Trent Harmon

Trent Harmon
Birth name Trent William Harmon
Born (1990-10-08) October 8, 1990
Amory, Mississippi, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • guitar
  • drums
Years active 2016–present
Labels
Associated acts La'Porsha Renae

Trent William Harmon (born October 8, 1990) is an American singer who gained national attention for winning the fifteenth and final season of American Idol on April 7, 2016.

Early life and education

Harmon was born in Amory, Mississippi, the son of Cindy and Randy Harmon.[1] He started in music when his mother taught him to sing "Amazing Grace" when he was the age of 5, and he grew up singing in church.[2][3] His family owns a farm and a yard-to-table restaurant, Longhorn, where he was a waiter.[4][5][6] He credits his upbringing on the farm and in the restaurant for his strong work ethic.[5]

He sang and performed through many musicals throughout Amory High School and at the University of Arkansas-Monticello. Before his graduation from the University of Arkansas at Monticello, he led worship services on campus.[4] He first learned to also play the piano but expanded to also play drums and guitar.[3]

Music career

Harmon first tried for national recognition in May 2014 when a close friend convinced him to try out for NBC's The Voice in New Orleans.[3] After singing “Stay With Me” by Sam Smith for the casting director he was one of 300 open audition contestants chosen to compete further from a field of 32,000.[3] The show then flew him to compete in Los Angeles where he sang “Jealous” by Nick Jonas.[3] Months later in October 2014 he was again flown to Los Angeles for several weeks with his family to be filmed for the show although ultimately no judge chose him and his audition did not air.[3][5] Harmon later stated that the rejection prepared him for his 'Idol' phase of his career.[5]

American Idol

Harmon auditioned for American Idol in Little Rock, Arkansas August 2015,[7] surprising the judges, after hearing of his farm upbringing, singing the rhythm and blues song "Unaware" by Allen Stone.[6] He was the first RnB singer shown to be accepted by the judges in the season.[6] It was revealed later in the season that Harmon kept a leather-bound journal where he wrote down every comment and criticism the judges offered.[8]

During Hollywood week he was encouraged to quit when diagnosed with mono, and sequestered in a bathroom for most of the week to keep the contagious disease from spreading.[9] Harmon impressed the judges when, for an 'Idol' first he performed the group round as a solo.[9][10]

During "Idol Grammy Hits" week Harmon was coached to bring his "strange faces he makes when he sings" under control.[11] Judge Harry Connick Jr. noted Harmon also lost an "exaggerated jaw vibrato" that would eventually cause him to lose his singing voice.[11]

Harmon won the fifteenth season of American Idol on April 7, 2016. His winning coronation single "Falling" was written by singer songwriter and American Idol judge Keith Urban with Dallas Davidson and Brett James.[12] For winning the title, Harmon received a Ford car and a recording contract with Big Machine Records. La'Porsha Renae was named runner-up.

Performances

Week Theme Song(s) Original artist(s)
Auditions Contestant's choice "Unaware"[6] Allen Stone
Hollywood Week Lines of 10 "Lay Me Down"[13] Sam Smith
Group Rounds* "Rather Be"[14] Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne
Final Judgment "Tiny Dancer"[15] Elton John
Top 24 Contestant's choice "What Are You Listening To"[16] Chris Stapleton
Top 10 Contestant's choice "Like I Can"[17] Sam Smith
Top 8 Idol Grammy Hits "When a Man Loves a Woman"[18] Percy Sledge
Top 6 American Idol All Time Song Book "See You Again"[18]
(duet with La'Porsha Renae)		 Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth
"Stand by Me"[19] Ben E. King
Top 5 America's Twitter Song Choice "Counting Stars"[20] OneRepublic
"Simple Man"[20] Lynyrd Skynyrd
Top 4 Classic Rock / Sia "Sharp Dressed Man"[21] ZZ Top
"Chandelier"[10] Sia
Top 3 Hometown Dedication "Tennessee Whiskey"[22] Chris Stapleton
Scott Borchetta's Choice "Drink You Away"[22] Justin Timberlake
Judges' Choice "Waiting Game"[22] Parson James
Top 2 Winner's Single "Falling[23] Trent Harmon
Simon Fuller's Choice "If You Don't Know Me by Now"[23] Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
Favorite Performance "Chandelier"[23] Sia
Finale Finale show "It Takes Two"
(duet with La'Porsha Renae)[24]		 Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston
Winner's song "Falling"[24] Trent Harmon

Post Idol

Following his win on American Idol Harmon was signed by Big Machine Records. His upcoming album will have country and indie-soul influences.[25] Big Machine's Scott Borcheta said it would be like the country album Justin Timberlake would make.[9]

In a post-show interview Harmon was asked his thoughts on home state's anti-LGBT "Religious Liberty" legislation (HB1523) which allows people and businesses to deny service to LGBT people.[26] Harmon recounted that in the restaurant business, he served whoever walked in the door and treated them with respect, and "I think that you should treat all people equally and respectfully, and that's what I do, and that's what I'm going to continue to do no matter what law is passed."[26][27]

Discography

Singles

Year Single Peak chart
positions		 Sales
US Country
[28]		 US Bubbling
[29]
2016 "Falling" 27 16

References

  1. ↑ Harmon has "The Voice" to make it to show's L.A. auditions. Monroe County Journal (March 11, 2015). Retrieved on 2016-04-26.
  2. ↑ Bronson, Fred. "'American Idol' Top 24: Meet the First 12 Finalists". Mission Viejo. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ortiz, Alice. "Harmon has "The Voice" to make it to show’s L.A. auditions". Monroe Journal. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Altman, Isabelle. "Amory native heading to Hollywood". The Dispatch. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Parker, Lyndsey. "‘American Idol’ Winner Trent Harmon Talks ‘Voice’ Past, Musical Future". Yahoo Music. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Molinari, Jessica. "Country Trent Harmon Impressed The 'American Idol' Judges With His Smooth R&B Sound". Bustle. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Another Round of American Idol Auditions in Little Rock". Arkansas Matters. August 24, 2015.
  8. ↑ Reiter, Amy. "'American Idol' finale: And the final 'Idol' winner is ...". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 Angermiller, Michelle Amabile. "'American Idol' Winner Trent Harmon on His Big Moment & What's Next". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  10. 1 2 Molinari, Jessica. "Trent Harmon Sings Sia's 'Chandelier' In The 'American Idol' Top 5, Proves He Can Sing Anything". Bustle. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  11. 1 2 Reiter, Amy. "'American Idol' recap: The Top 10 whittled down to the Top 8". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  12. ↑ Angermiller, Michele Amabile (April 7, 2016). "'American Idol': Keith Urban Talks Trent Harmon's 'Amazing' Coronation Song". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  13. ↑ Molinari, Jessica. "'American Idol' Contestant Trent Harmon Advances To The Next Round In Hollywood, Despite His Mono". Bustle. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  14. ↑ Meynes, Carolyn. "'American Idol' Season 15 Recap/Review: Group Rounds Bring Out the Claws". Music Times. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  15. ↑ Ho, Rodney. "‘American Idol’ recap: the top 24 are picked". Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  16. ↑ Threadgill, Jacob. "Post-'Idol': Harmon going country; Motown inks Renae". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  17. ↑ Slezak, Michael. "American Idol Winner Trent Harmon on Surviving Mono, Pulling Faces, Going Country and Scaling 'Chandelier'". Yahoo TV. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  18. 1 2 Burke, Minyvonne. "‘American Idol’ 2016 Winner Trent Harmon’s 5 Best Performances From Season 15". International Business Times. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  19. ↑ Reiter, Amy. "'American Idol' recap: Top 8 trimmed to top 6". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  20. 1 2 Upadhyaya, Kayla Kumari. "'American Idol' Recap: Contestants Sing Songs Picked by Fans, Top 5 is Revealed". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  21. ↑ Matthews, Liam. "American Idol Top 4 Highlights: Trent Swings From the Chandelier". TV Guide. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  22. 1 2 3 Upadhyaya, Kayla Kumari. "'American Idol' Recap: Farewell Season Contestants Return to Their Hometowns". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  23. 1 2 3 Upadhyaya, Kayla Kumari. "'American Idol' Recap: Farewell Season Finalists Sing One Last Time for America's Vote". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  24. 1 2 Upadhyaya, Kayla Kumari. "'American Idol' Recap: A Winner is Crowned During Nostalgic Sendoff". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  25. ↑ Parker, Lindsey (April 8, 2016). "'American Idol’ Winner Trent Harmon Talks ‘Voice’ Past, Musical Future". Yahoo. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  26. 1 2 Kaufman, Gil. "'American Idol' Winner Trent Harmon on Mississippi's Anti-LGBT Bill: 'Love All People. Period.'". Billboard. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  27. ↑ Barnes, Dustin. "'American Idol': Trent Harmon talks Miss. law". USA Today. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  28. ↑ "Trent Harmon Album & Song Chart History – Country Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Trent Harmon Album & Song Chart History – Bubbling Under Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  30. ↑ "McGraw Tops Hot Country Songs, Haggard’s Sales Surge" (PDF). Billboard Country Update. April 11, 2016. p. 3.

External links

Preceded by
Nick Fradiani		 American Idol winner
2016 		End of series
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