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The 26-year-old singer from Blue Springs, Mo., performed at John’s Bar in 2005.
“When you were looking at Dave Cook, you knew you were looking at someone special,” said John’s Bar owner Terry Doering. “Everyone expected him to go on and do great things.”
Eric Nagle, 29, of Onalaska, Wis., is a self-described “music addict” who has known Cook since 2002. He was at John’s Bar when Cook did solo songs from his album “Analog Heart” and then played with the band The Midwest Kings.
In fact, if not for Nagle, Cook might not have made his La Crosse gig.
“He’d missed his ride from the night before because he fell asleep and wouldn’t answer his phone,” Nagle said. “He got someone to give him a ride as far as Dubuque, Iowa. Then me and a friend had to go pick him up.”
It’s been interesting to watch Cook’s progress on “American Idol” this season, Nagle said.
“I know everyone who knew him before this is happy for him,” he said. “He definitely deserves whatever he gets out of this.”
Cook squares off against 17-year-old David Archuleta in finals at 7 p.m. today on WLAX-TV, the area Fox affiliate. The winner will be revealed on the “American Idol” finale at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Ryan Stotts can be reached at (608) 791-8446 or ryan.stotts@lee.net.
