When the curtain came up for the second number of the American Idol 2011 Tour at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Sunday night, Pia Toscano took to the stage like she had been doing it for her whole life.
An opening group number featuring all of the Idols had just ended, leaving the arena dark as the capacity crowd of 16,000 waited for the music to start again. Seconds later, as the lights came up there stood Toscano to deliver her rendition of Alicia Keys’ “New York” to four decks of screaming Idol fans. More of the same continued throughout the performance, with Pia, Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery all clearly fan favorites.
Forum Newsgroup Publisher Pat Adams was invited by Pia to visit backstage for an exclusive interview after the concert, where she talked to the singing star about her hometown of Howard Beach. “Oh my gosh—I really can’t say enough about my community,” said Pia. “I would never ever be where I am without the love and support of everyone at home.”
And Pia credits her current success to working constantly in the neighborhood on many different charitable projects. “Every event that I did at home has brought me to where I am. I am so grateful to everyone in my town that I can’t even speak. I am not one of those people that would ever forget where I came from.”
In addition to all the friends and neighbors whom she expressed gratitude to, Pia spoke of her parents, Jane and Pat, whom she says have been like two pillars of never ending support. “They have sacrificed so much and stood by me through every endeavor. I hope I am making them proud,” she says with tears streaming down her face.
Despite the fact that Toscano did not progress very far into the actual Idol competition, she is one of the few contestants that have inked a record deal with a major recording label. Interscope Records officially confirmed in July that Toscano had been signed. Pia said she was absolutely thrilled to join Interscope. “It’s just a dream come true.”
Her debut album, which is due out after she returns from the concluding leg of the tour in the Philippines, is something she is very excited about. “It’s going to be big ballads, but also fun up-tempo songs,” she said.
It’s clear that Pia Toscano, the hometown girl with a golden voice who made the neighborhood proud and just released a new single, “This Time”, counts herself as a Howard Beach girl through and through.
by Phyllis Inserillo
