“I sang ‘House of the Rising Sun’ and ‘Stubborn Love’ by the Lumineers. I had never watched American Idol, but I did this for my Grandma since the auditions are in Mobile. She is a big fan and told me I could do it. She drove me here and is waiting to hear how I did. I play out 2-5 gigs a week in Pensacola and music pays the bills and is putting me through school. I am majoring in environmental science at UWF. I am one of six kids and mom made sure we all took piano lessons. I hated the piano so I tried the violin. I hated the violin so I tried the guitar and that was it. I started playing as a street musician and a guy told me I was good and asked me to play with him. I have been doing this ever since. My stage name is Tallahassee Smith. I was a huge Indiana Jones fan when I was a kid. I ran around in cowboy boots and a hat carrying a whip.  Indiana is a place, Tallahassee is a place. Smith and Jones are generic last names. I have never done anything like American Idol. My intentions were to play some songs, get told to go home, then eat and take a nap. Now I get to postpone the last ones. It felt good to have someone tell me I am good.”