David Archuleta hasn’t let success spoil him.
Even though he recently wrapped up his first headlining tour and his self-titled first CD debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 (and is nearing platinum status), he’s still just a kid from Murray.
“I was amazed at how many people came to my concerts,” Archuleta observed during an interview Wednesday. “I knew people liked me on ‘American Idol,’ but I didn’t think they’d care to come see me sing at my own show.”
Salt Lake fans will get a chance to see the “American Idol” runner-up at an event on Saturday, June 6, at the Rio Tinto Stadium.
It will a nice break for Archuleta, who is working on two new CDs, one of which will be for Christmas.
“We’re still trying to decide what songs might be best,” he said about the Christmas release. “They’ll probably be my favorite Christmas songs, and we might need to come up with more different approaches.
“The pop album is different, (because) you need to try to find what suits you best,” he said. “I definitely want to get more involved with the writing. But I feel like I have writer’s block 24/7, with little openings. We’ve all got our weaknesses, and that’s mine.”
While Archuleta likes singing for his fans, especially locally, he loves being able to spend time with his family in Murray.
“It’s the boring things that mean a lot to me,” he said. “I enjoy taking my sisters to eat. Or sitting watching TV with my family.”
Archuleta also loves spending time with friends he hasn’t seen for months, although this time at home, most of his closest friends have departed on missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“It’s crazy, because I went to five farewells and sang at two,” he said.
When asked about his own plans for serving an LDS mission, Archuleta, who doesn’t turn 19 until December, said he feels as if he’s already on one.
“There is so much that I want to give back to the One who has blessed me with this gift,” he said about his singing abilities. “I feel that there must be a reason why I’m here, doing what I’m doing. And I want to make sure that I do what is expected of me before it all ends.
“I don’t know when this all will end, and I want to make sure I do all that I’m supposed to before that happens. I have this opportunity and want to make the best of it.”
This week, Archuleta’s Murray High classmates will graduate. He won’t be one of the class of 2009.
“When I joined ‘American Idol,’ I had to stop school,” he said. “Those who were the younger contestants worked with a studio teacher, but I couldn’t keep up.”
Archuleta said he is working on — and hoping to — earn his high-school diploma. “I want to, but it’s hard.”
Salt Lake fans can see the “American Idol” runner-up Saturday at a Real Salt Lake soccer match.
He is scheduled to sing the national anthem at 7:30 p.m., before the Real Salt Lake/Colorado Rapids game, as well as sing a four-song mini-concert at the showdown’s end.
The event is part of the Rio Tinto Stadium’s “Charity Begins At Home” event, which will celebrate the military and the official dedication of stadium.
Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit “Operation Warmheart,” which serves Hill Air Force Base and the Utah National Guard Charitable Trust by assisting families with various expense challenges when a family member is deployed.
“I like doing things for good causes,” Archuleta said about his involvement with the event. “I was contacted about it, and it sounded fun.”
