Age: 25
Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Musical Favorites: Lenny Kravitz, Raine Maida, John Mayer, Mandy Moore
Idol Pursuits: Claims an impressive aptitude for TV-watching and sleeping
Audition Song: Living On A Prayer
Last Minute Decision: Originally, David only went to the Idol audition to support his little brother, Andrew. But decided to try out for himself when he got there. Andrew did not make it past the first round.
What's in a Name?: It would have made for some fun TV, but he's not related to fellow finalist Kristy Lee Cook
Lionel Idol: Lionel Richie loved David's rock version of his hit Hello that he performed in 80s week that the star said he wants to release it as a single.
Activities: David was in the choir, theatre club and baseball team at Georgeff-Baker Middle School.
College Boy: David has a degree in graphic design from the Central Missouri State University. He was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa.
The Day Job: Before he went on Idol, David was a bartender in Tulsa, working at clubs including Blank Slate and Rehab Lounge.
Early Success: In 1999, David formed a band called Redeye with drummer Bobby Kerr. In 2001 they added with guitarist Jeff Shrout and changed their name to Axium. They recorded two albums, Blindsided and matter of time, and bagged support gigs for bands including Maroon 5, Smashmouth and Fountains of Wayne. They were named as one of the top 15 bans in the country in the Got Milk? indie contest.
Kings on the Road: For the past two years, David has toured with popular Tulsa-based band, the Midwest Kings. He joined them after his high-school band Axium, played a support date with them. David has recorded one EP, Incoherent with Desire to Move On, with the band.
Album: David has an independently released an album called Analog Heart. It was briefly the most popular mp3 download on Amazon.com, but the site mysteriously removed it after two days at the top of the chart.
Teacher's Pet: Cook credits his 'musical awakening' to his teacher at Thomas Ultican Elementary school, Fredalyn Gentry. Mrs Gentry has said that she cried like a baby when he thanked her on the show.
Middle Name: Roland
Musicals: David performed in several amateur musicals while he was growing up, including West Side Story and the Music Man.
Doesn't Know What He's Looking At?: David has courted controversy throughout the finals by borrowing rock arrangements from other performers without, some claim, giving them enough credit.
Heartache: David's older brother Adam has suffered with brain cancer for eight years. Adam had to fly to L.A. on a medically equipped private jet with a nurse and medic so that he could see David perform in Week Five.
Reality (Love) Bites: David has been romantically linked with fellow reality TV star, Lacey Schwimmer, who was a runner-up on So You Think You Can Dance in 2007. They are said to have started dating after they met during rehearsals for the Idol Gives Back charity special.
Magazine Fiend: David says he studies magazines like Vogue, Cosmo and Vanity Fair to try and figure out what women are thinking!
Kindergarten Rock: He got his first guitar when just two years old, and he began singing in second grade, after his teacher gave him a solo part in the choir.
In The Pipeline: David is believed to have finished recording his follow up to Analog Heart just before he went on Idol.
Songs
Semifinals Week 1: "Happy Together" (The Turtles)
Semifinals Week 2: "All Right Now" (Free)
Semifinals Week 3: "Hello" (Lionel Richie)
Finals Week 1: "Eleanor Rigby" (The Beatles)
Finals Week 2: "Day Tripper" (The Beatles)
Finals Week 3: "Billy Jean" (Michael Jackson)
Finals Week 4: "Little Sparrow" (Dolly Parton)
Finals Week 5: "Innocent" (Our Lady Peace)
Finals Week 6: "Always Be My Baby" (Mariah Carey)
Finals Week 7: "Music Of The Night" (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
Finals Week 8: 1. "I'm Alive" 2. "All I Ever Really Need Is You" (Neil Diamond)
Finals Week 9: 1. "Hungry Like A Wolf" (Duran Duran) 2. "Baba O'Riley" (The Who)
Finals Week 10: 1. "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (Roberta Flack) 2. "Dare You To Move" (Switchfoot) 3. "Don't Want To Miss A Thing" (Aerosmith)
Finale: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (U2), "Dream Big" (Idol songwriter contest), "The World I Know" (Collective Soul)
