Michael Johns (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Johns
Johns at the American Idol, Season 7, Top 12 party on 6 March 2008
Background information
Birth name	Michael John Lee
Born	20 October 1978 Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Died	1 August 2014(2014-08-01) (aged 35) Tustin, California, U.S.
Genres	Pop pop rock soul soft rock rock
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2000–2014
Labels	Beverly Martel Music Maverick TRP Records Downtown

Michael Johns (born Michael John Lee; 20 October 1978 – 1 August 2014) was a talented singer from Australia. He became well-known after finishing in eighth place on the seventh season of the TV show American Idol in 2008.

In 2009, Michael released his own music album called Hold Back My Heart. This album sold 20,000 copies, showing how many fans he had. Sadly, Michael Johns passed away on August 1, 2014, when he was 35 years old. He died from a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy.

Early Life

Michael John Lee was born in Perth, a city in Western Australia, on October 20, 1978. When he was a teenager, he loved to perform. He acted as The Coachman in a play called Pinocchio at the Regal Theatre. He also sang in the choir for another play, Anything Goes, at His Majesty's Theatre. Michael went to Newman College in Perth.

In 1997, Michael moved to the United States because he received a tennis scholarship. He started studying drama at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia. However, he decided to leave college after only a few months. For a short time, from 2001 to 2002, he also played Australian rules football for a team called the Atlanta Kookaburras.

Music Journey

Starting Out

After leaving college, Michael moved to Atlanta to follow his dream of becoming a musician. He started by singing cover songs in different places. Later, he joined a band called Film for about a year and a half.

In 2002, he went to Los Angeles to show his music to different record companies. He was signed by Maverick Records as a solo artist, using his birth name, Michael Lee. He recorded an album and then formed a rock band called The Rising. One song from his album, "Cradle," was played on the radio. The album, titled Future Unknown, came out in 2003. It was also released on iTunes in 2008 after he became famous on American Idol.

After working with Maverick, he signed with Columbia, but later left that label. In 2006, he started using the name Michael Johns. He chose "Johns" to honor his stepfather, who was also named John.

American Idol Adventure

Overview

In July 2007, Michael tried out for the seventh season of American Idol in San Diego. He impressed the judges and made it onto the show. He ended up finishing in eighth place in the competition.

His Performances

Michael sang many different songs during his time on American Idol. Here's a look at his journey:

After Idol

After American Idol, Michael Johns joined the 2008 American Idol Live! tour. He traveled around performing for fans. While on tour, he also worked on music for a documentary DVD about Olympic snowboarder Shaun White, called Don't Look Down. The soundtrack was released in January 2009. Michael sang on almost all the songs.

In December 2008, he released a Christmas song he wrote in 2006, called "Another Christmas." Half of the money from the song was given to the Red Cross. The other half went to help fight amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a serious illness.

In April 2009, he released "Heart on My Sleeve." This song was the first single from his album Hold Back My Heart. The song became popular, reaching number 27 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. His album was released on June 23, 2009. It sold 5,000 copies in its first week and a total of 20,000 copies by January 2010. Michael also made a short appearance in a 2012 episode of the TV show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Personal Life

Michael Lee married Stacey Vuduris in 2007.

His Passing

Michael John Lee passed away in Tustin, California, on August 1, 2014. On November 18, 2014, the coroner reported the cause of his death. Michael died from dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a heart condition where the heart muscle becomes weak and enlarged, making it hard for the heart to pump blood properly. A fatty liver also played a part in his death.

Michael Johns was the first finalist from American Idol to pass away after appearing on the show.

Music He Made

Albums

Here are some of the albums Michael Johns was involved with:

Here's more information about his albums, including how well they sold:

Singles

Here are the singles Michael Johns released:

See also

In Spanish: Michael Johns para niños