Skip to content

?Idol? good news story of ?05

Daryl Brunt is Northern LifeÂ?s Newsmaker of the Year. The Sudbury teen lived many peopleÂ?s ultimate fantasy: an unknown singer from a small Canadian city one day became a national star the next.

Daryl Brunt is Northern LifeÂ?s Newsmaker of the Year. The Sudbury teen lived many peopleÂ?s ultimate fantasy: an unknown singer from a small Canadian city one day became a national star the next.

Brunt was one of 10 finalists on CTVÂ?s hit Canadian Idol program which attracted millions of viewers. Everyone was talking about the show last summer.
Other newsmakers for 2005 selected by Northern LifeÂ?s editorial team are:

- Vancouver Canuck Todd Bertuzzi.
- Missing mother Daphne Kocher.
- When disabled rights activist Joanne Nother died in last February, her death served as a wake-up call about serious fire-safety issues affecting wheelchair-bound people.
- Good Samaritan Dr. Sham Merali raised $5,300 in cash and more than $20,000 in medical supplies which he personally delivered to Sri Lanka following the devastating tsunami last Dec. 26. When he returned, Merali and his colleague, Dr. Brian Lynch, set up a non-profit organization called Tsunami Rx.
- Homegrown talent designer Bruce Mau whose Massive Change exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario got international headlines.
- Councillor Lynne Reynolds, a first-time councillor with an eye on the mayorÂ?s seat, spent part of 2005 rocking the political boat by publicly challenging the mayor, fellow councillors and city staffers alike.
- Sudbury Police Chief Ian Davidson, Rotary ClubÂ?s person of the year.
- Local hockey guru Joe Drago realized his long time dream of becoming president of the Ontario Hockey Federation this year, the largest hockey organization in the world.
- And last but not least, Sudbury MPP and Northern Development Minister Rick Bartolucci. His staff at his constituency office sent us 69 news releases and we received 125 from his minister office regarding funding announcements, award ceremonies and ribbon cuttings.

The 2004 Northern Life newsmaker was Dr. Rayudu Koka who made headlines being critical of mental health. The 2003 newsmaker was Mayor Dave Courtemanche, the new kid on the block at Tom Davies Square.

The year 2005 will not be one Azilda teen Daryl Brunt ever forgets.

He received a golden ticket to perform on the show after auditioning at the Inco Cavern last spring.

The Sudbury Secondary school performing arts student performed When You Believe; With These Eyes; Superstition; Tainted Love, and on his final Top 7 performance Aug. 9, What a Wonderful World.

Top honours eventually went to 17-year-old Melissa OÂ?Neil of Calgary.

Sudburians threw their support behind Brunt during his stint on the show, making sure he got as many telephone votes as possible.

Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci also got in on the action, giving away Â?Daryl is my Canadian IdolÂ? window placards for residents to display in their cars, at home or at work.

Even after he left the show, Brunt continued to be popular in his hometown.

He was welcomed by fans at the Sudbury airport after he was voted off Canadian Idol. That day, Aug. 14, was declared Daryl Brunt Day by the City of Greater Sudbury.

Some fans complained that the voting process was faulty on the day Brunt was eliminated from the show. Northern Life received a number of phone calls from people who said they had trouble getting through.

CTV vice-president of communications Mike Cosentino didnÂ?t know for sure if anything went wrong, but said voting problems in contestantsÂ? hometowns are not unusual.

Â?I would tell you that these (complaints) are typical. From week to week, we experience voting problems in almost all the competitorsÂ? hometowns. So, these are the results of the telephone systems becoming overwhelmed. ItÂ?s something thatÂ?s not in our control at CTV.Â?

This fall, the student performed at the Sudbury WolvesÂ? home opener weekend at the Sudbury arena, and was the grand marshal in the cityÂ?s annual Santa Claus parade.

Brunt credits his success to his mom, Tracy. As a singer herself, Tracy recognized her sonÂ?s talent at an early age and encouraged him to enter competitions.

The young man and his sister, Jenna, attended the Blueberry Idol competition in the summer of 2004 and walked away with first prize.

While it may seem Â?cheesyÂ? to some, Brunt believes small, local competitions are a great springboard to larger events such as Canadian Idol.

Â?You have to start somewhere,Â? he told Northern Life in an interview last summer. Â?You canÂ?t just - Â?boomÂ? - make it in the business unless your parents are the, ummm, Hiltons.Â?

Brunt said heÂ?s not sure what heÂ?ll do if his career as a performer doesnÂ?t pan out.

Â?I donÂ?t know. I suck at school (laughter). I like acting too. IÂ?d like to do a comedy show like Mad TV or Saturday Night Live.Â?

In 2005 Brunt was on the cover of Flare Magazine and TV Guide. In addition, his rendition of When You Believe was included on the Canadian Idol CD.

Brunt even has his own Canadian Idol blog. One Sudbury viewer wrote the following about the hit television show on the Canadian Idols blog, idolblogs.ca: Â?One could think, how did the Idols inspire me? All I have done was sit on a couch and watch. But no, all the Top 10 have inspired me so great, I can feel nothing but happiness as I remember them. Â?

The Idols have surprised many people with their amazing talents. They have learned so many new things in this great experience and conquered many fears. And that is how the Idols inspired me, by being themselves and tackling head on whatever came their way.Â?

Another Sudbury fan wrote about Brunt: ahahha... yes.. a cutie definitely.. heÂ?s got a killer voice.. I never knew the kid could sing like that.. but yeah...IÂ?m a fan right here!Â?

Brunt, who turned 17 Dec. 16, is back at school and trying to get caught up after a hectic, high-profile year.

He hopes to graduate in February 2007 and pursue a career in music.


Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.