One Hollister resident has a lot to cheer for two nights each
week when
”
American Idol
”
airs on Fox.
One Hollister resident has a lot to cheer for two nights each week when “American Idol” airs on Fox.
Hollister’s Ken Crowe met “American Idol” finalist James Durbin when the Santa Cruz singer was just 12 or 13 years old. Durbin had been singing karaoke at a Santa Cruz flea market, and the two started talking about one of Crowe’s favorite topics, professional wrestling. Crowe is a longtime promoter for wrestling shows in Northern California, the most recent one March 11 in Newark.
Durbin as a young teen had been missing a father figure, and Crowe ended up helping to fill the void. That is because at age 9, Durbin’s musician dad died of a drug overdose, according to media reports.
After he and Durbin met and started talking about wrestling, Crowe formed a bond with the youngster’s family. Crowe often would take Durbin to the weekend wrestling shows, such as those in Newark and Fremont.
“He used to come down and stay with me for the holidays and stuff like that,” said Crowe, acknowledging Durbin – who has Asperger’s syndrome, the main symptom being troubles in social situations – needed a male figure in his life.
Crowe noted how Durbin calls him “Pops” and he calls him “Son.”
“I always tell everyone we’re not blood, but we’re family,” Crowe said. “He’s like the son I never had. His son calls me ‘Poppy.'”
Crowe said he had known about Durbin’s earlier successes during this season’s “Idol,” but how he had to keep quiet for several months.
“I knew he was doing it for a long time, but he couldn’t tell anybody really,” he said, adding encouragement for locals to vote for Durbin.
“American Idol” airs at 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays on Fox.
For a 2003 story on Ken Crowe, go here.
