We are pleased to announce that pop artist Anoop Desai will be joining the National Inclusion Project on the stage at Dancing Like the Stars at 1pm on April 25, 2010 at the Southern Women's Show at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh, NC.
Anoop is best known for his time as a finalist on the eighth season of “American Idol.” This modern gentleman combines classic southern charm with a soulful, fresh appeal. His unique name means incomparable – a word he lives life by. Anoop broke boundaries and set new records in college, on “American Idol," and now in the music industry. The world awaits what this incomparable artist will do with his first independently released EP All is Fair due out this Spring.
Anoop was raised by an Indian father and South African mother in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. A homegrown southern gentleman, Anoop attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he balanced academic achievement with his passion for music.
Motivated by the death of his friend Eve Carson, Anoop auditioned for the eighth season of the popular Fox TV show “American Idol.” Anoop shattered tradition and made pop culture history when he became the first ever 13th finalist on “American Idol.” From first-generation Indian-American to “American Idol”—Anoop’s journey typifies the American dream. Though backed by a large fan base and favored to win by celebrities including Ellen DeGeneres and Keith Urban, Anoop was eliminated in the seventh week of the competition.
After a 50-city tour, Anoop settled in Los Angeles to begin work on his first EP All is Fair. Anoop mixes pop, R&B, and Indian influences to create a sound all his own. Working without the support of a major label, Anoop has complete control over this EP; from writing to release, this time Anoop is calling the shots. Always aware that he is an artist beholden to his fans, Anoop plans to keep them constantly engaged by releasing shorter EPs more often, as opposed to the typical album-based industry model. In conjunction with the debut of his first single “My Name,” Anoop has planned an intimate yet energetic promotional tour that will excite fans from Mumbai to Malibu.
Anoop has appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Live with Regis & Kelley, Good Day New York, Inside Edition, and Good Day Atlanta. In print, he has been featured in USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, OK Magazine and countless other publications. He recently launched his new website www.anoopdesai.com.
Special thanks to Anoop for agreeing to appear to benefit the National Inclusion Project!