Atlanta super-producer Tricky Stewart is anything but idle

Stewart, 37, has amassed a heady list of successes on the show, helping to arrange Casey Abrams’ rendering of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” Jacob Lusk’s “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” and finalist Haley Reinhart’s “Piece of My Heart.”

Stewart also has worked with the show’s other finalists, Scotty McCreery (“That’s All Right”) and fellow Georgian Lauren Alaina (“The Climb” and last week’s double shot of Martina McBride’s “Anyway” and Elvis Presley’s “Trouble”).

In a phone interview last week from California, where he has resided since the “Idol” madness began, the laid-back Stewart -- a Chicago native -- laughed when asked to predict a winner.

Not because forecasting the next potential pop star is impossible, but because he already did so months ago -- in February, to be specific, when the show traveled to Las Vegas and 61 contestants performed Beatles songs.

His picks?

McCreery and Alaina, which tells you something about his ear for understanding mainstream popularity.

“It wasn’t because they were country singers, but they had a vocal identity. I knew Scotty’s voice had a purity and familiarity to that era in time and that he would be a force to be reckoned with, and Lauren was so talented. I really, really love her voice,” he said, adding with another chuckle, “but I’m mad about the fact that she lives in Georgia and I didn’t have the chance to meet with her before ['Idol'].”

Vocal identity is Stewart’s priority when working with fledgling acts. For him, it isn’t about artists getting shoehorned into a category, but having a quality that immediately distinguishes them.

He points to Pink and Rihanna as examples.

“That’s what they have. You know exactly who is singing,” Stewart said. “['Idol'] is a singing competition, so whoever comes into that studio can really sing. In that sense, it’s been easy [working with newcomers]. But helping them find a vocal identity has been a challenge.”

Still, Stewart said he would love to work with many of the finalists once the show ends.

“I love Haley. I love Lauren. At this point, anyone that’s left can go home and be ready to go. I’d work with any one of them.”

Good luck, though, trying to find a moment of free time in Stewart’s schedule.

Currently, while balancing his “Idol” duties, he’s finishing some tracks for Beyonce; working on the score for next year’s animated Dr. Seuss movie, “The Lorax”; writing and producing a song for Kelly Rowland’s new album; and carving out studio time with Leona Lewis and Semi Precious Weapons.no hyphen on group's site

Then there are his latest recruits to RedZone Records: Bryan J, who has already gained some traction with “Let Me Take You Out,” and singer Ulrika Lindstrom, a pale blonde with a killer voice, whom he’s grooming for a record release next year.

“She’s coming out to L.A. in a couple of weeks, and we’ll have her do some shows here and get her chops up,” Stewart said. “That’s what it’s all about. Your choices are so limited with music being in the state it’s in that when you get the opportunity to introduce someone, you want it to be rock solid.”

Though Stewart is an undisputed giant in his field, he is surrounded by a team of pros -- many of them family -- who contribute to the RedZone empire.

It’s been an explosive 15 years since Stewart and his brother Mark were persuaded by record executive L.A. Reid -- the CEO of Island Def Jam Music Group until March -- to move their production company to Atlanta, which led to the birth of RedZone.

Now, cousin Thaddis “Kuk” Harrell is a vocal producer who worked on both “Umbrella” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” as well as producing most of the vocals on Mary J. Blige’s 2007 album, “Growing Pains,” and Justin Bieber’s multiplatinum “My World 2.0.”

Harrell’s sister, Cynthia, oversees the Atlanta studios. Meanwhile, Mark Stewart and his wife, Judi, supervise some artist management, including handling Tricky's career.

Tricky Stewart sounds completely sincere when promising that he’ll return to Atlanta shortly after “Idol” wraps -- “My whole life is back there” -- but there is also an unflagging loyalty to his roots, especially when it comes to sports.

“Chi-town till I die, baby!” he said. “I love Atlanta, but I’m a Cubs, Bears, Bulls fan till I die.”

Not a surprising sentiment coming from a guy who clearly knows something about passion.

Tricky’s triumphs

In addition to working as a producer on albums by Katy Perry (“Teenage Dream”) and Jennifer Lopez (“Love?”), Stewart’s resume includes composer/producer duties for Usher, Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Celine Dion and Christina Aguilera.

Though his song credits number nearly three dozen top 40 hits, his Midas touch has also helped blast these songs into the top 10.

1999: “Who Dat,” JT Money featuring Solé (No. 5)

2000: “Case of the Ex,” Mya (No. 2)

2007: “Umbrella,” Rihanna featuring Jay-Z (No. 1)

2008: “Touch My Body,” Mariah Carey (No. 1)

2008: “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Beyonce (No. 1)

2008: “Leavin’,” Jesse McCartney (No. 10)

2009: “Obsessed,” Mariah Carey (No. 7)

2009: “Hard,” Rihanna featuring Young Jeezy (No.

2010: “Baby,” Justin Bieber (No. 5)