#100 AJ Gil

Next on my American Idol finalist countdown is my number 100 American Idol finalist AJ Gil. He got 8th place on American Idol season 1. He was ranked at 91 in The Los Angeles Times American Idol power ranking list of May 31, 2010. He received the overnight recognition for auditioning for American Idol with his performance of the U.S. National Anthem ("The Star-Spangled Banner"), and he instantly began a Latin heartthrob. The pop singer became a favorite among many American Idol viewers around the world.

Abner Juda Gil was born to Martin and Teresa Gil in San Diego, California, on July 5, 1984. He is the fourth of ten children. He spent the first years of his childhood in Mexico, experiencing hardships and extreme poverty. His way of living and the limited musical resources did not discourage him from being a true musician. At the age of seven, he began to learn how to play music by practicing the guitar and learning percussion and then found interest in the piano. Today, he has mastered these instruments and incorporates them into his musical craft. His Spanish heritage and American roots are embedded in his music projects.

At the age of ten, Gil and his family relocated to Tacoma, Washington, where he spent the rest of his childhood. During his high school tenure, he was a member of the choir and participated in many talent shows. He entered into the  “All State North West Choir” competition, where only one student from each city was chosen. He was successful and earned the only spot available in his city, and from there his talent began to flourish and mature. At the age of 17, his mother Teresa brought to his attention an audition that was being held for the highly anticipated first season of American Idol. He put his vocal prowess to the test and succeeded in doing so. His notable audition was his performance of the U.S. National Anthem. Simon Cowell dubbed Gil "a worthy contestant." After performing "All or Nothing" by O-Town, Gil advanced to the finals alongside his season's top 2. His musical styles and personality earned him eighth place on American Idol season 1, garnering over 500,000 votes. On the week of his elimination, he performed "How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You" by Marvin Gaye. He was in the bottom 3 with Christina Christian and Ryan Starr, who got eliminated after him.

After his stint on American Idol, he participated in the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2002, where he performed "My Cherie Amour" by Stevie Wonder, which he performed on the show during top 10 week, and several group numbers. After the tour, he decided to take some time off to pursue his music career. He relocated to Los Angeles and attended a technical school for audio engineering. Gil is now a well-rounded artist. His musical and technical prowess has evolved, with the guitar as his primary instrument and the piano as his secondary instrument. He has evolved into a fully developed artist, songwriter, and producer. “A.J. is Latin-America’s best kept secret, a real find”, says a label representative. His songs are relationship supporting, dance floor enhancing, and cruise soothing. A.J.’s enhanced vocals, instrumental skills and creative writing abilities are the driving force in his new material.

Now, out of the 100s, next up on my American Idol finalist countdown is my number 99 American Idol finalist. She auditioned for American Idol season 6 in her hometown, San Antonio, Texas. She sings in the band called The Oh So Good! Band. She attended a high school named after a U.S. President. She was ranked at number 115 on The Los Angeles American Idol top 120 power rankings list of May 31, 2010.