Milford Band Member Nick Fradiani Jr. Continues to Excel on American Idol Season 15

Nick Fradiani Jr. has made it to the top 7 of American Idol Season 15 last week with a rousing rendition of Katy Perry’s smash hit “Teenage Dreams.”

Fradiani, 29, who has ties to Guilford, East Haven, Milford, and West Haven, wowed the crowd Wednesday night with his performance and Judge Jennifer Lopez gushed over Nick’s singing as did Keith Urban. (Watch the video of Nick’s performance below)

After he advanced Nick took to social media and urged his fans to keep voting for him.

“Can’t wait to get back up on that stage on Wednesday! Please keep online voting for me! This has been such an incredible ride and I don’t want it to end! You can vote 20 times at www.americanidol.com/vote and 20 times by Google searching “American Idol Vote,” Nick wrote.

“Check out my version of Katy Perry‘s “Teenage Dream!” You can get it on iTunes. Thank you all so much for the support. I can’t believe we are at Top 7. I’m already looking forward to next week!,” Nick also wrote.

“You guys keep bringing it! Top 7! It’s all because of your tremendous support. Voting is now open. Call and text is only open for 2 hours so hit those phones! Hope you enjoyed my performance of Teenage Dream by Katy Perry as much as I did! So much fun. Love you all!,” Nick wrote after this week’s show.

Harry Connick Jr. said Nick did a good job, he panned the song choice and challenged him to sing something “grittier” next time.

Nick still needs your help to keep advancing and you can vote for him here.You can also vote by calling 1-866-436-5706.

This week Fradiani worked with ‘Florida Georgia Line’ and band members told Nick that he needed to become more relaxed on stage, and be the frontman that he is. They told him to practice looking in the mirror at himself, which Nick did.

Nick said despite appearances to the contrary, he is very comfortable on stage.

“I think this will be the start of something cool,” Fradiani said before he hit the stage.

After Nick was done singing, Lopez said “that was so good,” and she loved how he made it his own song.

“It was amazing for me,” Lopez said. “I could hear that on the radio today.”

Connick said he didn’t entirely agree with Lopez’s review, but Urban said Nick’s song choice was “killer” for him, and that Fradiani looked much more comfortable on stage this week.

“I love it that you made it your own,” Urban said.

Urban and Lopez challenged Connick to sign “Teenage Dreams,” and after some prompting he sang some of the lyrics while Nick played guitar for him.

Fans of Fradiani’s gathered at Guilford High School, which is where he graduated from, to watch him perform live.

Before the show Nick wrote on Facebook, “I just want to thank everyone for taking the time to vote and for getting me to this point. Whatever happens I am so thankful… I couldn’t be more excited about my performance coming up. You’ll really get a sense of who I am as an artist, and I’ll have my guitar back! It’s going to be a good one I promise!”

He is closing in on 24,000 Facebook likes.

On Facebook, fans keep writing message of support for their next American Idol.

Barbara Gargano Loesche wrote, “Nick believe in yourself as much as we believe in you ! You are going to the top !!! You deserve it !!!!”

Teresa Swanson wrote, “You will not be in the bottom 2 tomorrow you are making all the way, you have the best voice by far.”

Amelia Rogers wrote, “Nick Fradiani for 2015 American Idol Winner!!!!!!!!!!”

Fradiani does his best to respond to every comment left for him on Facebook.

This isn’t Fradiani’s first time at the reality TV rodeo. He auditioned forAmerica’s Got Talent last year with his Milford band, Beach Avenue, bandmates, performing original songs.

Follow Nick Fradiani’s Journey:

• ‘Like’ Nick Fradiani on Facebook
• Follow Fradiani on Twitter
• ‘Like’ Beach Avenue’s Facebook page