Blake Lewis

Blake Colin Lewis was born on July 21, 1981, in Redmond, Washington. He grew up in Bothell, Washington, and his early years were marked by a passion for music. His mother, Dinah Lewis, was a former rocker who played guitar and sang, exposing him to music from a young age. Lewis attended Kenmore Junior High and Inglemoor High School, participating in various high school competitions and musicals. During this period, he developed a unique talent for beatboxing, teaching himself by listening to CDs. He also learned to play the guitar, keyboard, and drums, and began writing original songs. These formative experiences laid the groundwork for his future in the music industry.

Lewis’s career began to solidify after high school. For four years, he was a member of the a cappella group Kickshaw, contributing to their 10-track album “Put It in the Microphone.” He left the group in 2002 to pursue a solo career under the stage name Bshorty, performing regularly in Seattle venues and connecting with various musicians. A turning point in his career came in 2007 when he auditioned for the sixth season of “American Idol.” He finished as the runner-up, gaining national recognition for his beatboxing and contemporary musical style. His performances on the show, particularly his reinterpretation of “You Give Love a Bad Name,” were noted for their originality and risk-taking. After “American Idol,” Lewis made several television appearances and participated in the “American Idols LIVE! Tour 2007,” where he showcased his beatboxing and live looping abilities, even performing an original song.

Following his success on “American Idol,” Lewis signed with Arista Records and 19 Recordings, releasing his major label debut album, “A.D.D. (Audio Day Dream),” on December 4, 2007. The album peaked at number ten on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling 97,500 copies in its first week and over 350,000 copies in total. Despite being dropped by Arista Records in 2008, he continued his musical career, signing with Tommy Boy Records for his second album, “Heartbreak on Vinyl,” released in 2009. This album charted on the Billboard 200, Independent Albums, and Dance/Electronic Albums. As an independent artist, Lewis released “Portrait of a Chameleon” in 2014 through his own Audio Day Dream Records and “Wanderlust Unknown” in 2020. He has also ventured into voice acting, appearing in “Durarara!!” and “Generator Rex,” and has produced for other artists, continuing to evolve his artistic presence.