Matt Rogers, the twenty-five year-old 2001 Rose Bowl winner who calls his mom his American Idol, got 27% of America's vote last night. Four of them came from this household in San Francisco. He was the first performer of the night, and got our collective #1 vote, again.

Rogers and eighteen year-old exotic Hawaiian beauty, Camille Velasco moved on to Round Two of American Idol III. Last night, Camille got 27.8% of America's vote.

Unfortunately, there was not a lot one would call inspirational about five of eight performances in this second American Idol group. All eight of the contestants were clearly over-the-top nervous. Many of them had far more potential than they exhibited in their three minutes on stage.

However, to be an American Idol, the power and the magic still needed to shine through. Matt had the smile, the twinkle in his eye, the groove in his moves. But the soul of his sound ended up giving him just less than 1% fewer votes than America's #1 vote. It was enough, however, to push Randy and Paula-favorite, Lisa Leuschner out of the Top Two.

Matt's profile:

* He started to sing in church when he was five.
* He has not formal voice training.
* He doesn't drink alcohol.
* His other talents include: comedy, acting and football.
* He's been on "The Price Is Right," "Family Feud," and "Taboo."
* He loves to listen to Pavarotti, R&B and SLOW JAMS.
* His favorite song to sing is Just Once by James Ingram.
* His favorite male pop artist is Ruben Studdard.
* We won't say who his favorite female pop artist. We'll forgive him on this one.
* His favorite album of all time: Kenny Chesney's Greatest Hits
* He says he was born to entertain.

Matt's performed twice in Pasadena: once at the Rose Bowl in '81 and once for the American Idol auditions. He's won both times.

"You're preparing mentally and vocally," including a half-hour prayer session every morning. "I don't need to put on 40 pounds," or bench press a couple hundred pounds in order to go up against judge Simon Cowell, he said; then again, maybe it wouldn't hurt.

"They drain you and they test you," he said, keeping contestants jumping for as much as 20 hours a day. "They take you to your limit," he said. "For that one minute that you perform, you have to be boom!

"It definitely separates the amateurs from the professionals."

Camile Velasco is the other potential professional who is moving on to Round 2.

She is one of three contestants from Hawaii who made it into the Top Thirty-Two.

All performers strive to have their own sound and presence. Nonetheless, Paula Abdul gave Camile a huge compliment when she likened Camile to another soulful performer. "She's a young Lauryn Hill," Paula said.

Randy concurred.

So do we.

For those of you who know Lauryn Hill, wouldn't you love to hear Camile sing a Hill-like rendition of Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You?

If you haven't heard it it's on her album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Matt, I wish you could have heard the cheers that rang through our family room tonight when Ryan Seacrest called your name announcing you had made the Top Three and then the Top Two. We're so glad America is seeing the same thing we're seeing. You're idol material, all the way.

Congratulations to you both and best of luck in Round Two!!

P.S. Another big winner tonight was Ryan Seacrest. He had the "rugged elegant" look going. And he spoke for a lot of America when he told Simon that "for the money you're paid, you should care who makes it to the next round." So glad they have a host who can stand up to the big personalities of Jackson, Abdul and Cowell. You go Ryan!

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The Maui News Camile Velasco is already Maui's Idol, 2/17/04

this gurl can sing....good job....keep singing....vote for her