Iowa man advances on American Idol

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By David Heitz | Thursday, January 31, 2008 10:52 AM CST | () comments

At the Goose Lake C-Store Leo Marlowe's accomplishments on the American Idol television show made headlines among the gas prices. (Kevin E. Schmidt/QUAD-CITY TIMES) Buy this Photo

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CHARLOTTE, Iowa — JoAnn Grimm always knew that someone from Charlotte would finally put the tiny Clinton County town on the map.

Grimm, the owner of Dad’s Place bar and restaurant, said she is not surprised that it turned out to be 24-year-old Leo Marlowe, who wowed “American Idol” judges on Tuesday night’s show with his smooth voice and friendly personality.

“He always said he was going to go into acting,” Grimm said Wednesday as the town reveled over Marlowe’s successful audition on the most-watched program in America. “Every time he would get up to sing karaoke here, the people would get really quiet so they could hear him.”

Marlowe, looking excited but not nervous, sang “A Song for You” by Donny Hathaway as the judges gave reassuring nods of approval and waved him on to further auditions in Hollywood.

“Touchdown!” exclaimed an elated Paula Abdul, injecting a proclamation she saves only for the best of contestants.

Upon entering the room for his audition in Omaha, Neb. — one of six cities nationwide where tens of thousands of “Idol” hopefuls lined up this season for a chance to croon in front of the star-maker judges — he humbly said, “I’m from Charlotte, Iowa, the smallest town in the history of life.”

When the normally crabby Simon Cowell asked Marlowe if he was popular, he responded, “My mom always said she raised the perfect homecoming queen. Too bad it wasn’t one of her daughters,” as the judges erupted in laughter.

“Leo’s going from a tiny town to Tinseltown,” boomed host Ryan Seacrest after Marlowe’s audition. The young man from the small town welled up with tears and ran to Abdul for a hug.

Marlowe, a Wartburg College graduate who works at The Summit Bar and Restaurant in Iowa City, is prohibited from talking to the media as part of his “Idol” contract. Even his parents, who went with him to the audition, must remain mum, said his father, Drew Marlowe.

“I have been catching a lot of flak today,” the elder Marlowe said. “I’m sorry I’m not much help, but I’m not going to say anything that can burn me because I signed a stack of papers.” Marlowe did say his son started singing at about the age of 4, when he had a special affinity for The Judds.

Next, Marlowe will travel to Hollywood for a second audition before the show whittles the pool of contestants to 24. That’s when at-home viewers will begin voting for the next “American Idol.”

Tim Emmerson, promotion manager for KLJB-TV, Channel 18, which airs “Idol” in the Quad-City area, said Marlowe is the first contestant from this area to make it to Hollywood.

But he won’t be alone out there. Dean Banowetz, a hairstylist for “Idol” finalists, is from DeWitt, another Clinton County town.

Gwen Costello, librarian and drama director at Northeast High School in Goose Lake, Marlowe’s alma mater, remembers the young thespian playing the jester in “Once Upon a Mattress” and receiving awards on the speech team.

In his high school yearbook, Marlowe, who was voted “Most Likely to be Famous” from the Class of 2002, was asked to pontificate on what he would do if he could not sing. “I don’t know what I’d do,” he responded. “I guess I’d be lost.”

“He’s just so down to earth and can make anybody laugh,” Costello said. “We noticed that right away last night, how he made everybody laugh and made everybody comfortable. That’s what he does best besides singing.”

Costello said Marlowe comes from “a wonderful family. We’re thrilled, we’re just thrilled. I thoroughly expect him to be schmoozing with the big guys soon. He’ll probably be Simon’s best friend someday.”

Jaci Leigh Waldorf of Camanche, who said she is Marlowe’s best friend, met him when he was singing in a karaoke contest at Riverboat Days in Clinton, Iowa. “He was like famous in Clinton at the time for being so young and being such a great singer,” she said. “It’s so cool that this is happening for him. I think America is ready for someone to just be themselves.”

David Heitz can be contacted at (563) 383-2202 or dheitz@qctimes.com.

SAY IT RIGHT

Now that Charlotte, Iowa, has made a name for itself, it’s time to make sure everyone pronounces the town’s name correctly.

It’s shar-LOT, with the accent on the “lotte,” nor the “Char” — just the opposite of Charlotte, N.C.