Keri Lynn Roche, of Ann Arbor, hopes to continue making music despite a sudden-death loss on American Idol in Hollywood (Charles Manley WASHTENAW VOICE)
Local musician leaves behind a life of crime for the Hollywood hills
Staff Writer
In order to win, most American Idol contestants face the critiques of 3 or 4 celebrity judges before journeying to the bright lights of Hollywood.
But Keri Lynn Roche would unexpectedly find herself again under the ire of critical review before the podium of Oakland County Circuit Judge Phyllis McMillen.
McMillen, who nearly closed the book on Roche’s career, and freedom, asked her to testify – with a song – on behalf of her talent.
“After she (McMillen) made me sing in front of the courtroom, she said ‘Welcome to Hollywood.’ I never thought that I’d be able to get off probation because of something so cool like that,” Roche said.
With two years remaining on a felony probation sentence stemming from past drug charges, Roche had previously convinced a Livingston County Judge to put aside her past infractions, making the Ann Arbor resident eligible to move on to the next round of American Idol, in Hollywood.
But McMillen required harder evidence of Roche’s ambitions.
Singing since she was 4 on a Little Tikes microphone, Roche was off to serenade the country with her hard-earned skills as a musician.
Ryan Seacrest was the first to uncover the Birmingham native’s staccato melody which haphazardly led her to Chicago for national auditions on American Idol. The intimate interview left Roche in tears as she spoke about her journey from the living underworld of addiction to the magical kingdom she stood in that day.
At the age of 18, Roche approached Detroit-based recording engineer, Eric Hoegemeyer and what began as a burgeoning music career ultimately spiraled into a devastating battle with heroin.
“When she was struggling, I didn’t see her for a while. We’d speak occasionally and check in with each other,” Hoegemeyer said. “When she started getting on the other side of that, it increased her confidence a whole lot.”
And soon Roche’s family and friends took notice of the turnaround.
“We heard it over the years that everybody wants Keri to try out for American Idol,” said her mother, Lynn Roche. “I believed it was a good time for her in her life. She had been working really hard.”
Only 20 girls were supposed to get through, and by the time Roche sang for the judges, 33 girls had already been passed on to the next round.
A first-time sudden death round was implemented which led to the end of Roche’s American Idol journey in Hollywood.
“The judges had nothing negative to say about my performance,” she said afterwards. “I’m satisfied with how far I’ve come,”
Source:
http://www.washtenawvoice.com/2013/02/songs-of-freedom/