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Taylor Hicks

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Template:Infobox musical artist 2 Taylor Reuben Hicks[1] (born October 6, 1976[2]) is an American pop-soul singer, songwriter, musician, and winner of the fifth season of American Idol. He is known for his energetic performances on stage. His most devout fans are known as the "Soul Patrol".

Biography

File:Taylorhickschild.PNG
Taylor Hicks as a child

Taylor Hicks was born at Saint Vincent's Hospital at 3:30am Central Daylight Time in Birmingham, Alabama on October 6, 1976, to Brad Hicks and Pamela Dickinson Hicks.[3] As an infant, he had blond hair. His hair color turned dark brown/black as an adolescent and started turning gray by the time he was 13. He and his family moved to suburban Hoover when he was 8 years old. His parents divorced when he was 8, and his father Brad, a dentist, and stepmother Linda shared custody until he became of age. As a child Hicks was often called Coconut Head because of his hair style.

At 12, Taylor's singing talent was clear to the family when he sang Otis Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness" for her. According to his father, when he was 5 years old he sang to random strangers the music of Kenny Rogers or Michael Jackson[4] He plays guitar as well as blues harp and writes most of his own songs. [5]

Hicks was a former student of Berry High School and graduated from Hoover High School in 1995. He attended Auburn University, majoring in business, communications and marketing for a year, but lost interest and dropped out. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a music career and has worked with Nashville veterans Billy Earl McClelland and Percy Sledge.[6]

Early career

Hicks' professional music career began with performances at various venues, including The War Eagle Supper Club (a popular college bar) in Auburn, Ala and at the Playboy Mansion.[7] He released two independent albums, In Your Time (1997) and Under the Radar (2005) prior to appearing on Idol, although having never held a recording contract, he did not violate their requirements for contestants. Hicks has also performed on Tapestry, a radio program on National Public Radio affiliate WBHM in Birmingham, in December 2005. Hicks has also performed with James Brown, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, Drive-By Truckers, Robert Randolph, and contemporary blues legend Keb Mo.[8] Hicks was a regular performer for weddings, including the wedding of Congressman Spencer Bachus's daughter, three years prior to Hicks' Idol run.[9]

He also performed in the huge infield of Talladega Superspeedway in 2004 during a NASCAR race weekend. After Hicks won Idol, driver David Stremme said that he hoped Hicks would come back for the October race weekend there.[10]

American Idol

File:Taylorfinale.jpg
Taylor Hicks performing his single in the finals on May 23.
See also: List of Taylor Hicks' performances on American Idol

Hicks auditioned for American Idol in Las Vegas, Nevada. He originally wanted to try out in Memphis but the site was cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina. He was in New Orleans attending a wedding of a good friend he met while at Auburn University the night before Hurricane Katrina hit. His SWA flight was canceled and he was offered a travel voucher to use at a later date. He used the ticket voucher to fly to Las Vegas. [11]Hicks passed the audition by the approval of judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, but not Simon Cowell, who said that Hicks would never make it to the final round. At a later occasion Cowell called back to this quote, admitting he was wrong.

On the May 10, 2006 results show, Hicks along with Katharine McPhee and Elliott Yamin, were announced as the Top 3. On May 12, Idol producers brought Hicks to Birmingham for a weekend of promotional events including television interviews for the local FOX affiliate, a downtown parade and mini-concert, another concert at the Riverchase Galleria mall, an evening appearance at the Birmingham Museum of Art, and a campaign appearance with Governor Bob Riley.[12][13] May 12 was proclaimed "Taylor Hicks Day" and Hicks was given the key to the city.[14] Also on May 12, Governor Bob Riley issued a proclamation making May 16 "Taylor Hicks Day".[15] He was also named Hottest Bachelor by People magazine for 2006.[16]

Hicks was named the new American Idol on May 24, 2006 winning the title over Katharine McPhee. Over 63.4 million votes were cast in total. With his win, Hicks (at 29) became the oldest person to win American Idol, only the second male to win the contest (after Ruben Studdard), and is the only man to win the contest against a woman in the finale. He is also the first and only white man and the fifth Southerner to win American Idol. He is the second American Idol from Birmingham, Alabama after season 2 winner Ruben Studdard, as well as the fourth finalist with Birmingham ties.[17] He is the fourth person to never be in the bottom two or three (after Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, and Carrie Underwood).

Current career

File:TaylorFordspot.jpg
Taylor Hicks in a Ford advertisement after winning American Idol

Hicks signed a record contract with music mogul Clive Davis in conjunction with 19 Recordings Unlimited, the label managed by "AI" creator Simon Fuller, in May 2006. Arista Records began releasing Hicks' recordings the following month.[18] His first official concert as American Idol was on July 1 in Utah at Brigham Young University's Stadium of Fire to celebrate Fourth of July week. [19]. He did perform at Birmingham's City Stages music festival, first on-stage with Snoop Dogg [20] and with both the Allman Brothers and his former band, the Little Memphis Blues Orchestra, on Father's Day. [21] He's been spotted at concerts sharing the stage with Randolph Family Band (openers for the Black Crowes) as well as Widespread Panic.

In June, 2006, Ford Motor Company signed Hicks to perform the song “Possibilities” in a new commercial to promote Ford’s “Drive on Us” year-end sales event.[22]

Criticism

While Hicks' style and way of performance has been enjoyed by many, it is often criticized by others. The criticism ranges from what some call a limited vocal range to his dancing on stage, which has led people to disparage him as a "performer."

Hicks' appearance and stage personality had journalists comparing him to President Bill Clinton, to which Hicks responded that Clinton was one of his favorite presidents [23].

Fans

Fans of Hicks have been dubbed the "Soul Patrol."[24] Hicks frequently mentions the Soul Patrol after performances, best shown after winning Idol, Ryan Seacrest asked if he had any parting words and Hicks yelled, "Soul Patrol!" [25]

Hicks became the subject of two Weekend Update skits on NBC's Saturday Night Live on April 15 and May 20, 2006, portrayed by cast member Jason Sudeikis. In an allusion to Hicks' quirkiness and disposition, Sudeikis mocked playing Hicks' trademark blues harp and repeatedly shouted out "Soul Patrol!" Hicks, when interviewed by Ryan Seacrest on the subsequent episode of American Idol on April 18, 2006, as to whether or not he saw the imitation, admitted that he had and that the impression made him "fall out on the floor" with laughter.

During a promotional event for Idol in Alabama, Hicks "inducted" Governor Bob Riley and his wife into the Soul Patrol.[26] Hicks also has two goldfish, named Lamont and Ray, around whom fans have created and maintain a blog.[27]

Hicks also became the interest of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. The Secretary of State, according to a Time Magazine report, "took time out from diplomacy to join the millions of Americans awaiting the results of the singing competition." The report also notes that a State Department official "tells Time Magazine that Rice is an unabashed fan of the show and plans to send Hicks her congratulations."[28] Hicks has also won the respect of Republican Congressman Spencer Bachus (sixth district of Alabama, where Hicks is from). Republican President George W. Bush is also a fan of Hicks.[29]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Year Single Album US US AC US Pop US Dig US Sales CAN Singles
2006 "Takin' It to the Streets" American Idol Season 5: Encores 69 - - 42 - -
2006 "Do I Make You Proud" "Do I Make You Proud/Takin' It to the Streets (Single)" 1 15 1 18 1 1

See also

References

  1. ^ "Gray-haired Hicks brings soul to Idol" by Wade Kwon for the Scripps Howard News Service, 17 March 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2006.
  2. ^ Official Soul Patrol Biography Unofficial fansite dedicated to Taylor Hicks.
  3. ^ TaylorHicksFan.com
  4. ^ 'Idol' Standout Hicks Likes Music With Soul for the AP by Desiree Hunter on May 10, 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2006.
  5. ^ Alabama Idol for the Mobile Register by Mike Brantley on February 21, 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2006.
  6. ^ Promotional flier scan from Taylorhicks.com
  7. ^ Fans of Taylor Hicks hope Birmingham native grabs 'Idol' title, The Montgomery Advertiser, March 7, 2006, accessed June 30, 2006
  8. ^ Tapestry interview
  9. ^ Orndorff, Mary. ".From the Office of Congressman Spencer Bachus, 6th District of Alabama. FOX Immediate Release." May 25th 2006. Retrieved on May 29th 2006.
  10. ^ Idol Winner Has NASCAR Ties
  11. ^ Katherine, Taylor speak up for USA Today by Ann Oldenburg, 5/19/2006. Retrieved May 24, 2006
  12. ^ Taylor Hicks' 'Soul Patrol' goes global Mike Brantley, Mobile, Alabama Press-Register, May 23, 2006, retrieved May 25, 2006.
  13. ^ American Idol and Taylor Hicks come to Hoover! City of Hoover, Alabama press release.
  14. ^ Proclamation from the Mayor of Hoover, Alabama
  15. ^ State of Alabama proclamation
  16. ^ 'American Idol' Winner Taylor Hicks Is The Most Eligible Bachelor for Star Pulse from the World Entertainment News Network on June 15, 2006. Retrieved July 22, 2006.
  17. ^ Season 4 runner-up Bo Bice was born in Huntsville, Alabama and lived in Helena, a suburb of Birmingham. Season 3 runner-up Diana DeGarmo was born in Birmingham, and her family moved to Georgia when she was three.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference Arista was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ American Idol to light up Stadium of Fire by Camilla Hodge for BYU News Net on June 1, 2006. Retrieved June 12, 2006.
  20. ^ Snoop Dogg and… Taylor Hicks? on Saturday, June 17,
  21. ^ The Stages light up by Kathy Kemp for The Birmingham News on June 17, 2006. Retrieved June 17, 2006.
  22. ^ Ford signs American Idol winner Taylor Hicksto star in national advertising
  23. ^ Taylor Hicks Gracious Post-'AI' by Mike Straka, May 25th 2006, for Fox News Channel. Accessed July 25th 2006.
  24. ^ Homepage of the "Official Soul Patrol" by Chris Harris. Retrieved May 25th, 2006.
  25. ^ American Idol performance episode May 23rd, 2006 and results show on May 24th, 2006. Fremantle Media, 19 Television, and Fox Television Network. (examples of "Soul Patrol!" statement)
  26. ^ 'American Idol' star Taylor Hicks dazzles fans on visit home, adds Gov. Riley to Soul Patrol for the Mobile Register by Mike Brantley on May 13, 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2006.
  27. ^ Lamont and Ray homepage "Finfans and Guppies". Retrieved May 25th, 2006.
  28. ^ Taylor Hicks' Biggest Fan? by Elaine Shannon for TIME.com, 25 May 2006. Retrieved on May 26, 2006.
  29. ^ 'American Idols' to visit White House, Bush by Nedra Pickler of the Associated Press. July 21st 2006. Accessed on July 22nd, 2006.
Preceded by American Idol Winner
Season 5 (2006) 		Succeeded by
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Template:American Idol winners

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