| David Cook is an American rock singer and | | | | Cook took advantage of the decision to allow |
| songwriter. He was born in Houston, Texas on | | | | contestants to play musical instruments. Besides |
| December 20th, 1982 and was raised in Blue | | | | his Hollywood audition, he also accompanied |
| Springs, Missouri. On May 21, 2008, he won the | | | | himself on electric guitar for his performances of |
| seventh season of the reality television show | | | | "All Right Now," "Hello," "Day Tripper," "I'm Alive," |
| American Idol. David Archuleta was the first | | | | "Baba O'Riley," "Dare You to Move," and "Dream |
| runner-up. | | | | Big," and on acoustic guitar for "Little Sparrow," |
| Cook auditioned for American Idol in Omaha, | | | | "All I Really Need Is You," and "The World I |
| Nebraska, performing Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a | | | | Know." Since the Top 12 week, he has also been |
| Prayer." He originally did not plan to try out for | | | | wearing an orange wristband to support a |
| the show as he was going on a trip to China; he | | | | 7-year-old fan, Lindsey Rose, with leukemia. |
| came to the auditions initially to support his | | | | Cook won American Idol season 7 on May 21, |
| younger brother Andrew (who did not make it | | | | 2008, receiving 56% of the votes. Cook then |
| past the auditions) and then decided to try out | | | | sang "The Time of My Life", the winning song of |
| himself. For his first Hollywood audition, Cook | | | | the 2008 American Idol Songwriter's Competition. |
| performed "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" by | | | | David Cook's strong vocal and guitar-playing skills |
| Bryan Adams, accompanying himself on acoustic | | | | should help him obtain plenty of commercial |
| guitar. Later in the week he performed "I'll Be" by | | | | success after his impressive American Idol |
| Edwin McCain. | | | | victory. |