CELEBRITIES

Lee DeWyze

Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

BIO

Leon James "Lee" DeWyze Jr., was born on April 2, 1986 and hails from Mount Prospect, Ill.

After transferring high schools, DeWyze dropped out of school and earned his GED on the side. Eventually he was discovered at a house party by Svitek of WuLi Records and began to work as both a solo artist and a member of the Lee DeWyze Band. DeWyze recored two albums, So I'm Told and Slumberland, with the Lee DeWyze band and WuLi Records.

After encouragement from various friends, he auditioned for American Idol's ninth season at the Chicago casting call. In 2010, he made it to Hollywood and into the Top 24.

Despite battling pneumonia during his stint on the show, the singer continued to perform and eventually became the winner of American Idol, beating out Crystal Bowersox.

DeWyze has since signed with RCA Records. His post-Idol album is expected to be released in Fall 2010 and will contain 12 tracks.