Chris Daughtry

If you want to see Daughtry in Tulsa, you'll have to convince someone who's got a ticket to give it up. KEVORK DJANSEZIAN / Associated Press

Daughtry rides again
By MATT ELLIOTT World Scene Writer
2/23/2007

'American Idol' reject wins big acceptance for debut disc

An "American Idol" castoff has a sold-out show Sunday in Tulsa, but don't expect him to behave like an also-ran.

Chris Daughtry, voted out in the reality show's fifth season, has a self-titled debut album that became the best-selling rock debut in SoundScan history.

Daughtry's publicist said the McLeansville, N.C., native didn't have time for an interview. It seems his newfound rock stardom has kept him hopping.

His big ballad sound of guitars and bluster peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and the album has sold more than 1 million copies. Daughtry's done that while writing some of his own material, an art yet to be exploited by most "American Idol" alums.

The album sounds a lot like the bands of some of the people who contributed their efforts to the disc.

Daughtry got some help on the album, released last November, from producer Howard Benson, who worked with Stillwater's All-American Rejects. He also wrote three songs with Brian Howes, who produced Oklahoma City's Hinder's debut album. Brent Smith from Shinedown helped out as well.

Even Tulsan Zac Maloy, former singer of 1990s pop act the Nixons, contributed, garnering writing credits on the song "Used To."

The song "It's Not Over" has been the break-out hit for Daughtry, a ballad about messing up a troubled relationship.

In interviews, the singer has said getting voted off "American Idol," where he sang tunes that ranged from Bon Jovi's "Wanted: Dead or Alive" to Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line," helped his career as a rock singer.

His Tulsa performance is part of a string of smaller shows he'll perform into mid-April. Almost each one is sold-out, his Web site shows.

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DAUGHTRY

When:
7 p.m., Sunday with openers Cinder Road and Eve to Adam.

Where:
Other Side, 6904 S. Lewis Ave.

Tickets:
Sold out.