- James Durbin
- Jul 14:
- Concert review: James Durbin delights San Jose crowd during American Idol tour
- Jul 12:
- 'American Idol' tour with James Durbin comes to San Jose
- May 19:
- Wallace Baine: What James Durbin's 'Idol' odyssey means to Santa Cruz's image of itself
- May 18:
- Durbinomics gives local businesses a boost; sandwich named in honor of 'American Idol' contestant
- Audio slide show: James Durbin Day in Santa Cruz
- May 17:
- 'American Idol' may show video of James Durbin's Santa Cruz homecoming on Wednesday's show
- As You See It: May 17, 2011: Durbin Day
- May 15:
- Video: American Idol James Durbin performs at hometown Santa Cruz Boardwalk
- May 14:
- Large, fun-loving crowd greets Durbin in Santa Cruz
- Video: James Durbin signs autographs for adoring fans at Louden Nelson Center before triumphant parade to Boardwalk
- No fallen 'Idol:' Durbin makes triumphant return to Santa Cruz
- James Durbin Day in Santa Cruz: Schedule
- May 12:
- 'Durbin Day' canceled in Santa Cruz; big plans shelved for welcoming home American Idol star
- James Durbin knocked out of 'Amercan Idol'
- Silde Show James Durbin's 'Idol' odyssey so far
- Slide show: From James Durbin Day
- James Durbin belts out 'Don't Stop Believing' on American Idol; locals hope for Saturday Boardwalk concert
- May 11:
- James Durbin belts out Journey song in what locals hope will bring him home for Idol's hometown concert on Saturday
- City of Santa Cruz announces Durbin Day schedule of events
- Live conversation: Durbin Legend - talk American Idol
- May 10:
- An outpouring of James Durbin appreciation: From Santa Cruz and around the world
- May 6:
- Details emerge of 'Durbin Day': Boardwalk show in the works
- Details emerge of May 14 'Durbin Day': Santa Cruz Boardwalk show for American Idol set to begin at 5 p.m.
- Final four: Durbin makes 'American Idol' cut
- May 5:
- Final four: Durbin makes 'American Idol' cut
- James Durbin gets emotional on 'American Idol': Jackson tells Santa Cruz rocker competition is 'yours to lose'
- May 4:
- James Durbin gets emotional on 'American Idol': Jackson tells Santa Cruz rocker competition is 'yours to lose'
- Santa Cruz Boardwalk preparing for James Durbin American Idol homecoming
- May 3:
- Boardwalk preparing for Durbin homecoming
- Apr 28:
- Five alive: James Durbin survives on American Idol
- Apr 28:
- Durbin shows a softer side on "Idol"
- Apr 22:
- James Durbin moves up to final six
- Apr 21:
- James Durbin moves up to final six
- James Durbin finds his Muse on 'American Idol'
- Apr 20:
- James Durbin finds his Muse on 'American Idol'
- Apr 15:
- James Durbin down to the final seven in 'American Idol'
- Apr 14:
- James Durbin goes 'Heavy Metal' on 'American Idol'
- Apr 13:
- James Durbin goes 'Heavy Metal' on 'Idol'
- Apr 8:
- James Durbin survives 'Idol' shocker
- Apr 7:
- James Durbin survives 'Idol' shocker
- Apr 6:
- Santa Cruz sensation James Durbin performs his signature song on 'Idol'
- Apr 1:
- James Durbin lives on in 'American Idol'
- Mar 31:
- James Durbin lives on in 'American Idol'
- James Durbin stakes a claim as the dominant rocker of 'Idol'
- Mar 30:
- James Durbin stakes a claim as the dominant rocker of 'Idol'
- Mar 24:
- James Durbin makes 'Idol' tour; meets a childhood hero
- Motown Magic: James Durbin belts Stevie Wonder tune on 'American Idol'
- Mar 23:
- James Durbin sings 'Living for the City' on American Idol's Motown week
- Mar 21:
- Mania spreading for Santa Cruz American Idol star James Durbin
- Mar 16:
- Video: James Durbin on American Idol, 'I'll Be There For You'
- Santa Cruz's idol James Durbin wows the judges again
- How to vote for James Durbin on American Idol tonight, March 16
- Mar 10:
- James Durbin in the distinguished dozen of 'American Idol' finalists
- Twitter: What they're saying about James Durbin on American Idol
- Video: James Durbin, 'Maybe I'm Amazed' on American Idol
- American Idol judges call James Durbin 'dangerous'
- Mar 9:
- American Idol judges call James Durbin 'dangerous'
- Mar 7:
- Reader poll: Is James Durbin the next winner of American Idol
- Mar 4:
- James Durbin: Santa Cruz's American Idol star
- James Durbin makes the cut to Top 10 in American Idol
- Mar 3:
- SPOILER ALERT: James Durbin makes the cut to Top 10 in American Idol
- Mar 2:
- Video: James Durbin rocks American Idol (recap)
- Mar 1:
- James Durbin rocks American Idol: Santa Cruz performer sings Judas Priest's 'You Got Another Thing Comin' as fans watch at Pizza My Heart
- Feb 28:
- How to vote for Santa Cruz's James Durbin on American Idol Tuesday night
- Feb 25:
- Santa Cruz's James Durbin makes 'American Idol's' final 24
- Feb 17:
- The book of James: The amazing journey of James Durbin to 'American Idol'
- Feb 10:
- Santa Cruz singer James Durbin wows on 'American Idol'
James Durbin's life is not a fairy tale. To characterize it as such would be to belittle what the 22-year-old Santa Cruzan has endured in his life. But considering what has happened to Durbin in the last few weeks, his story is beginning to sound like the kind of crazy movie pitch that Hollywood producers can't resist: Equal parts "Rocky," "Good Will Hunting" and "Charlie & the Chocolate Factory," with a spoonful of "The King's Speech" tossed in as well.
A couple of months ago, Durbin was just another guy in Santa Cruz, a would-be musician nursing a dream, bouncing from job to job, with an infant son and the burden of carrying not one but two high-stigma neurological conditions.
Today, he's on his way to becoming an international celebrity, performing every week on TV worldwide, attending Hollywood movie premieres and musically collaborating with some of the biggest names in the recording industry.
These days, they don't even make rockets that fly that high that fast.
The "American Idol" phenom took some time from his hectic new schedule to talk to the Sentinel about his dream-come-true experiences.
"Before Idol' began," he said by phone the day after making the cut to the final 12, "it was just day-to-day living, waking up at whatever time, or whenever son Hunter wakes up, and then just doing our thing all day and hoping something good comes out of it.
"Now, it's waking up at six in the morning, sometimes getting only five hours of sleep,
Along with his fellow contestants, Durbin is being housed in an enormous Beverly Hills villa. When he isn't doing meet-and-greets with celebs and dealing with enormous waves of fan love on his Twitter and Facebook accounts, he's spending time in the studio with producers such as Don Was, Jimmy Jonsin and Jimmy Iovine, each of whom qualifies as a superstar in their profession.
"Although I just met these people," Durbin said of his big-name producers, "I feel like I've known them forever."
Durbin had been talking about performing on "American Idol" for years, as far back as his mid-teens when the combined effects of Tourette's and Asperger's syndrome made it difficult for him to even have a normal conversation. In fact, he said, he auditioned for "Idol" two years ago and was not selected, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
"It is a dream come true," he said. "But now I have a different mindset going into it. Before it was all about personal gain, but now it's for my family. Once you have that kind of real meaning to it and start putting that energy out there, it's going to manifest. And it's coming back for me."
Before last week, Durbin had established himself as "Idol's" resident metal rocker. Then, he threw a curveball by singing a stirring rendition of Paul McCartney's power ballad "Maybe I'm Amazed."
Durbin said he's making his own decisions about what to sing each week. His producers will suggest ideas but "it's a mutual decision. They don't ever pressure me into singing a certain song if I don't want to sing it."
His dealings with national media, he said, have focused largely on one of two subjects: his struggles with Tourette's and comparisons to 2009 "Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert. He's been approached by the families of others with Asperger's and Tourette's. He has also dealt with speculation of how he might handle the high-pressure and high-profile situations that come with being on one of America's most highly rated shows.
"The thing about Asperger's is that it's about social awkwardness, and not being able to contain yourself and being overwhelmed in social situations," he said. "I'm just so busy that there's no time to be overwhelmed. I'm enjoying it and I'm not looking at it as work. I'm just having tons of fun."
As for the upcoming elimination shows that push on ever closer to the naming of the "Idol" winner in the show's 10th season, Durbin, pointing to his past experience in musical theater and to the fact he has even done country music before, said he enjoys surprising people. "I'm trying to make my life full of surprises. Theater, rock, karaoke, the country thing, mix it up into one big old mush pot. It gives me so many different options."
He sees some friends and family each week when they visit to see the performance. He said his partner Heidi is "my rock," and that he's deeply gratified at what he's heard of the frenzy his appearances are creating in Santa Cruz County.
"I'm really, really stoked to hear that. It's really awesome to know that I still have the support from my hometown. No matter what happens after this, I know I'm going to still come back to a town that loves and supports me."