Can He Duet?
By Joey Berlin
Originally published 02:18 p.m., May 23, 2008
Updated 07:06 a.m., May 29, 2008
A former Emporia State University student is bidding to be chosen as half of the next big country music tandem on Country Music Television’s version of “American Idol.”
David Oakleaf, who went to Emporia State for two years before finishing college at Kansas State University, is part of one of the seven remaining duos chosen as finalists on “Can You Duet,” from the producers of “Idol.” A singer and guitarist who used to front a popular Manhattan-area rock band called Ten Til Blue, Oakleaf is originally from Howard and now lives in Nashville, Tenn. He tried out for “Duet” with friend Lewis Brice, his co-manager at a Nashville music venue called 12th and Porter.
Both Oakleaf and Brice were chosen for the final eight duos, but the judges then paired both with other partners. Brice’s duo was eliminated from the competition in the first round, airing last week. But Oakleaf and his new partner, Jared Johnson, are among those remaining. They’ll try to keep it that way on tonight’s episode, airing at 7 p.m. on CMT. The winning duet receives a record contract from Sony BMG Nashville and $50,000.
The entire competition has already been taped, and Oakleaf is barred from saying anything about the show’s outcome until the season’s final episode has aired and the champion duet is crowned.
“Oh man, the experience, it’s just been unreal,” Oakleaf said. “There was a lot harder competition than you would think; there was a lot of competition there. And then just being split up with the partner that you showed up with and thrown together with someone, that makes it even tougher.”
Oakleaf started playing guitar at about age 11. Around the same age, starting as just a vocalist, he began performing at an opry house in Howard, and he later formed a band. He played weddings, fair dances and such as he grew up.
“He mostly back then was (into) George Strait,” said his sister, Emporia native Helena Stormont. “As he’s evolved and went off to college and things, he’s a little more Southern rock kind of country, kind of a Keith Urban sound to him now. He’s a little more on the edge of country than full-blown country.”
Oakleaf, 28, also plays the harmonica and drums, and working at 12th and Porter allows him to get some video production work in, too, helping to film performances there.
“Nashville’s a cool place like that,” he said. “You can kind of put your irons in all different fires and see which one gets hotter first, I guess.”
Being a vocalist, though, is his top choice.
“I moved to Nashville, priority one, because I definitely want to be a singer-songwriter artist,” he said. “I want to do the shows, I want to be touring. And if this show does anything and just gets me to where I’m on the road playing, I would be tickled pink. I would love it.”
Stormont said she doesn’t even know which duo won the competition yet. Oakleaf’s parents, who still live in Howard, were in Nashville for the taping, but all audience members had to agree not to disclose the results publicly until the season finale airs.
Stormont describes her “baby brother” as a free spirit and says it’s strange but awesome to see him performing on TV. She said getting to see him on TV every week makes it seem like he’s here in Emporia.
“The same personality that he comes off with on TV, that’s how he is in life,” Stormont said. “He’s a very nice, put-together young man, and just has a good disposition about himself. He’s got a very down-home personality, and he’s one of those guys that if you ever meet him, he’ll always remember you, and he’ll always shake your hand and be polite.
“If he makes it anywhere in Nashville, it’ll be a lot on personality, too. Because he’s definitely got that personality that people remember him for.”
Rossi Morreale is the host of “Can You Duet,” which was filmed at Nashville’s Wild Horse Saloon. The judges are singer Naomi Judd, vocal coach Brett Manning and songwriter Aimee Mayo.
ON THE NET
“Can You Duet”: www.cmt.com/shows/series/can_you_duet/series.jhtml
David Oakleaf: www.myspace.com/davidoakleaf