(CBS) Blake Lewis was 17 when he started beatboxing and it was a skill that served him well on "American Idol," where he was this season's runner-up.

The versatile 25-year-old musician can also play guitar, keyboard and bass, and he is about to launch a recording career.

Even the harshest of the "Idol" judges, Simon Cowell, said Lewis was the most talented entertainer among this year's contestants. Most famously, Lewis put his own unique spin on the Bon Jovi classic "You Give Love a Bad Name," infusing beatboxing throughout the song.

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Photos: "American Idol" Season 6

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"I just tried to have fun with a piece of music that wasn't mine," he told The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm. "We don't get to do our own songs on the show, so I was like 'I gotta make mine as much as possible, and, you know, stay true to myself' and that's where the beatboxing comes in."

Lewis says he was not disappointed that he didn't win, and he never thought of himself as an "American Idol." He says he's just happy with all the support he has received and the career opportunities he now has. Look for a solo album soon, he said.

Watch Lewis perform Maroon 5's "She Will Be Loved."

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