Pray for the Soul of Betty

NY City-based neo-grunge music group Pray for the Spirit of Betty shaped in 2003. Brazilian-born guitarist João Joya previously teamed with drummer Michael Hambroussi within the little-known Cohiba, with bassist Taylor C.R. (Hambroussi’s colleague in another short-lived take action, Clyde) completing the founding lineup. Therefore named honoring Taylor’s deceased aunt, Pray for the Spirit of Betty quickly held some auditions to choose a frontman. After rejecting some 150 additional candidates, the trio chosen Constantine Maroulis, an aspiring vocalist and actor most widely known for his efforts towards the 2000 musical Suburban Dreams. In past due 2003, Maroulis was solid in the touring company from the Broadway blockbuster Lease, and Pray for the Spirit of Betty installed a concurrent U.S. tour, playing golf club times after their frontman covered his nightly thespian responsibilities. In summer time 2004, Maroulis journeyed to Washington, D.C., to audition for Fox television’s strike talent search display American Idol. Because the series wore on, he surfaced as a enthusiast favorite and home name, receiving a lot more than 35 million market votes before he was voted off this program on Apr 27, 2005. American Idol’s tremendous popularity also raised the account of Pray for the Spirit of Betty, and in springtime 2005, the Koch label released the band’s self-titled debut LP, a compilation of monitors recorded on the previous 2 yrs. However, Maroulis’ popularity considerably eclipsed the group’s, and after his single appearances in the various-artists series American Idol Period 4: The Showstoppers and Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen, he announced his formal leave from Pray for the Spirit of Betty in March 2006, citing innovative differences.