Lee DeWyze to Release "Live It Up" on November 16

Last May, Lee DeWyze thrilled millions of fans when he was crowned the Season 9 winner of American Idol. He will set off the same thrills again on November 16, when the self-taught singer, songwriter and guitarist releases his major-label debut album, Live It Up, much of which he wrote himself.

"Putting out an album on a major label is truly a dream come true," said the 24-year-old DeWyze, a native of Mount Prospect, IL, who had built up a sizeable following on the Chicago club scene when he first auditioned for Idol in June 2009 at the urging of his bandmates. He was the only male contestant never to land in the competition's bottom three contestants. DeWyze also said, "I'm excited for all the people who supported me throughout Idol to hear what I can do with my own songs. The album shows a whole different side of me and I'm so proud of it."

DeWyze co-wrote most of the songs on Live It Up, which he recorded while on the road over the summer with the American Idols Live tour. "To see my name listed in the credits on each song was really important to me because I'm a songwriter," DeWyze also said. "I also loved working with such talented writers. They all brought so much to the table and really helped me flesh out my sound." Lee has been well-trained. What a charmer.

Live It Up is an engaging blend of rootsy pop, rock and folk, anchored by DeWyze's soulful, rough-edged voice and bright-sounding acoustic guitar. "I grew up listening to Simon & Garfunkel, The Mamas & the Papas, Cat Stevens and Kris Kristofferson," DeWyze said. "I love hard-edged vocals over pretty melodies — that's what I'm about. I really admire guys like Dave Matthews and Ray LaMontagne, and to now be on the same record label as them — it just blows my mind."

Did you watch DeWyze's Idol win?