Mario Vazquez

Mario Vazquez, who grew up in the Bronx, drew intense notice in 2005 gossip circles by walking away from American Idol after reaching the final 12, citing undisclosed “personal reasons.” The morning after Carrie Underwood was named the season’s winner, he stepped into Clive Davis’s studios to audition for the label chief. Davis responded with enthusiasm and offered the singer a contract that made him the first young male Latin artist on Arista. In spring 2006 Vazquez released his debut single “Gallery,” which appeared alongside a Spanglish version, and the full album followed later that summer.