Biography
Carl Riseley, born in Sydney on December 21, 1982, first built his musical foundation as a trumpeter with the Royal Australian Navy Band, an experience that included a deployment to Iraq, before he auditioned successfully for the fifth season of Australian Idol. That appearance catapulted the jazz-pop vocalist into national visibility when he advanced all the way to the final three contestants. Along the route he delivered interpretations of Michael Bublé's "Home," the Everly Brothers' "Bye Bye Love," Banjo Paterson's "Waltzing Matilda," Coldplay's "Clocks," Earth, Wind & Fire's "September," Harry Connick, Jr.'s "It's Alright with Me," the Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love," George Benson's "Turn Your Love Around," Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual," John Lennon's "Jealous Guy," Little River Band's "Reminiscing," Harry Connick, Jr.'s "Just Kiss Me," Billy Paul's "Me and Mrs. Jones," James Morrison's "You Give Me Something," and Stevie Wonder's "For Once in My Life." Following his elimination on November 12, 2007, Riseley secured a contract with Universal Music Australia, which issued his debut full-length album The Rise the next year. The project, a Top Five success at home, channels his devotion to big-band swing and features readings of "This Guy's in Love with You" (written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David), "The Girl from Ipanema" (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes), "Pure Imagination" (from the 1971 movie Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory), "Lido Shuffle" (Boz Scaggs, David Paich), and "We've Only Just Begun" (Roger Nichols, Paul Williams; sung by the Carpenters).