This past season’s ‘American Idol’ rocker, Chris Daughtry, has signed a recording contract with 19 Recordings/RCA Records, it was announced Monday.

“American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks and runner-up Katharine McPhee were previously signed to the label, RCA noted in a news release.

Daughtry will assemble a band and his first album is expected to come out in late 2006, the label said. Right now, however, all his attention is on the “American Idol Live” tour currently crossing the United States.

The North Carolina native’s version of Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” debuted No. 16 on Billboard’s Hot Digital Tracks and No. 43 on the Hot 100.