnered with ChildFund International for his "My Kind of Christmas Tour" to help find sponsors for children in need around the world. He also surprised some of ChildFund's children in the Philippines by singing for them. He has also supported Invisible Children, an organization that helps protect people in Central Africa.

In January 2011, David traveled to Chennai, India, with Rising Star Outreach, a charity that helps children from leper colonies get a good education.

David was one of many Latino singers who sang in Somos El Mundo, the Spanish version of "We Are the World 25 for Haiti". This song and video helped raise money for Haiti relief.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, David performed online for Billboard's Live At-Home sessions, singing songs like "OK, All Right" and "Crush." He also released a music video for "Just Breathe" to honor frontline workers. Both of these efforts raised money for Direct Relief.

His Musical Style

David's mother is from Honduras, so he grew up listening to a lot of Latin-influenced songs. He also listened to jazz music from his father's collection, as well as gospel, pop, rock, and soul. David also enjoys Broadway musicals.

On his American Idol page, David said his musical inspirations include Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Kirk Franklin, and Bryan Adams. Like other singers he admires, David tries to add a soulful feeling to his pop songs. He also looks up to Sara Bareilles as a clever singer-songwriter.

Life Outside Music

David was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2008, while he was competing on American Idol. He received the award two years later.

Since 2015, David Archuleta has lived in Nashville, Tennessee.

Albums

Studio albums

• David Archuleta (2008)
• Christmas from the Heart (2009)
• The Other Side of Down (2010)
• Forevermore (2012)
• Begin (2012)
• Postcards in the Sky (2017)
• Winter in the Air (2018)
• Therapy Sessions (2020)

TV Shows and Movies

Web Shows

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: David Archuleta para niños