[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 10509]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRATULATING AMERICAN IDOL WINNER DAVID COOK

  (Mr. SKELTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to 
congratulate a fellow Missourian, David Cook, winner of American Idol: 
Season 7.
  Here are some pertinent facts:
  Native of Blue Springs, Missouri;
  While attending Blue Springs High School performed in The Music Man, 
West Side Story, and Singin' in the Rain;
  Cook formed the band, Axium, his junior year of high school, for 
which he was the lead singer and guitarist. In 2004, Axium, was chosen 
the best band in Kansas City and was recognized nationally as one of 
the top 15 independent bands;
  He was a 2006 graduate of the University of Central Missouri with a 
degree in graphic design;
  Upon completion of college, he released his first solo independent 
album, Analog Heart, which was chosen the fourth-best CD released in 
2006;
  It is worth noting that David Cook did not originally plan to 
audition for American Idol; he traveled to Omaha, Nebraska to support 
his younger brother Andrew;
  Cook was often seen playing his electric guitar while performing on 
American Idol;
  He received 56 percent of the vote; 97 million votes were cast.

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