Born on December 20, 1982, in Houston, Texas, and raised in Blue Springs, Missouri, David Cook graduated in Graphic Design by Central Missouri State University in 2006. His passion for music, however, it’s older than that.

Cook grew up watching his father play guitar and chose violin as your first instrument — for suspicious reasons. “I tried that first because there was a girl at the school orchestra I thought was pretty.”

When he was 12 years old, his father bought his first guitar, a Fender Stratocaster. “My parents had eclectic record collections. My mom liked Kenny Rogers and my dad was more into Boston, Kansas and Dire Straits. The first cassette tape I ever bought was by Kris Kross. I was into Boyz II Men for a while. When I was 13, someone played the song ‘Closer’, by Nine Inch Nails for me and once I got past the audacity of the lyrics, I really enjoyed it. So I backtracked through rock, which got me to where I am now.”

Axium

David Cook was Axium’s the singer and guitar player from , between 1999 and 2006. He founded the band in his last school year with Bobby Kerr, the drummer.

At first Axium’s performance (called “Axiom” at the time) the band had Cook, Kerr, Matt Pedro Oliveira on guitar and Drew Fox on the bass. Fox was repleaced by Anthony Mazzarella, and the guys recorded a first unnamed demo, with him. David and Bob looked for some bass players after, trying to the perfect band, but both of them always together on Axium’s. In May, 2001, finally found Jeff Kerr. In Juny, 2004, Travis Grogan was recruted as bass player to play on “The Story Thus Far”’s records.

However, in 2005, Bob Kerr left the band. A year later, David Cook also left it, and it was the end of, Axium.

The band had played with great music names as 8Stops7, Caroline’s Spine, Maroon 5, Fountains of Wayne and Smash Mouth.

“Hold”, Axium’s song, was choise by AMC Theatres Movie Tunes and played before previews on over 20.000 screens nationwide.

Axium also was named one of the top 15 independent bands in the country by “Got Milk?” and best Kansas City band in 2004.

Midwest Kings

After Axium’s broke up Cook, graduaded, moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where went to a tour with Midwest Kings, playing guitar, bass and singing backup vocals. David also worked as waiter in a lot of Tulsa’s club, like Blank Slate and Rehab Lounge.

According with Andy Skib’s interview, Midwest Kings‘ singer, Cook left the band cause wanted to work on his own project, as singer.

Despite Midwest Kings‘ end, all the guys continued to be friends. As proof of it, Neal Tiemann is David’s new band guitar player and Josh Center auditioned to play drums with them.

Solo career

In May, 6th, 2006, David Cook released an independent album, the Analog Heart, which he engineered and did the artistic work. The record was nominated the 4th best album released on the internet by Music Equals Life website. Cook also won the “Urban Tulsa Weekly’s” “Absolute Best of Tulsa” award for “Best Locally Produced, Independent Album” in 2007.

In April 18 and 20, 2008, weekend, Analog Heart was the MP3 downloads number 1 on “Today’s Top MP3 Albuns”, on the website Amazon.com, later, the album was pulled off. The recorded sold over 900 copies in the week before being removed and 300 after that. According with Nielsen SoundScan, before that, Analog Heart didn’t sold 5 copies by week.

In USAToday.com’s article, May 23th, 2008, Cook said why his album was pulled from Amazon. According to him, there were some contract’s clauses that didn’t allowed this kind of commercialization.

Nevertheless, David Cook was just a paean on this history, once he didn’t make any kind of publicity, the problem was between Amazon and American Idol, there was no reason for all the rumours came out at that time. Media didn’t stop with the gossips, even after the album was pulled out of the market, some means of transmission said it had happened because Analog Heart had more downloads than Mariah Carey’s album. Nothing of that was confirmeed.

Cook was recording his second album when Andrew called him to go to American Idol’s audition. He tried to play violin to this record but it didn’t work well.

His musical influences are Our Lady Peace, Alice in Chains, Big Wreck, Pearl Jam, Chris Cornell, Switchfoot, Bon Jovi and Collective Soul.

American Idol

David Cook did his audition to the show in Omaha, Nebraska, where sang Jon Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer”. His first intention wasn’t to try to the show, but support his little brother, Andrew. Attending his brother’s request, Cook took a shot at it.

“At the last minute I decided to do it. Andrew and I were in the same group of four for the first audition and he didn’t make the cut. “It was very awkward. I turned to him and said, ‘Is this something you want me to do? Because if you don’t, I won’t.’And his response was, ‘If you don’t, I’ll beat your ass.’”

With his “Livin’ on a Player” performance he passed to Hollywood’s phase, with 3 “yes” from the jury, Randy Jackson, Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul.

His first Hollywood audition was with Bryan Adam’s “Everything I Do (I Do It For You)”, which he sang playing guitar. On his second performance he sang Edwin McCain’s “I’ll Be”.

Cook really took an unseen advantage cause it was the first time the competitors could play instruments. He played eletric guitar on “All Right Now”, “Hello”, “Day Tripper”, “I’m Alive”, “Baba O’Riley”, “Dare You To Move”, and guitar on “Little Sparrow”, “All I Really Need Is You” and “The World I Know”.

He plays a white HandLeft Gibson Les Paul’s with “AC” inscription, which his father gave to him on his 21th birthday. David talked about it in TV Guide’s interview: “I have two brothers, Adam e Andrew. So, by superstition, I use them initials since I was a kid.”

Since Top 12 week, Cook begun to wear a orange wrist band, as a homage an special fan, Lindsey Rose, who has leukemia. Nevertheless, the wrist band also represents, according to him, his way to support all causes fighting against cancer.

His Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”’s performance, on Top 11, was really praised by the judges, specially Simon Cowell. Later, Simon said, in a Entertainment Weekly interview that David Cook’s performance was ‘in a different league’, even knowing it was Chris Cornell’s version, and it was really important. This performance got more than 4,5 million access on YouTube. Cook’s version to Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby”, on the singer’s week, also was praise, applauded on foot by Randy Jackson — responsible by Mariah’s success, hers musical producer.

David Cook won 7th American Idol season with 56% of the votes, on May, 21th, 2008, defeating David Archuleta with 12 million votes of difference. Victory’s song was “The Time Of My Life”, winner of “American Idol Songwriter’s” contest, promoted by the show.

“The whole process has given me a brand-new lease on life in that I am more sure of who I am now that ever before. I’ve learned that when I’m singing live on stage to embrace that moment and if doesn’t work, it’s OK, move on.”

While American Idol’s season finale, David appeared on a “Guitar Hero” commercial, directed by Brett Ratnerdoing the same that Tom Cruise made in “Risky Business.

After American Idol victory

On May 25 week, David Cook broke some Billboard’s charts records, famous magazine and website that use to do lists with the most heard songs on American radios and also the further sold albums.

His more notorious record was 11 debut songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 charts, beating the last record, by Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana), in 2006, when she had 6 debut songs on Billboard’s Hot 100.

His first single, “The Time Of My Life”, debuted on 3rd place on Billboard’s Hot 100. He’s actually the singer who put more songs on Top 100’s in a single week on Nielsen SoundScan’s era — which started in 1991 —, and who got more songs on Top 100’s after Beatles’ (they got 14 in April 11, 1964).

Besides, David broke another record on the same week, getting more songs on Billboard’s Hot Digital Songs, with 14 debut songs, breaking Jon Bon Jovi’s record, which was 6 debut songs in 2007.

The 17th Cook’s songs on Billboard’s charts got 944.000 downloads in their first week. On July 2008, David Cook become the first American Idol winner to be a success on United King’s charts, with his victory single. The song got the 61th place in downloads.

In his post-Idol album, David worked with Ed Roland (Collective Soul), Zac Maloy (The Nixons), Jason Wade (Lifehouse), Neal Tiemann (MWK) and Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace).

The album was released in November 18th. Rob Cavallo is the album producer, he worked with renamed international music people, such as Green Day, Goo Goo Dolls and Alanis Morissette. “The Time Of My Life” is a bonus track album and got platinum in the end of 2008.

David Cook signed contract with Skechers, till December 2009.

American Idol Tour

Every show season the Top 10 American Idol go out on tour through United States, with the 7th Top 10 it couldn’t be different.

The American Idol Tour 2008 started on July 1, at Glendale, Arizona, and revealed Cook’s set list, which he would sing not just at that day but also in the 51 next concerts.

Starting his show with “Hello”, David drove the audience crazy when he came to the middle of the dark stage with his guitar, singing all the song this time — he sang just part of it on the American Idol show ’cause all the contestant had a time limit for each song.

He coaxed Arizona with “The Time Of My Life” and touched with “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” but it was just the beginning.

Before “My Hero”, Cook drove everyone crazy revealing that he received that day the news that the tumor of his older brother, Adam, had stopped to grow. David dedicated then the song to his brother, touching everyone.

David Cook’s set list ends with Chris Cornell’s “Billie Jean” version, getting the audience ready for the last song, the only group number that David participate: “Please Don’t Stop the Music”.

In all the concerts, after the first song, Cook made a little video with his camera to, according to him, get a personal registry from this experience.

Curious tour facts

• It seems David started to understand how crazy is to be an Idol in Los Angeles’ concert (July 7), when a girl asked him to sign a shoe.

• While attending the fans, before Portland’s concert (July 11), Cook got emotioned when people told him all the plans that his USA fans had to raise founds to institutions that fight against cancer.

• While “Billie Jean”’s performance, still in Portland, David dropped a bottle of water on his head, damaging his earphone — equipment that they use to hear their own voices on the microphone.

• Cook got people crazy in West Valley City (July 14) doing the famous “backbend” — playing guitar, he stood on his knees and laid his body back. On the same concert, David injured his knee jumping.

• Cook’s family attended to St. Louis’s concert (July 18), near from Blue Springs. Andrew cried during the show — and David didn’t lose the opportunity to joke with his brothers, saying that situation was really weird.

• Cook dedicated “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” to someone in Columbus (July 20) but didn’t say the name. “To another person, in particular, I’m sorry, I’m so awkward.”

• During “The Time Of My Life” in Indianapolis’s concert (July 22), David’s pants lace opened but he didn’t stop to sing and, later, sat in the stairs and tied it. This cause a lot of polemics between his fans, who asked again for some respect with the singer. Stan Cook, David’s father, was there and the son said “I love you dad” in the middle of the concert.

• Cook sang “Billie Jean” with no guitar on Cincinnati’s concert (July 23).

• David first trip to Canada was to Toronto’s concert, in July 26. He said to a local radio that his first solo show would be in January 27, on Philippines.

• Attending fans before Pittsburg’s concert (July 29), Cook surprised one of the girls who was waiting for him. “I recognize you… I know you!”, he said. Shocked, the girl answered that should be from the WordNerd’s forum CD tribute and David told “YEAH!”. The forum users drove crazy to know that he got the CD.

• Still on Pittsburg’s concert, a girl threw pinky panties on the stage with a note “Greetings from the fangirl thread… Feel like a rockstar now?”. Cook took the panties, laughed and left the stage.

• Also in Pittsburg, David met the girl who asked him out while calls on Top 4 show. It was a 25th birthday gift for her.

• On second concert night on Newark (July 31), Cook got emotional with the audience singing “The Time Of My Life” loudly with him.

• In Long Island (August 5), David dedicated “My Hero” to a girl who had been recently diagnosed with leukemia, he said “she’s my hero”.

• Cook played the first “Pretty Woman”’s accords before “My Hero” in Albany (August 6) and Manchester (August 10), making fun of the audience.

• Before Hartford’s concert (August 8 ) David showed the tattoo that he did in New York: an eye shedding a tear, on his right wrist.

• His guitar cords blew out while “My Hero” in Manchester (August 10).

• Cook got a teddy-bear wearing a t-shirt with “Please Don’t Stop The Mavid” words from fans in Philadelphia (August 13) and posed to pictures with the teddy-bear’s ear on his mouth.

• Recording the audience in Philadelphia he had read a poster with “Marry me!” words and said “If I marry you I would have to marry everybody and I would make me a polygamous and it’s would be… weird!”.

• Before Washington’s concert (August 14), David attended the fans wearing a suit: he had arrived from the senate, where he went to talk about supporting initiatives to the fight against cancer. He kept wearing the suit during the concert — and making fun of the audience, saying he was dressed like that cause he was going to run to United States presidency.

• Cook made a joke with his fans in Lexington’s concert (August 16) and said “Okay everybody, free the gnomes!” in the middle of the show. He also took a fan poster with this words, at the concert’s end, and repeated the nonsense sentence again.

• David filled his mouth with water at “Please Don’t Stop The Music”’s end in Duluth (August 18) and spat it all while he went down in the plataform, at the concert’s end.

• “My Hero” was dedicated to all that got reached by Fay Hurricane on Sunrise’s concert (August 20).

• Houston’s concert (August 24) was the first time that Cook went back to his native city — he moved from there in 1983 and, since then, he didn’t come back.

• Cook got two tickets to the concert and “Meet and Greet” in Dallas (August 25) after met her before the show.

• Arriving in Kansas, to the first concert tour there, (August 29), David met again his mother, who he hadn’t seen for the last month, and went to the inauguration of a panel on his honor.

• He said he was sorry to his mother while the first Kansas concert cause his pants were falling down. Someone stole his belt after Oklahoma’s concert. Then, tons of belts were thrown by the audience, one of them was a dog-collar.

• Kimberly Caldwell was present on the second Kansas night (August 30). She sat with Cook’s family and cried with “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”.

• The assistant came onstage to deliver David’s guitar wearing a wig color before My Hero” in Bridgeport (September 6). He didn’t loose the chance to make a joke: Cook put the wig on his own head.

• David got a soccer ball from a fan before the Providence’s concert (September 7). One of the safeguards told the guys were playing with it on the backstage and broke a light. When the girl met him later she asked if he would be arrested by what happened.

• Attending fans before Wilkes-Barre’s concert (September 8), Cook was wearing big red slippers which he got from a fan after Providence’s concert.

• David told to the audience in Ft. Wayne’s concert (September 10) that his grandmother was there, then if anyone had some poster with indecent words should hide it. His grandma was wearing a pink T-shirt with “David’s Nanny” words.

• Cook and Johns got super heroes cloaks before the concert in Evansville (September 11). Carly went on with the joke and wore a Burguer King crown on her head. Someone asked them to pose to a picture with a hug. In the middle of them, David joined the fun: “I’m feeling in a middle of an international conflict”, he joked.

• Still in Evansville, Cook asked to turn on the lights to find his family on the audience. He made fun with his nephews, telling them to “look nice” on the screen cause he was recording.

• “My Hero” was dedicated to Adam and all the people who were affected by September 11 in Evansville’s concert, 7th tragedy anniversary.

• David interrupted Michael Johns’s performance in Tulsa’s concert (September 13) to give him a rose. Then, he discharged spray can on Johns.

• Someone threw again panties on the stage. Cook stared it for a while and said “My mom is in the front row. There’s two trains of thought: one, someone threw these from the audience in front of my mom, number two my mom threw these onstage. That’s where that was applicable there, thank you. I don’t know who they’re from, but I’m just gonna go ahead and do that. We’ll give them to Archie later.”.

• After “Billie Jean”, Cook broke his guitar, smashing it on the floor.

• As he told, while “Please Don’t Stop The Music” David threw the panties on David Archuleta.

The Mavid Dance

David Cook and Michael Johns became good friends on American Idol and the audience saw it on the concerts. On the last show number, in the middle of the group choreography, Cook and Johns got notability on Las Vegas’ concert (July 5), dancing together. Was born, then, the “Mavid Dance”, which became the most anticipated moment of the concert to the fans.

Every day, they’d created strange choreographies — and some of them also polemics —, immediately becoming the most waiting moment for the people who couldn’t be on the concert.

After Hartford’s concert (August 8), they suddenly stopped to do the “Mavid Dance”, causing a huge commotion between theirs fans. Tons of rumors and protests later, in Baltimore (August 12) they came back to do the jokes, even accepting some fans ideas, as in Charlotte (August 17), when they got umbrellas and used them in the “Mavid Dance”.

Meeting Lindsey Rose

A 7 years-old little girl who’s fighting against leukemia touched David Cook on the Top 12’s week. Charley Belcher, her father, a famous journalist, got an interview with Cook on the backstage show and, attending on a David’s request, gave him an orange wristband that her entire family wears to show their support to Lindsey. Since then, there’s no a single moment that he was saw without the bracelet on his wrist.

On August 21, right later arrive at Tampa, Florida, to the tour’s concert, the first thing that David did was meeting Lindsey. The girl spent the whole day with him, even when he went to meet his other fans.

Patriotic Pride

David Cook and band will play to the USA Armed Forces, in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and UAE. According with interview to KCRadio, Beth Foraker, his mother, is very proud of him.

Declaration Tour

With his record out, Cook will start to tour in USA in February 13, 2009. “We’re gonna do a kind of grassroots thing and hit a lot of colleges. Because I remember going to shows in my college life and feeling like there’s such a cool energy that you don’t find in a regular venue. Like in the ’70s, all these amazing bands were playing college circuits, and I want to get back to that. It’s what I’m really stoked about — not only do I get to go out with four cool guys and have fun, but I get to do what I want to do.”