Idol finalist pursues passion

Millions of people voted for him on American Idol. He was known for his trademark smile in 2010 and beat out hundreds of other hopefuls and landed a respectable No. 7 slot that season. His judges were Kara, Ellen and Simon, and of course Randy. 

Tim Urban had just turned 20 and was a young contestant. He did well for himself and now a few years later has hooked up with Monty Bailey in Mt. Juliet who will help propel him toward a successful music and acting career.

"He's done an amazing job of marketing himself," said Bailey. "He's keeping his brand alive. He's staying on his toes. He's not lazy and growing as an artist."

It's surreal being a top 10 on American Idol, said Urban.  After he earned the No. 7 slot, it was a shoe-in to go on the subsequent "summer Idol tour."

He's been all around the world playing gigs.

However, his first audition for the show was a "joke."

"I said I thought I could do it," said Urban. "Every round I made it I was so happy. Good comments were hard to come by at first. But the audience liked me. I started to stop worrying and realized I had a chance to perform for millions and I enjoyed it."

Urban was kidded for his smiling during critique.

"It personally stretched me, why not smile," he said.

He said he was in a "bubble" while he took on American Idol.

"I was just a normal dude when I went through it, but things changed afterward," he said.

His coaches during that season told him he had to work harder than all the other contestants.

"I needed to work and improve and win people over," he said.

Urban grew up in Washington State and moved to Texas. Some members of his family played instruments and he was 13 years old when he first picked up a guitar. His music is influenced by John Denver, Third Day, James Taylor, Michael Buble and Coldplay.  He's played music all over the world since American Idol and recorded his first CD called "Run Away" in 2008. His Christian faith has had a profound affect on his life and music. His song "Lullaby" was written for orphans he met while on a humanitarian trip to South Africa in 2007.

"Heart of Me" was his first EP released in Nov. 2010 and it has done well. Now he lives in Los Angeles to pursue singing and acting opportunities. He continues to write new music, and perform concerts around the country.

"I think American Idol was a great launching pad," he said.

He said today's Idol is good, but sometimes it's about watching a "train wreck."

"It seems it's all about the judges now," he said.

His EP "Perfectly You" can be found on iTunes.