The following article is not really country music-related, but I thought it was cool to interview a young guy from my hometown who tried out for American Idol and plans on trying out again. He is very talented and kind. The entire town wishes him well with his music. Good luck Justin!
Justin Lafleur’s musical ambitions are only just beginning, and with being a top contender in the “Acadiana Idol” audition for American Idol last month, he is more “fired up” than ever to make his dream a reality.
Lafleur’s singing ability was discovered when he was in the eighth grade at Sacred Heart. He asked his teacher, Karen Soileau, if he could sing “Silent Night” during the school’s Christmas play. He recalls with a chuckle that she told him he could perform the song, but he would have to audition for her first to prove he could sing. When he later told his mom, Lafleur says she was very nervous for him because this was the first time he sang alone in public, and she was worried he would fall on his face. Lafleur adds when his mom discovered his talent, she quickly became his biggest fan and supporter.
Lafleur, the son of Jay and Phyllis Lafleur of Ville Platte and the late Susan Shipp Lafleur, continued singing anywhere he could throughout high school. He sang in church, in the school chamber choir and in the Eunice Community Choir. As a member of the Cotton Pickers for three years, he performed a solo of “In the Still of the Night.” He remembers his time with the Cotton Pickers fondly and proclaims, “It was great. The week of the (Cotton) festival was the best because we got to attend many functions.” He adds he learned a lot of technique from Dwight Jodon with the Eunice Community Choir during his time with the group.
After graduating from Sacred Heart in 1999, Lafleur went on to attend LSU, where he majored in biology. However, he could not leave LSU without taking at least one voice class. He learned a lot from the difficult and demanding classes and tried out for the Schola Cantorum, a choir for music majors. He joined the group for six months and says, “It was the hardest thing, but I learned a lot from people who go on to become music professors and voice coaches.”
In 2004, Lafleur did some research online about auditioning for the reality television show American Idol and made the trip to Austin, Texas, to try out, along with thousands of other hopefuls. He recalls the experience as “really wild,” and says, “People were sleeping in sleeping bags and everyone could really sing. It was really fun meeting people with the same interests.” Lafleur auditioned fifth in a group of five in front of the show’s producer, Simon Fuller, and sang his heart out, hoping to impress him and make the show. After everyone finished singing, Fuller addressed Lafleur by name and told him he was a good singer, which Lafleur hoped was a good sign. However, Fuller then told the group of five, “We can’t use any of you.”
Lafleur’s mom passed away later that year, and he didn’t sing much after that until about six months ago, when someone asked him to sing at a funeral. Lafleur admits he thought it would be harder than it was and he had forgotten how much he loved to sing. Not long after that, he was watching television when an advertisement for “Acadiana Idol” aired saying there was an audition at Arceneaux Ford in New Iberia that weekend. He decided to try out, and at the competition held August 15, he, along with the contestants, filmed a commercial for the dealership, which airs on the local Fox station. For the contest, Lafleur chose to perform the song “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers. The five judges loved his rendition and asked him to perform another song, so he sang “I’ve Got A Woman” by Ray Charles. Lafleur says he gravitates toward those types of songs because he grew up listening to the old Motown and blues and soul classics with his dad, who likes that kind of music. He grew to love the same music and likes to sing anything by Otis Redding and in the blues and soul genres.
The following weekend, Lafleur sang in front of a large crowd at the Center Court in Acadiana Mall, along with the 17 other finalists. Of course, he had his “fan club” with him for support, including his former teacher, Soileau. Lafleur says with a laugh that she told him to “remember who got you started.” Again, he received positive feedback from the judges. Only one winner was to be chosen, but the judges picked five to go up and sing for them again. In the end, it came down to Lafleur and Tamesha Labastrie of Opelousas. Labastrie won the opportunity to audition in Philadelphia for the show, but Lafleur admits she was really good.
One of the judges, Kenny Janise with the local band Kenny and the Heartbreakers, was especially encouraging to Lafleur, who recalls he was down to earth and told him not to give up because he has a unique quality to his voice and doesn’t sound like anyone else.
With all of the positive feedback, support and encouragement, Lafleur plans to audition again for the next season of American Idol. Even though he is just getting back into singing, the 26-year-old exclaims, “I am ready to kick it into high gear.” Currently, he continues to sing at weddings and other events.
Lafleur’s short-term goal at the moment is simply to get something recorded and write songs. He says he has never heard his voice on record and has not yet had the opportunity to work in a recording studio. In the future, he plans to move to California to pursue his goals, but adds, “I’ll move wherever the opportunity is, even to Alaska.”
Lafleur emphasizes the most valuable thing he has taken away from the whole experience is the unbelievable love and support of not only his family and friends, but his entire hometown. He marvels, “The Ville Platte crowd at the mall was incredible, and the support of the town has been unbelievable. Everyone has been very positive and supportive.”
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