Anatoliy Vladimirovich "Anthony" Fedorov (; born May 4, 1985) is an American singer and actor who is former lead singer for the Chicago band 7th Heaven. He rose to fame as the fourth place finalist on the fourth season of American Idol.
Biography
Early life and career beginnings
Fedorov was born in Yalta, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. He, his parents, and his older brother Denis moved to the United States in 1994. He had a tracheotomy as a toddler due to a birth defect in his windpipe, from which a scar is still visible. Despite skepticism that he would even be able to talk again, he persevered and began singing at an early age. He is a tenor and can play the piano and guitar. He graduated from Neshaminy High School in 2003 and attended Bucks County Community College.
Fedorov is fluent in Russian and English. He can also sing in Spanish and Italian.
American Idol
Fedorov was an American Idol contestant during the spring 2005 season. Of all the American Idol auditioners, Fedorov was most well known for singing ballads, something which all three judges view as his best style.
Fedorov was voted off the show on May 11, 2005, after singing "I'm Already There" by Lonestar and "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes during country music/Gamble and Huff week. It is said by many that his rendition of "If You Don't Know Me By Now" was one of his top performances, having been on-key through the entire song and gaining praise from the judges. It was viewed as one of his most accomplished, along with his presentations of Celine Dion's "I Surrender" and Paul Young's "Every Time You Go Away".
American Idol performances
When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Fedorov was among the bottom three contestants, but was declared safe when Anwar Robinson was eliminated. When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Fedorov was in the bottom two but declared safe when Scott Savol was eliminated.
After American Idol
In June 2006, Fedorov finished in third place as a contestant on a special Reality TV edition of NBC's Fear Factor along with American Idol season 2 finalist Carmen Rasmusen. He also appeared in four episodes of MTV's Little Talent Show – Triple Threat, which aired on September 26, 2006.
Fedorov toured extensively after American Idol, performing in summer festivals, such as the Spiediefest in New York, Misquamicut Beach in Rhode Island, Clark County Fair in Washington, The Stars and Stripes Festival in Mount Clemens, Michigan, and Independence Day Celebration in Silver Springs, Florida, concerts such as Kellogg's 100th Anniversary Concert in Battle Creek, Michigan, and solo concerts in Philadelphia, Long Island, New York, and as part of the CMJ Festival 2011 in New York City.
In April 2007, he toured American Air Force bases in Europe, judging the Military Idol contest and performing.
Fedorov performed in the US tour of the stage production Simply Ballroom, touring across the United States March through April 2008.
In April 2009, he toured with the "Ballroom with a Twist" production across the eastern United States .
He performed the National Anthem for the New York Knicks, the Oakland Raiders, the Seattle Mariners, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also sang "God Bless America" at the Bank of America 500 NASCAR Pre-Race show .
In March 2009 he performed at the BMI Latin Music Awards honoring Gloria Estefan.
In December 2011, Anthony gave a solo concert at The Bitter End in New York City.
Musical theater
Matt in the off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks starting on May 1, 2007, until the end of July at the Snapple Theater Center in New York City.
He then starred as the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in July 2009 in Oklahoma City Lyric Theater alongside Diana DeGarmo.
He has reprised the role at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, starting on October 10, 2009.
On May 14, 2010, he played the role of the Prince in the Rodgers & Hammerstein's production of Cinderella in Nashville, Tennessee, which was a benefit concert for the Steven Curtis Chapman's Foundation Show Hope.
From August 5 to 22, 2010, Fedorov played Joseph again at North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, Massachusetts. He reprised the role of Joseph from December 7, 2010, to January 2, 2011, in St. Paul, Minnesota, at the Ordway.
Fedorov reprised the role of the Prince in the second annual production of Cinderella in Nashville on April 15, 2011.