Ace Young

by Matt Collar Best known as a contestant on the fifth season of Fox's American Idol, vocalist Ace Young is a contemporary pop vocalist with a bent toward adult-alternative rock and R&B. Born in Denver, CO, in 1980, Young is the youngest of five brothers who grew up in Boulder. Interested in music at a young age, Young began singing around age seven and seriously pursued vocal lessons and live performing throughout high school. After high school, Young had some immediate professional success with performances at Denver Nuggets games and his song "Reason I Live" appearing on the soundtrack to the 2000 film The Little Vampire. A move to California around 2003 brought Young a few more performance opportunities, including some acting work, but it was his audition for American Idol in 2006 that proved the most fruitful. Auditioning in Denver, Ace made it to the Hollywood rounds and ultimately stuck around for six weeks. While on the show, Young befriended fellow contestant and future rock sensation Chris Daughtry, who he helped co-write the song "It's Not Over," which appeared on Daughtry's debut album and received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song in 2007. Since his time on American Idol, Young has continued to tour and perform around the country and was even picked, alongside fellow American Idol contestant Taylor Hicks, as one of People magazine's Hottest Bachelors in 2006. Working with producer Desmond Child, Young recorded his self-titled debut album. Featuring the single "Addicted," the album is slated to drop in 2008.