The "American Idol" finalist returned the favor big time for a crowd of almost 1,000 cheering fans gathered in front of City Hall.

London, who was voted off the show May 12 to the dismay of judges and many of her fans, charmed the crowd by joking with local officials, telling stories about her childhood, and singing her heart out with her pre-"Idol" band.

After getting the key to the city, London stayed two hours after the event ended at 1 p.m. to sign autographs for each of the several hundred fans who wanted one.

"This is the bomb town -- to be in Oakland, California," London told the crowd."Thank you for coming out for little old me."

Later, between autographs, she smiled and said: "Oh, I'm feeling the love in Oakland today. I'm swimming in it."

During her stint on "American Idol" -- in which she made it to the final four in the hit TV show -- the lifelong Oakland resident was in Los Angeles for months and had no sense of how her sultry voice had charmed thousands of fans.

"It was like being in a bubble," said London, sporting a new hairdo."Millions of people watched me. ... But it's not the same as singing live right here."

The event began at noon with a series of testimonials from loved ones, including the woman who taught London -- then age 4 -- her first song, Whitney Houston's "You Give Good Love."

Mayor Jerry Brown told her the ceremonial plastic key to the city would "open my office" and provide her "all the secrets of City Hall."

City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente said that during several Tuesday night council meetings, he urged the crowd to take a break at 8:30 p.m. and dial in their vote for London.

Her fans, who ranged in age from 6 to 60, cheered her wildly. Several said later she was their inspiration.

But it was her singing that brought out the crowd.

Before she became a finalist on "American Idol" in September, London performed for two years with All Star Jukebox, a band specializing in popular songs from 1960s classics to contemporary hits. With that band, London sang everything from Aretha Franklin and Etta James to Norah Jones and Alicia Keys.

On Thursday, she showed her range by performing two songs recorded by Chaka Khan and Rufus, "Tell Me Something Good" and "Sweet Thing," sandwiched around the 1970s disco-funk anthem "Boogie Oogie Oogie" by Taste of Honey. That song inspired a group of fans to line up and do the hustle.

London said she expects to have an album released next year, and she is touring this summer and fall with other "American Idol" performers.

Many close to London, from her former bandmates to her husband and longtime friends, said she deserves the break the TV show has given her.

"She's a natural band leader -- she deserves national fame," the band's guitarist, Jude Gold, said after the performance." Latoya kills on the disco songs. Her signature song was Donna Summer's 'Last Dance' and 'I Will Survive' " by Gloria Gaynor.

Her husband, Dannie Cox, 33, said the big smile and warm personality everyone saw on TV is the "real LaToya."

"It's not an act -- she is the real thing," Cox said with a smile."And, yeah, I know I am the luckiest man in the world."

E-mail Jim Zamora at ## jzamora@sfchronicle.com.

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