I don't know why it works this way sometime. Maria Isabel is many people's favorite, and yet we still need to start a thread on her. As I said before, I think it is because we figure everyone is quite familiar with her. Then there is the factor that we are moving on and discovering new things and we sometimes ignore that which is the most familiar or in this case for me, where it all started. Even though I had come across an occasional kids album in my life such as Kimberly Scott or Billy Gilman, and memories still lingered of Lena Zavaroni, my passion for it started when American Idol tried to have a Junior version in the summer of 2003. This was American Juniors, also hosted by Ryan Seacrest. The judges were a former young teen singer/songwriter, Deborah Gibson, and someone who I fell in love with when I was just a boy, Gladys Knight. Also Jordan Knight of New Kids on the Block was a judge.

Read the Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Juniors

The show's format was the same as American Idol in that viewers called in their votes, but was different in that it did not try to make fun of weird/untalented tryouts and it did not vote kids off the show after they picked the top 10. Instead, the idea was to form a group of 5 kids that would record and tour, so they were voted into the group one at a time. I was living in Belize then and even though I watched this from the very beginning, in which they narrowed it down from 20 finalists to ten, and I taped it and watched it several times, it also drove me crazy and made me upset, because my favorite from the very beginning was Danielle White, and she did not make it into the group until the 5th and final spot, with her amazing rendition of Never Had a Dream Come True. This performance I must admit, got the tears going for me. It also greatly affected Ryan and the judges and they say so. It is still one of my top 5 favorite live versions from a Girl Singer. I think I will save that one for the end.

Even though the show did decent in the ratings, especially considering it was a summer show about two months long, I guess the producers were hoping for even more, because even though there was talk and consideration, they did not bring it back again. They also did not seem to really promote the group that much. They did the recordings, a Christmas t.v. show and several live appearances for maybe almost a year and then seemed to drift out on their own. None of them have had a major career, not even Danielle White, who has not done that much as a teen that I can find. Strange that the one who has done the most and best and who sounds great as a teen is one of the top 10 that did not make it into the group, Jordan McCoy. She did a professional recording of Big Girls Don't Cry and was told by Fergie's people that it would be her song to have some success, but then Fergie released it and had a hit just before Jordan did. Stalled her career I guess. I very much wanted her to make the group instead of Lucy Hale. Not because Jordan was a better singer though. Lucy had the strongest and most mature voice on the show. She was the top age for the show at 14. My reason is that Lucy did not blend into the kids group. She was more like a young adult, both in how she looked and how she sounded. I think Jordan would have been a better fit or even me the Girlsingerfan saying it would have been OK for A J Melendez to have made it also instead of Lucy, but at the time anyway, Lucy was the better singer, so I guess the voters were not thinking 'Group' as they voted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_McCoy
Also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danielle_White
Lucy Hale took to acting after the group broke up.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Hale

You can look up both cds released in 2003 on Amazon.com and other retail outlets. The first one was the American Juniors 10 finalists CD. Later, at the end of the year, the CD from the 5 who made the group was released. There is plenty of videos on youtube, so I think I will post one each of the 10 finalist and maybe a few of the ones who did not make it.

In no special order except my favorite Danielle White being first, here are the top ten finalists. Sometimes the sync on some of the videos is not great, but I can tell you, it was definately all live. I have the VHS tapes still.

Danielle White. Colors of the Wind.


Tori Thompson Let 'Er Rip


I will be back soon to do the rest.

Jordan McCoy I Love You More Today Than Yesterday


Chauncey Matthews Moon River Very good job considering he was just getting over being sick.


Lucy Hale Call Me


This is Tori's big sister. Taylor Thompson Proud Mary


A J Melendez I'll Be There


Katelyn Tarver Tell Him


Morgan Burke Why Do Fools Fall In Love


Chantel Kohl You Make Me So Very Happy I remember that her dad cried every show. What a softie he was as we say here in the U.S.


That was the top 10. I don't know if I picked the very best video for each, as there are a lot of performances, and I am picking them fairly quick.

Here are a few that were in the spots 11-20, but were not in the show after the first two weeks or so.

Lauren Klena LOVE She was just an OK singer, but so very cute.


Grace Leer To Sir With Love


Mercedes Ruiz Can't Fight The Moonlight She may have been my favorite of the ones who did not make it. What a little model she is.


Kristinia DeBarge Reflection


Canyon Grove You've Got a Friend


One more by my personal favorite before I go. This is the performance that got Danielle White into the group.
Never Had a Dream Come True


I will be back next time with group videos and other favorites. Comments or information or video additions are quite welcome.

I like American Juniors. The voices are good ! The problem is I can't really remember the 2 albums because it's covers only... That's not really original.
Why there was only one year of American Juniors ?

Here is the 2 albums :

Wow, i had absolutely no idea of "American juniors" existence!

This was a pretty cool show, too bad it's called off!

Thanks girlsingerfan, that must really refresh some of your memories!

I have kind of mixed feelings about AMerican Juniors. The whole show is too american style for my taste and I didn't really like most of the performers. But then there is Danielle White. She's amazing with her pure tones and great use of her beautiful voice. And her smile is charming. She was at her best in ballads, of which my favorites were God Morning Starshine and Colors of the Wind.

I think she was forced to tour with the band and couldn't start a solo career, which is a shame.

I know what you are trying to say Rakugaki about the CDs would have been more memorable if it had some original songs and not just covers. However, when you think about it, a good percentage of what we have posted here or watch on Youtube are covers. Actually, the producers of this show and the subsequent recordings are also the same people that produce the various S Clubs; 7 and 8 and Juniors, and that is why you here some of the same songs as them. I don't have so much time again. I will post a few group videos. I really enjoyed most of the ones they did together and everyone got a little solo or two.

Billy Joel's Still Rock and Roll To Me


Here is a group video made with some of the Juniors before they cut it down to 10.
Put a Little Love In Your Heart.


If they had an actual hit, this was it. From the 5 that made the group.
One Step Closer


Group song with the 5, but showing many clips from the whole series.
You've Got To Have Friends


Moorvis mentioned Danielle White's Good Morning Starshine. Since Danielle is my favorite, I will put a couple more of her.

Good Morning Starshine.


I myself like this one even more.
The Carpenter's Close To You


After the group was chosen, they had a show with them doing several songs, including judges Deborah Gibson and Gladys Knight joining on one each. The You've Got to Have Friends was from that show. Here is one more from that show.

I really like them together on this song. Nice song I think.
You Are the One


A few months later, it was Christmas time.
Perfect Christmas

Oh yes, Close to you is a good one too! I seem to have lost it from my archives..

As you can tell, posting on this show was a big deal to me. Did anyone like any of the group videos? Anyway, I will just post a few more things and then let it go for now.

Even though Danielle White was my favorite singer on the show and I realized that Lucy Hale at 14, was the most 'professional' singer, my favorite PERFORMER was actually Jordan McCoy. It was also regarding her that I had my biggest heartbreak moment watching the show. Even though I was so much rooting for Danielle to make the group in the last spot(she should have gone in early), it made me so sad and I cried because they showed Jordan crying when she realized she lost her last chance. Here are a couple favorites from her.

Magic


Stupid Cupid

And to finish, how about a little what are they doing now or what were they doing a few years later anyway.
First, the just mentioned Jordan McCoy who did not make the group, is doing some nice music now.


You Can Talk



Embedding disabled on this one.
I Decide
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txkakMPCs4k

Taylor and Tori singing at home. Not little anymore!
The Wreckers Leave the Pieces


You have to put up with other stuff for a couple minutes and then Taylor and Tori sing. Not the greatest sound of a live stage performance, but it shows they can still really sing.
Sing It In A Song


Danielle White. Not a great piano player, but... I admire that she is trying to work some 'soul' into her performance.
Keep Singing My Song

All those videos are really interesting. I really want to have a better quality of the group video when they were more than 10.
And it's interesting to heard and see them older. Kids never stay kids forever...

That's sad there's no DVD with the show.

I was taking a quick look at another kid singer forum which is posted in the requests section right now and I found this nice photo of Jordan McCoy. Thanks to Jealyn there for this.

You find this on YoungSinger4U ?

Yes, very strange in that I think it is a forum mostly for boy singers. However, the page link that is given for showing how to register has this photo.

wow, weird! I watched this show too!! and I loved it!! and Danielle was my fav.! I remember we had this thing at school where family and friends watched and I preformed never had a dream come true with backup singers! lol did the same moves as on the show!! lol =P
Thanks for posting the videos!! havent seen them in a long time now!