Blake Lewis Sixth Season Runner-Up on 'American Idol,' Signs To 19 Recordings / ARISTA Records

Beatboxing Singer Working on Debut Album Due for Release Late 2007

LOS ANGELES /PRNewswire/ -- Blake Lewis, the popular runner-up on the sixth season of "American Idol," has been signed to 19 Recordings / ARISTA Records and is already working on his debut album with a stellar line-up of producers and songwriters. The album is due for release in late 2007.

"Blake has a strong music sensibility and knows who he is and what his music should represent." Says Clive Davis, Chairman CEO BMG Label Group "His collaborators are all knocked out by him."

Among the producers working with Lewis on his first album are Jonathan "JR" Rotem, who has worked with Rihanna (on her No. 1 single "SOS") and Sean Kingston; Ryan "Alias" Tedder, who has worked with Timbaland and new artist Leona Lewis; and S*A*M & Sluggo, who have worked with two of the year's biggest new artists, Gym Class Heroes and Boys Like Girls.

Lewis, who has already charted on The Billboard Hot 100 with his versions of Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name" and the Zombies' "Time of the Season," has been finding time to go into the studio to work on his first album while touring the United States and Canada on the "American Idols Live" tour. The tour began in Sunrise, Florida on July 6 and continues through a Sept. 22 concert in Manchester, New Hampshire.

"I love performing, so spending the summer on the road has been a great experience," says Lewis. "But I'm also enjoying my time in the studio and I'm very excited about recording my debut album. I'm thrilled to be working with 19 Recordings and ARISTA Records"

The 26-year-old singer was born in Redmond, Washington. He started singing at age five and competed in statewide talent contests while in high school. He became a beat-boxer at 17, inspired by the then Seattle-based a cappella group M-Pact. Lewis was a member of the Pacific Northwest a cappella group Kickshaw for four years. He also recorded several music videos and wrote a number of original songs.

"Blake is one of the most unique 'Idol' contestants I've ever seen," says Simon Fuller, creator of the popular TV series and chief executive and founder of 19 Entertainment Label Group "He brought something new to the competition and won fans all over America. I know they're going to love his first album, because it shows him off as his very best. 

SOURCE ARISTA Records

-0- 08/24/2007

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