Before Walker had entered Australian Idol in , he was a shop assistant at a menswear shop in Coolangatta, Queensland where his family currently lives. He received praise from the judges with Marcia Hines applauding him and stating: "You've got a beautifully house cat voice… it resonates this whole room was captivated by your voice.
You coulda heard a penny drop and that to me is what a great artist is. He progressed through to the theatre rounds receiving more recognition from the judges with Kyle Sandilands saying, after his second round performance of Kings of Leon's song Use Somebody, "You're the only person after the auditions that I ever told anyone about; family, friends other people that I run into.
I only told them about you. The judges were impressed with his performance with all three judges praising his vocal skills but Marcia and Dicko told him not to get side-tracked while singing but letting it flow naturally. The following evening they announced the first two contestants to be put through to the top twelve according to viewer votes. The first contestant through was Walker who praised God for making it through alongside fellow contestant Kate Cook.
The judges were pleased with the result with Springbett telling them to get ready for the hard work. Throughout the season Walker was praised continually for his voice and for the daring choices he took with his song choices.
Really, I just thought why am I here… 'cause I'm gonna sound like crap singing next to Stan… that voice is like God kissed throat… it's hard when you're a singer and you meet… a better singer than you and you have to come up and mentor them…" Additionally he told Walker that he would like to introduce him to his producers because his voice would blow them away.
That night he also performed his winner's single "Black Box" live for the first time. One of his most highly praised performances was of the Prince song Purple Rain which received a standing ovation from the judging panel and the audience.
Marcia Hines praised him for his choice to sing accapella at the end of the song while Jay Dee Springbett said that "… it was a moment and you know, I didn't hear it, I felt it brother…" On November 22, Walker and fellow finalist Hayley Warner took to the stage at the Sydney Opera House for the Australian Idol grand final.
After the viewer votes had been tallied it had been announced that the winner of Australian Idol was Stan Walker. A shocked and emotional Walker gave a speech saying: "I just want to thank God, man.
Hey, I want to thank my family for coming and supporting me. My family they came from New Zealand…" Only a day after winning the competition, Walker stated that he was ready to take the music industry by storm. Stan said that, "I'm ready to make music, and I'm ready to start my career and just give it everything I've got". Surrounded by friends and family at the venue, Walker sat down with the Chronicle before his sound check, where he was as relaxed and as frank as ever.
I've been through some of the most difficult things in my life and some of the best," Walker says. Who I am, where I'm at and what I've become. I think it's a story worth telling that I think will help people. Now aged 30, Walker was dealt almost every bad card in life you could imagine. He grew up in a household where his father beat him, his mother and his siblings, and where alcoholism was rife. Walker turned to marijuana and theft.
He moved to Australia to work shortly before his Australian Idol audition. In , Walker battled for his life, eventually having his stomach removed after inheriting the cancer-causing gene mutation called CDH1 that had been responsible for the deaths of other family members.
The result was transformational. Slowly, his father has turned his life around. And, through God, he said he found the will to forgive, not only others — but himself.
For the acclaimed singer, speaking out sends a message that victims can still achieve their dreams. And they can find peace.
In November, Walker will begin a nationwide tour to promote his book. The sessions will be an intimate mix of discussions about his life and performing acoustic renditions of his songs. The message will be one of forgiveness and hope. Stan and his father have mended their relationship and the family unit is strong. I have accepted who I am. I have healed through everything. But I want to share my story.
Stan Walker's 'impossible' story from horrifying childhood to fame and forgiveness. Stan Walker performs during Good Vibes in Auckland. Topics New Zealand Asia Pacific features. Reuse this content.
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