Mt. Prospect's Lee DeWyze a hot prospect on American Idol

Growing up in 'burbs, singer-guitarist flashed humor to match musical skills

A few tattoos grace the arms of "American Idol" finalist Lee DeWyze.

But the one closest to his heart features lyrics from the Cat Stevens coming-of-age ballad "Father and Son."

Six weeks ago his former teacher Amy Silverman began organizing "Idol" viewing parties at the Fox & Hound Smoke House & Tavern. This week his father came out to the tavern for the first time to watch his son on national television.

More than 100 friends and family packed a banquet area to watch DeWyze, 24, do a spot-on cover of Shania Twain's "You're Still the One" in crisp, hushed tones reminiscent of Dave Matthews. The crowd cheered DeWyze's high notes and applauded judge Ellen DeGeneres, who said, "I think every song you take, you make it your own."

Fans clutched blue stickers that read "Lee: 'DeWyze' Choice." His mother looked around the room and said, "I felt like crying when I saw everybody here."

As DeWyze eyes the future, the Fox & Hound crowd honors his roots. "Lee and I met at a karaoke bar [Potato Creek Johnny's in Glenview], arguing over the Kings of Leon song 'Use Somebody,' " said friend Kirstin Schlueter, 27. "He liked that song a lot. He always sang 'Simple Man,' but he did the Shinedown version of that."

Silverman met DeWyze in 2003 on an Upward Bound Expedition. "Another teacher and I took a group of eight students to Wisconsin for 10 days, where we went canoeing, kayaking, hiking, camping and rock climbing," Silverman said in an e-mail from Hollywood. "Lee always sat in the passenger seat with his guitar and his great sense of humor." She has traveled three times to the West Coast to watch DeWyze in person at "Idol."

In fall 2003, DeWyze left Prospect High. "I got kicked out of my high school," he admitted in an AmericanIdol.com video. "That's totally not who I am now."

He attended Forest View Alternative School, where Silverman was his teacher for the 2003-04 school year. Silverman described it as a "school for students who were facing challenges in the mainstream high school setting."

There he learned team building and leadership, skills he put into play to land a job at Mount Prospect Paint, 500 W. Northwest Hwy. The 60-year-old shop is a block away from where he lived for 13 years with his family. His parents now live in Arlington Heights.

Before DeWyze entered "Idol" competition, he was dividing time between his parents' condo and Silverman's home in Northbrook. DeWyze worked at the paint shop between the ages of 15 and 18, and he returned from age 20 until he was selected for "Idol." He waited on customers and tinted paint.

"He was persistent," said store owner William Lagattolla, who wore a big "Vote Lee DeWyze American Idol 2010" button. "When he was 15, we didn't need a part-time guy. He wanted to buy guitars and strings. He came in every day until we basically had to hire him. He's very personable. When he first hit 'Idol,' we got a hundred calls a day, 'Hey, is that Lee, the guy who mixes my paint?' "

Store manager Mike Binek said, "He would sing for customers on Sunday. He'd just bust out his guitar and do random tunes. He'd sing songs about paint. They were originals."

Lagattolla, 31, kept DeWyze on the payroll for two months of "Idol" competition until the singer made the top 10 finalists. DeWyze was making about $500 a week. "We didn't know if he'd be out there a week, three weeks," he said. "It got him through the hardest part." Binek, 32, smiled and said, "He's more than welcome to come back."

Lagattolla and Binek attended Lee DeWyze Band shows at the House of Blues in Chicago and FitzGerald's in Berwyn. With DeWyze as lead singer, the band made the 2007 records "Slumberland" and "So I'm Told" for the independent Wuli label. DeWyze had to opt out of his record deal after he made the first "Idol" cut.

On Tuesday, his parents were smiling and devouring this unique slice of Americana. "My daughter Sarah was in eighth grade and did a report on Elton John," Lee DeWyze Sr. said. "I learned of the distance that grew between Elton John and his father. Elton's father wanted his son to be a blue-collar worker. They became estranged. When Lee wanted to do music, I remembered that report. I said, 'If you can make a living doing what you love to do, you're blessed.' "

The father gave the son his first guitar, a Hohner model. "He picked it up at 16," DeWyze Sr. said. "Before that he was in a drum phase for a couple months."

DeWyze Sr., 52, is a letter carrier in Elk Grove Village. His mother Kathy, who did not disclose her age, works at Northwest Community Hospital. They have been married 32 years. Besides Sarah, 26, they also have a daughter Shannon, 29, who lives in Washington, and Michael, 19, another aspiring guitar player.

DeWyze Sr. is a Chicago native who listened to Cat Stevens while growing up. On Tuesday, he seemed to loosen up during his son's performance. Just like another of his idols, Bruce Springsteen, DeWyze Sr. thrust his left fist into the air as DeWyze hit the most dramatic notes of the Twain hit.

Like a new coat of paint, he saw his son in a different light.