Gimme the beatbox to free my soul: Blake Lewis has inked with 19 Recordings/Arista and his debut should be in stores by the end of the year.
Clive Davis, who decides which "American Idol" participants get contracts with BMG labels, says Blake is already following instructions well. “His collaborators are all knocked out by him."
Producers working with Lewis include Jonathan “JR” Rotem (Rihanna's "SOS”); Ryan “Alias” Tedder (Timbaland); and S*A*M & Sluggo (Gym Class Heroes, Boys Like Girls).
Lewis came in second place behind Jordin Sparks on last season's show.He has been recording between tour dates with Sparks and the other finalists; tour ends Sept. 22 in Manchester, N.H.
Lewis, 26, hails from Redmond, Wash., and was a member of the a cappella group Kickshaw for four years.