ABOUT HIM

Danny Noriega, born and raised in the city of Azusa, has always been singing around the house and "doin his own thing". At such a young age, Noriega would dance, sing, and entertain crowds and family members. He knew, even then, that someday he will follow his dream and pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Danny was just an average kid with a dream to someday move out of his small town and make it big in HOLLYWOOD. He would see people on television and say to himself, "Someday that's gonna be me." In 2002, there was a TV show that was making headlines across America even before it aired! It was called American Idol (The search for a superstar). Danny immediately was interested in the show. He was hooked. Finally there was hope and possibility for something to happen. Being 12 and watching a show that only allowed contestants over 16 to audition frustrated him. The day that American Idol first aired Danny turned to his mother and said, "I'm gonna be on that show when I'm 16." And sure enough, 4 years later, Noriega tried out for the competition and made it through all four of the first rounds. Excited and giddy were the words to explain how he felt until the infamous "Hollywood Round." He buckled under the pressure and let his nerves take over him--something he never thought could happen. That very first day in Hollywood, Danny was cut. The words "It's the end of the road for you," took him from being nervous to depressed. invalid_text invalid_textNever did he think those words would be said to him. "It's the end of the road for me?" he thought to himself, "I don't think so!" Danny Noriega tried out for season seven, (the next season) and went into the competition being totally dedicated to what he believed in, and with knowledge of what to expect from the previous year. All of the first four rounds seemed easy for him being that he had been through it the year before. The words "Your going to Hollywood" were quite exciting to Danny, being that the year before the words were "End of the road." He knew it wasn't the end but only the beginning of what was to come. Hollywood week was kind of difficult for Danny but being that the judges knew him from the previous year made it a little easier for him. He went straight through all the rounds the first day, (they liked him that much). A few weeks later the top 24 was announced and Danny was one of them. Danny did not know what to expect when it came to the live shows, so he just did his own "thang" like he had done ever since he was little. He didn't think he would go really far in the competition, after hearing all of the singers that year. However, he went further than he expected; just short of the top 12. Danny Noriega is still one of the most talked about American Idol contestants. Even now it's pretty rare when you don't make it into the top 12--but Danny is here to stay and he ain't goin' nowhere! We will be seeing A LOT more of Danny in the future.