American Idol’s Scott MacIntyre has been active with several appearances in support of National Organ Donor Month this April. A kidney transplant recipient himself, MacIntyre knows the importance of organ donation and has become an enthusiastic voice for the cause.
In addition to being a spokesman for Donate Life America, MacIntyre performed and spoke at key events such as Lifegift’s Bridging Lives in Houston, TX; Lifebanc’s Legacy of Life Luncheon in Cleveland Ohio, and Linking Hands for Life in Memphis, TN.
He also made appearances on many local television networks in various cities, including Nashville’s Fox 17 TN Mornings and WTVF Talk of the Town, to encourage others to register as organ donors.
“When a family loses a loved one it is always a devastating time, but when that loved one’s organs are donated to others in desperate need of them it’s an amazing thing,” says MacIntyre. “By registering to be an organ donor, you can choose to give the gift of life. You would not believe how much hope it gives to the thousands of people currently awaiting organ transplants. It’s one of the best decisions you can ever make.”
An acclaimed singer/songwriter, MacIntyre took the world by storm with his inspiring performances and authentic personality as a finalist on American Idol. MacIntyre did not reveal that he received a kidney transplant shortly before auditioning for the program. After dealing with blindness since birth, MacIntyre was diagnosed with stage four kidney failure at 19 years old and two years later received a donated kidney from his piano teacher’s wife.
The details of MacIntyre’s transplant first broke in his autobiography, By Faith, Not By Sight, published by Thomas Nelson Inc. In the book, MacIntyre also reveals that his sister’s life was similarly spared by a kidney transplant during his time on Idol. The book has now gone international and has been translated into Indonesian and published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
MacIntyre maintains an active performance schedule which has brought him to venues all over the world—from the US, Canada, and Mexico, all the way to Japan. He also frequently performs with other acts, most recently the Jonas Brothers in January. Amidst his busy tour schedule, MacIntyre and his wife Christina moved from Scottsdale, AZ to Nashville, TN. Although it’s always difficult to leave home, moving to Nashville gives MacIntyre a presence in the music city where he is busy writing songs for a new album scheduled before the end of 2013.
For updates on MacIntyre’s projects and tour dates, please visit his website www.scottmacintyre.com or follow him on Twitter (@ScottDMacIntyre).
About Scott MacIntyre
A child prodigy, MacIntyre was born in Redondo Beach, CA. He began playing piano by ear at age three, advanced to classical lessons at age six, and subsequently learned to play guitar, bass, drums, and organ. He studied music at Royal Conservatory of Music, Arizona State University’s Barrett Honors College, Herberger College of Fine Arts, and was awarded the coveted Marshall and UK Fulbright scholarships and ranked by USA Today as one of the top 20 undergraduate seniors in the nation. He then graduated ASU Summa Cum Laude at 19 years old, going on to receive a master’s degree overseas in England at Royal Holloway, University of London and the Royal College of Music. He was accepted to both Oxford and Cambridge universities for further graduate study in the UK and was received in the White House by First Lady Laura Bush as one of three RFB&D National Achievement Award winners.
Since American Idol, MacIntyre has toured in arenas across North America, headlined concerts in Japan, Austria, England, Canada, and the U.S., and performed with many noteable acts including Michael W. Smith, Alice Cooper, and Jason Mraz. His latest album, Heartstrings, debuted at #18 on the iTunes Pop Album Chart and his original song Christmas Angel received national radio airplay and became one of the top holiday indie singles of 2010. He married his longtime friend Christina in August 2011.
