Singer hits right notes

Oct 9 2008 by Graham Fraser, Hamilton Advertiser

A SINGER and songwriter from Hamilton has made it through to the regional final of a prestigious music competition.

Paul Keogh (30), who now stays in Glasgow after attending Holy Cross High School, is in the Scottish final of Idol 2008.

As the Advertiser reported two weeks ago, Hamilton girls Paula Gallacher and Kerri O’Row, along with Debbie Gavan from Bellshill, will also compete in the competition.

Idol 2008 is a contest for singers, vocal groups, dancers and dance groups.

The winner will pick up a £25,000 cheque.

The vocal winners will receive a range of prizes including, for the winning act, the prize of a recording contract to release their single.

The dance winners will go on a UK tour and appear in the video for the vocal winner’s single.

This will not be the first time that Paul has had an opportunity to break into the music industry.

He made it to the last 30 in the original Fame Academy and was in the same group as eventual winner David Sneddon and third-placed Lemar, who has since forged a successful career in music.

And 18 months ago Paul, a labourer who nows lives in Glasgow’s East End, auditioned for a contract at Melodramatic Records - the label of Scots singing sensation Amy Macdonald.

Paul commented: “I am very pleased to have made the regional final of Idol. I can’t wait to get up onto the stage - it will be a blast.

“I am more nervous when I am off stage then when I am on.”

Paul will be competing amongst other talented hopefuls at the regional final show, held at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on November 2.

He will have the support of partner Nicola Cogan, from Ashgill, and grandfather John Johnstone of Blantyre as well as his parents and the rest of his family.

Paul concluded: “My hopes are just to impress the people in the music industry who have a lot of influence.

“This is another opportunity for me.

“It is a tough industry to break into, but never say never.”