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M.D. West – One of a Kind Story 

In season 4 of American Idol, America voted Carrie Underwood as the winner. But America was denied the chance to see what may have been one of the most talented performers to ever grace the Idol stage.  M.D. West – a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter – made his presence felt at the Cleveland auditions that year.  He wowed his way thru over 10,000 contestants, 3 days, and dozens of judges.  “I think the most surreal moment was on day 2 of the auditions, the contestants had our own little contest while we were waiting to be called in by the judges. And after I sang – almost simultaneously 4 other contestants got up and went home. That was crazy.” 

M.D. was also without a doubt the most interviewed contestant there. The producers & executives wanted to know who was this soulful singer/stay-at-home dad from Detroit. So when presented to the final judge (Nigel Lythgoe) before he would be sent to face Simon, Randy & Paula – he was confident he was on his way to Hollywood.  “After I sang, Nigel told me word for word – you have an incredible voice!”  But instead of giving America & M.D. a chance, Nigel decided to send a mime (yes you read right) a MIME to Hollywood instead of M.D.

Unfortunately...it would not be the first time M.D. would suffer a major disappointment - not by a long shot. 

Born to a Nigerian father and a musically gifted American mother; M.D. along with his mom was left behind by his biological father when he was just 2 years old. To this day he has not seen or heard from his father again.  To complicate matters, his mother was hit by a drunk driver months later - leaving her crippled and debilitated from the waist down.  M.D. also had the great misfortune of being a chronic asthmatic. It got so bad that at just 7 years old, he was separated from his mom and sent almost 600 miles away to specialists in Philadelphia where they conducted tests for almost a year trying to find a solution.  "Can you imagine a 7 year old not seeing his mom for almost a year...for the first week I threw tantrums and totally rebelled just because I wanted to be with her...my mom was all I had ya know. I had to grow up fast, but in the end I was a better person for it." 

M.D. still suffers from asthma today - but he hasn't let that slow him down.  M.D. has been heavily involved in the music industry since 11 years old.  By just 12, he had performed on 3 continents and by 16 had credits with the likes of Branford Marsalis & Paul Anka. By the end of high school M.D. was a legitimate industry veteran, but decided to pursue a college education at Hampton University.

But as fate would have it - he would never get that chance. Two days into his 1'st semester break, M.D. was robbed & shot during an attempted car jacking. 

"After I had already been shot once, the punk put the gun to my head and told me - I could kill you right now!" 

Then something so incredible, so unreal happened; not even the best writers in Hollywood would have come up with it.

"The robbers gave us back the keys to the car, and then just walked away...true story."

Having no choice but to drop out of college, M.D. rehabilitated for 6 months but got right back to doing what he does best.  Over the next few years he would add to his already impressive resume culminating with a 1 hit as a songwriter.  “I've played in the smokiest straight-ahead jazz clubs, written classical music, backed up Paul Anka, and been featured on numerous gospel albums…and I still go crazy over P-Funk!...(laughs) but you know what, its ALL soul music. Because it all connects with people.”

Now stepping out from behind the scenes a much wiser but still young man, you can almost HEAR his experiences in his raspy yet reserved voice.  Crooning one minute and scatting the next on the SAME record he switches up in a style that can only be described as…his own.  And instead of “bling” and his exact number of “bitches”, he sings about REAL LIFE. Aptly nicknamed the “Soul Doctor” (play on the M.D. name) you will only find real talk in his music.  Open. Exposed. Un-filtered.  That's M.D.'s way.

"The stuff we go thru everyday - that's the real life. Our relationships, our mistakes, our growth as individuals - are we supposed to find all the answers in da club?  There's a place for clubbin...but Its obvious that God has brought me thru all my experiences for a reason. And until he's finished with me, I'm going to sing about them. And maybe...just maybe, they'll help somebody"