Matt Giraud

Matt Giraud

Matt Giraud is a 23-year-old dueling piano player from Kalamazoo, Michigan, who auditioned in Louisville for American Idol’s Season 8.  He has previously released two CDs independently in 2003 and 2006 entitled “Perspective” and “Mind, Body, and Soul” respectively.  Matt not only sings and plays the piano, but he also plays the drums for his local church.  He graduated from Western Michigan University and was congratulated in a press release by the school for winning Blues/Pop/Rock/Outstanding Performances from DownBeat Magazine on a song entitled “First Impression.”

Matt Giraud certainly made a great first impression on the four judges of American Idol this season.  He sang Gavin de Graw’s “I Don’t Want to Be” and blew the judges away.  Paula Abdul said that he has a different voice and was exactly what they were looking for.  Kara DioGuardi expressed that she really liked him and thought that he was really good.  Simon Cowell even compared him to Season Five third-placer Elliott Yamin, but said that he lacked some confidence, giving him advice that if he did not believe in himself, no one else would.  During his auditions in Hollywood, he continued to wow the judges as well as the other contestants especially with his rendition of “Georgia On My Mind” which garnered a standing ovation not only from his peers, but from some of the judges as well.  This helped him get a spot in the Top 36.

Matt Giraud grew up in Ypsilanti and taught himself to play the drums and the piano under the mentorship of Karen Nevins, who was his music teacher in Lincoln High School.  According to Nevins, Matt was quite exceptional and showed real determination to make it in the music business.  He put all his extra time and effort into it, even coming into his teacher’s classroom everyday during lunch to work on his music.  Matt graduated in 2003 and went on to study at Western Michigan University, where he joined the Gold Company, which was the school’s jazz troupe.  After he graduated with a communications degree, Matt became a regular perform at Zazio’s as well as in Monaco Bay in Kalamazoo.

Because of his Idol fame, when Matt Giraud now performs at his usual work place in Monaco Bay at Kalamazoo, the floor area and the bar is packed which has never been the case in his two years of performing at that bar.  Matt is taking it all in stride as he poses for photos for his fans while playing on his beloved piano.  Giraud performs all types of music from pop to rock to hiphop, which includes hits by the Jackson 5, Journey, R. Kelly, and The Fray.

Since his first audition in Louisville, Matt Giraud has made it to the Top 36 who will be competing for America’s vote to be part of the Top 12.   He has made quite a name for himself already and has made a quite a fan base back in his hometown, his schools, and as well as online