SANTA CRUZ, Calif. - "American Idol" contender James Durbin spent three years, performing for a theatre group at the Louden Nelson Community Center. The people who helped shape his talent are more than proud of how far he's come.
When Durbin was 16, he performed for the musical theatre group, "Kids On Broadway" in Santa Cruz.
"As soon as he opened his mouth to sing. I looked at my musical director and said he could have any part," says Will Guilford.
Guilford directed Durbin and immediately spotted his natural talent. But, it wasn't easy for Durbin. He suffers from Asperger's Syndrome and Turret's Syndrome tics. His dad also died when he was young. But, Durbin is overcoming all those obstacles in his way.
"You'll notice during Idol, when he's waiting for the judges. his ticks will be more pronounced, but when he sings it all goes away," says Guiford. "As the judges say, J-Lo, Randy and Steven Tyler, he's in the moment and he's emotional when he sings. I think that touches people."
"I get really teary-eyed," says Mary Lundberg. "It's really emotional. I just know him."
Durbin's friend Mary Lundberg agrees. She can see a huge difference from the time he spent at "Kids on Broadway."
"Before they don't want so much of James, he was kind of strange. He was different so he's done a total flip flop from being unpopular to real popular," says Lundberg.
But, in their eyes, he's already a superstar and a role model for so many others.
"He is a symbol of hope for the rest of the kids who are dealing with issues they think they can't overcome and they feel alone," says Guilford.
Submitted by Azenith Smith, Central Coast News
