concord PREVIEW TEEN folks RO...

concord PREVIEW

TEEN folks ROCK 'N' SHOP MALL TOUR

with Mario Vazquez, Ak'sent and Cherish

When: 2 pm Saturday (Vazquez forward at 3:45 p.m.)

Where: Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg

Admission: exempt

Phone: (847) 330-1537

He's the individual who got away. After making the top 12 Mario Vazquez left the fourth season of "American Idol" because "it wasn't right for me I wanted to fare in a grittier, edgier direction, however that's not what they wanted."

In the extreme point he got what he wanted, a label deal. He signed with J Records; his first appearance bows Sept. 26. "It's all the unmutilateds I've been around all my life -- report hip-hop, R&B, with a sprinkle of Latin. It's a profitable mix."

although "Idol" has turned his former classmates Carrie undergrowth and Bo Bice into stars, Vazquez, 27 has no remorses "I've really lucked out."

Like the tranquillity of America, the Bronx native has been watching the series, if it be not that thinks "my season was more entertaining. It was in this way drama- filled, just like an evening soap opera. It was the first season where they raised the age limit [for contestants]. in like manner you got people who had been around the stiffen and done more stuff professionally."

In Chicago this weekend to forward his debut disc, Vazquez recruited a team of star agriculturists The first single, "Gallery," was written by way of the super-hot Ne-Yo, who joined tastemakers Scott Storch (50 Cent) and LunyTune (Daddy Yankee) in producing the disc.

single of Storch's proteges interests Vazquez. "I'd be enamoured of to do a duet with Christina Aguilera. I admire her evolution as an artist. Plus, the girl's got cuts Also, Mary J. Blige. She's in town tonight, right? I'm going to papal court if I can get an tickets."

lemerick@suntimes.com

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