From Soldier To Singer

It worked for Carrie Underwood, now a Tulsa man hopes getting on American Idol will help him too. He's an aspiring gospel and R&B singer, undergoing a dramatic career change. <br/><br/>News on 6

Thursday, August 24th 2006, 10:09 am

By: News On 6

It worked for Carrie Underwood, now a Tulsa man hopes getting on American Idol will help him too. He's an aspiring gospel and R&B singer, undergoing a dramatic career change.

News on 6 anchor Craig Day says Kevin Reynolds grew up in a family of singers. His mom. His grandmother.

A singing career is what he's always wanted. "With my music, one of my dreams is I want to be able to touch everyone with my music." With one CD under his belt and another in the works, the gospel and R&B singer will try out next week in Memphis for American Idol. A gospel and R&B singer is a long way from Kevin Reynolds' previous job.

One that also meant travel and being away from home. One that also required lots of training. This singer was once a soldier. "I left here when I was 17 years old to join the military. People was like, you can sing, you got a voice, you can sing, you can sing, don't go into the Army."

Reynolds ended up serving four years in the Army, putting a singing career on hold. But he didn't stop singing. In Iraq, he sang to fellow soldiers, lifting spirits of homesick comrades.

During the darkest hours of war, especially before dangerous missions, he sang gospel. "The military taught me how to be a man. Foremost, the military taught me discipline. I didn't have discipline."

Now, he'll take that discipline and apply it to his future and the transition from Army to artist. In addition to a new CD, Reynolds also hopes to produce a DVD of his performances.