Constantine Maroulis was born a scrappy kid in Brooklyn with big pipes, deep pride for his Greek heritage, and a love for the theater and rock n’ roll. It was an upbringing a world away from the showbiz glitz of New York and Los Angeles, yet he would come to penetrate the firmament of stars in those galaxies many times.
Constantine channels appreciation for his visibility and success in creativity and writing, recently releasing a new album of original work entitled Until I’m Wanted in the quarantine summer of 2020. Recording Until I’m Wanted was a collaborative effort, with Maroulis calling on relationships he developed over the course of his career. “Here I Come” was written by Constantine Maroulis, Christopher Reardon, Andrew Waldeck and Jason Spiewak. Reardon and Waldeck, better known as Killer Deluxe, have written hits for other Idol alums Daughtry and David Cook, to name a few. Killer Deluxe also wrote “Blown Away,” “Once In Your Life” and “She’s Just Rock N’ Roll” with Maroulis. “Try” was written by Constantine Maroulis and hitmaker Ryan Star and was produced by Dan Monea and Nate Monea at Little C Studios in Canton, Ohio. “All About You” was written by Constantine Maroulis, Sam Hollander and Grant Michaels. Sam Hollander has written and/or produced over 20 US Top 40 Pop Hits, as well as numerous worldwide smashes, including Panic! at the Disco’s worldwide number one, “High Hopes”. In 2019, Hollander held the top position on the Billboard Rock Songwriters chart for nine weeks, a year-end record. “All About You” was produced by Constantine Maroulis and Josh Edmondson and was mixed by Jeff Juliano. Jeff Juliano is a Grammy-winning mix engineer who has worked with such acts as Dan+Shay, John Mayer, Shawn Mendes and Miley Cyrus among others. Critics agree, and according to Disciples of Sound “This is a guy you always root for and never count out, especially now as he releases maybe the biggest rock “fun ride” of the year, his sophomore effort Until I’m Wanted.”
Fortunately, Constantine had been very busy prior to the impact of COVID, and is enjoying the release of several film projects including Dark State, Either Side of Midnight, and 5th Borough. Additionally, Constantine had been very active performing, including several shows with Adler’s Appetite featuring Steven Adler of Guns ‘N Roses fame, Rocktopia, and Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox.
Re-emerging from COVID brought about the launch of WABC’s Constantine Maroulis Show, an exciting entertainment-centric podcast, shared worldwide via the station website. In addition to the radio show, Constantine is returning to the stage with tribute act Foreigner’s Journey, as well as the official Rock of Ages band, and with NJ party outfit, Constantine and The Frequency. Constantine also notably contributes to the zeitgeist of pop culture, as his friendships with celebrities including The Real Housewives of New York, are cannon fodder for the press and paparazzi on an on-going basis.
Constantine first came to prominence as the beloved rock n’ roll underdog on American Idol. He then secured his place in pop culture as a Broadway superstar, best known for his Tony-nominated role in Rock of Ages. Now, for his third act, he begins an invigorating and promising new era with a bevy of intriguing projects, including putting the finishing touches on his most assured and swaggering solo music to date.
“I always knew I was going to do something within the entertainment business. From a young age I told everyone that,” the New Jersey-based performer says. “I always had a plan. The streets of New York were my college. I hustled a ton, pounding the pavement selling clothes, doing real estate, just anything to support my dreams. I was the kid with a mic in one hand and a briefcase in the other.”
Constantine’s story took an important turn at a young age when his family moved from Brooklyn to Wyckoff, New Jersey. The city’s manicured lifestyle was a culture shock to Constantine who preferred the more diverse and earthy environs of Brooklyn. He took solace in close family ties, and his family’s eclectic music soundtrack which included goth, classic rock, jazz, Spanish hymns, Greek music, pop, and show tunes. His life would get another jolt when he witnessed his brother’s performance in a high school production of West Side Story. “I remember seeing the scene where he got stabbed in a rumble and came back to life in a dream sequence. That changed me forever,” Constantine recalls.
Despite his vocal prowess and his magnetic presence onstage, Constantine bounced around the New York music scene through most of his 20s having put in a lot of hard work with little to show. In 2004, an old friend convinced him to try out for American Idol. Before his fateful appearance on the show, Constantine had studied musical theater at Boston Conservatory, spent years in the theater scene, and slogged it out on the thankless NYC rock n’ roll club circuit. At the time of his Idol audition, he was fresh from touring with the musical Rent and out of touch with the popular show, as this was before social media. The rest is history, one Constantine is grateful for. “Basically, my life changed the moment I stepped on the property. I had cameras in my face all the time. It was the right time and I was ready to play,” he recalls.
Constantine Maroulis became a household name through his memorable run as a finalist on the fourth season of American Idol. His charisma, rock n’ roll edge, and astounding vocals entranced the judges, along with the 30 million viewers watching the show at home. His triumphant performances on Idol included some of the show’s most electrifying moments on TV, including his rendition of Queen’s epic “Bohemian Rhapsody”.
Constantine knew after American Idol he had a relatively limited window of opportunity to fortify his career. “I went into survival mode—I knew nothing would be handed to me,” he confides. It was by hustling, flying back and forth between New York and Los Angeles, working 12-hour days, that he began to make headway. A show called Rock of Ages with an unknown cast and unknown creatives came knocking. It had a great program of classic songs and Constantine was instantly drawn in by the concept and signed on. The show enjoyed a highly successful run as one of the highest-grossing Broadway shows of all time, culminating in a myriad of awards and critical acclaim for Constantine including a Tony Award nomination, and firmly establishing him as a world-class performer. Constantine then went on to receive a Drama League Award nomination for the Distinguished Performance Award for Rock of Ages, as well as his work on the show Jekyll and Hyde. “In a way, there are two mes—the guy driving the van and trailer, and the guy onstage in front of millions. I want to be like a great utility player on a baseball team and play every position on the field. That feels honorable,” he says. Constantine’s clout is growing on Broadway, as his name is attached to many upcoming projects both as producer and actor. Recently Constantine served as a producer on the Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Deaf West’s Spring Awakening.
All of this ambition is held in balance by Constantine’s inspiration– his 10-year-old daughter Malena. Life as a single dad is not without its challenges; however, Constantine is firm in his commitment to being present in his daughter’s daily life. Constantine says: “I’m really a regular guy, and my family reminds me of that. There is nothing more important to me than spending time with Malena. Everything is for her and her future.”