GALVESTON — Touring across the country singing in front of sold-out crowds is so much fun that David Cook said it sometimes feels like he’s stealing.
That’s why the former “American Idol” winner and platinum recording rock artist is glad he’s getting a chance to do his part in the Galveston recovery process.
Cook will perform at the Moody Gardens Outdoor Amphitheater on Sunday as part of the Concerts on the Gulf series. A portion of the ticket proceeds will benefit the Galveston Recovery Fund.
“Being able to do what I do every day, play music and travel, that’s an amazing privilege,” Cook said. “To come to Galveston and be a small part of helping an area is important to me. I feel like we are doing something bigger than ourselves.”
Cook became a household name last year, when he was a contestant on the seventh season of the hit show “American Idol.” Putting a new spin on classic favorites, Cook quickly became a star and won the show’s title by more than 12 million votes over runner-up David Archuleta.
The week of the show’s conclusion, Cook had a record-breaking 11 songs debut on the Billboard’s Hot 100. It was the highest number of new entries and the second-highest amount of simultaneous hits since the Beatles in 1964.
His debut album, “David Cook,” released in November and went platinum with more than 1 million sales in January.
“I lucked out, because after the show was over, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen,” Cook said. “But 19 Entertainment said, ‘Hey, we know you can do it,’ so they let me make the record that I wanted.
“I think what I love most about the album, is that with the time crunch, there is a frantic energy undermining it. I wanted to make a rock record with pop sensibility, and I think we were successful with that. It’s cohesive from start to finish.”
Cook has been traveling the country on the “Declaration” tour since February. Since Cook was born in Houston, he was excited to add the tour stop in Galveston, after receiving plenty of interest in coming down to the island.
“Galveston was adamant about me coming down, and I was excited to go near where I was born,” Cook said. “We moved from Houston when I was about 1½ years old, so I don’t remember much. Hopefully, I’ll have a little bit of time before or after the show to do some exploring.”
Cook said he’s excited about performing at an outdoor venue, though it can be a bit more physically taxing.
“Outdoor shows seem more real to me,” Cook said. “Indoor venues are always climate-controlled, which is nice. When you perform outdoors, you have to deal with the elements and all that. But some of the best shows I’ve ever seen have been in the pouring rain, so I prefer the outdoors.”
There is no rain in the weather forecast for Sunday, though temperatures will be around 90 degrees when Cook takes the stage at 7 p.m.
“So I guess should wear a tank top and booty shorts,” Cook said with a laugh.
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David Cook Tickets
Where: Moody Gardens Amphitheater
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Price: $75 Section 1 (assigned), $55 Sections 2 and 3 (assigned), $20 Festival Lawn (general admission)
