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Will James Durbin Win American Idol 2011

by Jane Lasky

James Dubin is now the frontrunner to win American Idol 2011, but will he pull off the win against the other talented finalists? Can he top Haley Reinhart, Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina while all of them fight the same fight on the popular TV talent show?

At the end of the season, that all depends on the American public.

Yes, James Durbin currently owns the odds to win (at 2 to 3, according to one source)--but this California boy hasn't always been the favorite. However, even when country crooners Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina topped the resident rocker in popularity, die hard fans were there to support James Durbin, and only James Durbin.

In fact, this unique 22-year-old artist has been enjoying a career that has had plenty of people pulling for him for a long time now. The American Idol contender has been a musical force to be reckoned with ever since the age of 16.

It was then that he performed in a group called Kids on Broadway in his native Santa Cruz, situated in the northern part of the Golden State on the edge of the Silicon Valley. Will Guilford, director of this musical theater ensemble, weighed in on what he thought when he first heard James Durbin perform.

Guilford said, "As soon as he opened his mouth to sing, I looked at my musical director and said he could have any part."

From then on, this natural talent was put to task, following his musical path despite a couple of tough obstacles. Indeed, health issues still plague James Durbin, who has been diagnosed and is living with both Asperger's (considered highly functional autism) and Tourette's syndromes.

"You'll notice during Idol, when he's waiting for the judges his tics will be more pronounced. But when he sings it all goes away," comments Durbin's original mentor, Will Guiford.

Like American Idol judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler, Guiford appreciates how "in the moment" this wide-eyed talent is when he hits the stage. That's particularly obvious during some performances, like with last week's offering of Without You, when he broke down during and after delivering the sentimental song that reminded him of those he left behind once he went to Hollywood to compete on Idol.

But the sacrifice, the tears and the hard work have been well worth it, whether James Durbin wins the American Idol title or whether he does not. His ability to carry a heavy metal tune in a competition where past Idol finalists have stuck to safer genres--like country and pop--is a true testament to his prowess.

So is the fact that, week after week, James Durbin seems to reinvent himself, leaving everything he has "on the stage"--a function of his artistry that this contestant pointed out last week when speaking to Ryan Seacrest after he literally sang his heart out on American Idol. And it is this kind of formidable delivery that stays with his growing fan base who are a loyal group and very vocal on the social media scene.

So, with all this being said and at the end of the small screen competition, will James Durbin win American Idol 2011? Time and a lot of viewer voting will tell, but meanwhile, it seems this California dude is already in line to become a super star no matter what the outcome. To be sure, there's plenty of excitement ahead for this spectacular singer from Santa Cruz.

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