Going for the gold: Windham singer wins Binghamton Idol finals

Alan Vanderpool of Windham Township, known by many in the area for bringing home the winning karaoke titles, time after time, singing country music and Elvis tunes, won the Binghamton Idol Finals after facing three weeks of qualifiers, then the semifinals and finals.
His Binghamton Idol award not only entitled Vanderpool to fly to attend the American Idol Finals, but also to give a concert at the Magic City Music Hall and do the opening for Binghamton's Spiedie Fest in August. Vanderpool explained that he also won some studio time and a professional CD.
Winning Binghamton Idol is not the end of the road for Vanderpool. Vanderpool says he's shooting for the moon, and that he still has some hopes and dreams yet to fulfill.
Although winning a local Idol contest didn't entitle him to perform in the American Idol contest, sometime in the future that may just happen. Vanderpool said he tried out for American Idol last summer in Rutherford, N.J., and is considering trying out for the show again this year.
"It was a fun experience," Vanderpool said. In his description of the tryouts, he said thousands of people were there, filling half of the stadium.
While at the tryouts, Vanderpool said, a local girl from Waverly, N.Y., was waiting in line just in front of him.
Vanderpool made it only to the tryout's first elimination round. He said that because there are so many people, contestants have only 10 seconds to prove themselves, singing whatever song they choose.
After having gone through the experience once, Vanderpool has a bit of advice for those wanting to try out. "You better give everything you got in that 10 seconds." He said that if he goes back, that's exactly what he is going to do.
In the meantime, Vanderpool has been busy competing in and winning other contests, including the Tioga Downs Karaoke Showdown, which was held in February and aired by Binghamton's WBNG TV.
"We used to watch that religiously on Sundays," Vanderpool said.
He also is also a disc jockey and a karaoke jockey through his business Encore Entertainment, which he started two years ago. "We put on a good show," said Vanderpool's girlfriend Krista Miller. Vanderpool said they have to always keep their scheduling book with them, because they never know when someone will ask them to schedule an event.
Whether it's his DJ/KJ business or competing in karaoke contests, the music keeps Vanderpool busy every day.
"I sing every day. I do it because I love it. It keeps me well-prepared," said Vanderpool. "I'm lucky that I have good neighbors and they like to hear me sing," he added.
Vanderpool's love of singing isn't something that just happened recently. According to Vanderpool, his aunt has videos of him singing into bananas and screwdrivers as a kid.
"It's surprising on how people pay attention. It's pretty cool," he said. "I guess they see this redneck and they can't believe I sound like that.
"I feel like I'm home in bed when I'm on the stage. It's better than drinking beer. I quit drinking because I'm singing. It's just a rush," Vanderpool said.
"I just basically get on stage and be me," he said. "If I can get the crowd to scream at me, then I know I'm making them happy."