Constantine Maroulis

Since his unexpected departure from American Idol, Constantine has been hard at work, starring on Broadway in “The Wedding Singer” as well as in the critically acclaimed off-Broadway revival of “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.” In between, he devoted considerable time and effort into finding the right band, assembling a talented group of musicians that meshed into a cohesive and rockin’ ensemble. Constantine co-wrote several songs on the record and songwriters who lent their skills to the album include seminal singer/songwriter Willie Nile; Angie Aparo (Faith Hill); Marcel (Rascal Flatts); and Grammy nominated, Kevin Kadish (Jason Mraz).

Constantine recently became a featured star on The Bold and The Beautiful, which ranks as the Number Two most watched soap in the world. Constantine’s role, which was created especially for him, is based in part on his real life. Throughout his thirteen-week stint, the show will be incorporating music from Constantine. This extraordinary cross-promotion will bring Constantine’s music and personality to millions of viewers worldwide, an unprecedented opportunity for a young artist.

The album reflects Constantine’s commitment to an unprocessed, live feel and organic edge. As a result, Constantine was recorded in intimate studios in New York City, including co-producer Marc Copely's living room. “The album was cut live with my own band,” Constantine explains. “No programming, minimal overdubs. We’ve been playing these songs on the road and chose the tunes that got the best feedback from our audiences.” The songs on the album showcase the singer’s vocal versatility and the strong arrangements of the Maroulis band.

“Everybody Loves,” the first track off Constantine, which made it’s premiere on The Bold and The Beautiful, is the kind of song that is custom made for Summer, with a sing-along chorus listeners will find themselves unable to get out of their heads. “Girl Like You” bursts out of the speakers with a thunderous stomp-and-clap intro that will recall Queen's “We Will Rock You,” albeit set to the beat of the new millennium. “Child (You're the Revolution)” shows the hard rock side of Constantine that audiences identified with him during Idol. His snarling vocal and the band’s metallic attack makes the tune a potential youth anthem. Other tracks allow Constantine to show off his persuasive vocal power and true artistry.

The diversity of Constantine, the album, shows off the restless creative spirit of Constantine the singer and serves notice that he’s a musical force to be reckoned with.

Born to Greek-American parents in 1975, vocalist Constantine Maroulis grew up listening to a wide range of music in his suburban New Jersey home, with particular favorites ranging from Frank Sinatra to Guns N' Roses. Inspired by older brother Athan's success as a singer, publicist, and label owner, Constantine began taking steps to launch his own entertainment career. He enrolled in the Boston Conservatory of Music in 1999 and received his degree in musical theater three years later. He then found an apprenticeship at the Williamstown Theater Company, through which he gained the attention of the director for the international production of +Rent. The director later cast Constantine in the part of Roger, during which time he was also singing lead for the band Pray for the Soul of Betty. The intersection of theater and rock music proved to be a happy home for Constantine, who would later make high-profile forays into each arena.

In 2005, Constantine became a popular contestant on the fourth season of American Idol, where he wooed fans with rock star attitude and "smoldering" expressions. Although he was eliminated early in the competition, he was courted shortly thereafter with modeling and acting proposals. He also toured alongside the American Idol troupe that summer and played solo shows throughout the Philippines, and his version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" was included on the tribute album Killer Queen. After additional theater stints (+The Wedding Singer, +Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris), as well as the recurring role of Constantine Parros on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, Maroulis released his debut album, Constantine. Issued in August 2007 via his own label, Sixth Place Records, the album was followed by another theater gig, this time with the Tony-nominated show +Rock of Ages. ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide