San Diego has another “American Idol” contestant to root for Friday as Tierrasanta’s Avalon Young survived this week’s cuts and advanced to the remaining group of 14.
Young’s success comes four years after Chula Vista’s Jessica Sanchez captured local and national hearts with her powerful voice. She finished second to Phillip Phillips in 2012.
Adam Lambert of Rancho Penasquitos was another local finalist, coming in second in 2009. But no San Diegan has won in the 15 years of “Idol,” which is in its final season.
Young, 21, says on her website that she cut her chops in the San Diego music scene. She says she began singing as soon as she could talk and picked up a guitar at age 7.
She sang Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself” on Wednesday’s show in order to advance. Another local resident, Stephany Negrete of El Cajon, was eliminated.
Young says her first name comes from the Roxy Music song “Avalon,” by Bryan Ferry.
She grew up in Tierrasanta and attended Serra High School, and lists bands like Maroon 5 and The Fray as musical inspirations.
–City News Service
