Cal High alumnus’ singing career takes off

Former student Tyler Stimpson auditions for ‘American Idol’

Tyler Stimpson is seeing stars. Hollywood stars.

The 2013 Cal High graduate auditioned for “American Idol” late last year and recently appeared on the popular FOX television show.

He couldn’t reveal all the details about his experience with the show due to not wanting to spoil what might happen during the show, but fans did get to see him qualify for the group rounds in Hollywood.

Stimpson was able to provide a little insight about the show.

“I guess I can say that there is an amazing group of talent on this season,” said Stimpson. “I met so many good people so far and have been writing with some.  I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.”

His brother, junior Kaden Stimpson, attended the audition with Stimpson in San Francisco.

“It was very nerve-wracking and there was a lot of waiting.  I did get to meet JLo though,” said Kaden Stimpson.

Currently, Tyler Stimpson is wrapping up his internship at Alice 97.3.

The internship was semester based and he now works there on the promotions team.

Stimpson credited his parents for this amazing internship opportunity.

His parents are avid listeners of the Sarah & Vinnie show and they mentioned the show’s need for interns on one of the shows.

After that, he applied and got the position.

During his time at Cal, Stimpson was part of a band called Minute 2 Midnight.  They played Pop/Alternative music and played shows all over the Bay Area, including Walnut Creek and Palo Alto.

The members of the band were Daniel Alejandrino, Alexander Heinzen, also Cal High graduates, Stimpson and their good friend Keller O’Rourke.

Stimpson does not perform with Minute 2 Midnight anymore because the members have moved on to their respective colleges.

Stimpson started working on a solo project after graduating.

He is about halfway done with his EP which he is currently recording at a studio in Berkeley.

In the past, artists such as All Time Low, Fall Out Boy, and Pierce the Veil were the main influence on Stimpson’s music.

Those artists continue to influence him but he has also changed the course of his music style with his project.

Now he is influenced mostly by artists like Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Panic! At the Disco, Walk the Moon, and slightly by Nick Jonas.

Stimpson started songwriting when he was 13 years old.

Along with the songwriting, he sang as well.

“I began to realize that I really liked it and wanted to perform to make a career out of it,” said Stimpson.

He is most proud of how many shows he’s played, all the practices that have gone into it, and seeing how his songwriting has changed over the years.

His main goal is to be a famous touring singer/songwriter.

“It’s always been a dream for me to be on the road and play music I’ve created for people who want to hear it,” said Stimpson.

He plans to find a manager and build a solid network throughout the Bay Area to help market himself and grow his fanbase.

Stimpson has a Youtube channel named “guitarodude13” that currently has almost 4,000 subscribers.

On his channel, he has videos of himself singing covers, doing live performances, and performing the music he has done with Minute 2 Midnight.

Stimpson recently appeared on the show during the airing of the San Francisco auditions.