Taylor Reuben Hicks[1] (born October 7, 1976[2]) is an American soul singer, songwriter, and musician. He was an independent artist for the span of a decade before rising to prominence as the winner of the fifth season of American Idol. Upon winning American Idol, Hicks was immediately signed to Arista Records[3]. His debut single "Do I Make You Proud" opened at the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the RIAA. [4] His major-label debut is slated for release on December 5, 2006.[5] His energetic stage performances and throwback to classic soul music have earned him a following of devout fans, who have dubbed themselves the "Soul Patrol".
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Biography
Early life and career
Taylor Hicks was born at Saint Vincent's Hospital at 3:30am Central Daylight Time in Birmingham, Alabama on October 7, 1976, to Brad Hicks and Pamela Dickinson Hicks.[6] 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.
According to his father, when he was five years old he sang to random strangers the music of Kenny Rogers or Michael Jackson[7] He plays guitar as well as blues harp and writes most of his own songs. [8] He also possesses absolute pitch. [9]
Hicks was a former student of Berry High School and graduated from its successor Hoover High School in 1995. He attended Auburn University, majoring in business, communications and marketing, but lost interest and dropped out after three years.[10] He moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a music career and has worked with Nashville veterans Billy Earl McClelland and Percy Sledge.[11]
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.[12] 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.[13]
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.[14]
American Idol
Hicks auditioned for American Idol in Las Vegas, Nevada. He had originally wanted to try out in Memphis, but auditions in that city were cancelled to accommodate relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina. He was in New Orleans attending a wedding of a good friend he met while at Auburn University on 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. [15] 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. On Hicks's first performance for the voting public, 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 finalists. 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.[16][17] May 12 was proclaimed "Taylor Hicks Day" and Hicks was given the key to the city.[18] Also on May 12, Governor Bob Riley issued a proclamation making May 16 "Taylor Hicks Day".[19] He was also named Hottest Bachelor by People magazine for 2006, appearing on the magazine's cover.[20]
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, to date, 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.[21] He is the third winner to have never landed in the bottom two or three (after Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood).
Current and future career
Template:Future album Template:Future book
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.[3] 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. [22]. He did perform at Birmingham's City Stages music festival, first on-stage with Snoop Dogg [23] and with both the Allman Brothers and his former band, now called the Little Memphis Blues Orchestra, on Father's Day. [24] Hicks has also been spotted at concerts sharing the stage with Robert Randolph and the Family Band as well as Widespread Panic and Willie Nelson.
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.[25]
In August 2006, it was announced that Hicks received $750,000 (USD) to write a memoir of his life, which is expected to be released in spring 2007 by Random House. [26] The book, Heart Full of Soul will be ghostwritten by Rolling Stone writer David Wild. On July 13, one month after its release, Hicks's debut single, "Do I Make You Proud" was certified gold by the Record Industry Association of America. [27]
Soul Patrol
Fans of Hicks have been dubbed the "Soul Patrol."[28] 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!" [29]
During a promotional event for Idol in Alabama, Hicks "inducted" Governor Bob Riley and his wife into the Soul Patrol.[30] Hicks also has two goldfish, named Lamont and Ray, around whom fans have created and maintain a blog.[31]
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."[32] Hicks has also won the respect of President George W. Bush.[33]
Popular culture
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. This is the first time an American Idol contestant has been parodied on the show.
"Weird Al" Yankovic parodied Hicks on his 2006 album, Straight Outta Lynwood, with a parody of "Do I Make You Proud" called "Do I Creep You Out?".
Discography
Albums
| Album | Statistics | Singles |
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| File:In your time front.jpg | In Your Time
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| File:Taylor Hicks Under the Radar.png | Under the Radar
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| File:M 685833 200.gif | 2006 album
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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
- ^ Gray-haired Hicks brings soul to Idol by Wade Kwon for the Scripps Howard News Service, 17 March 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2006.
- ^ American Idol - Season 5, episode 29. Aired live on FOX, April 12, 2006.
- ^ a b 2006 American Idol Taylor Hicks Signs With 19 Recordings Limited/Arista Records! Press release from J Records/Arista on PRNewswire.com, May 31, 2006
- ^ 29 September 2006 entry Gray Charles: A Taylor Hicks Weblog, September 29, 2006. Retrieved October 2, 2006
- ^ 7 October 2006 entry Gray Charles: A Taylor Hicks Weblog, October 7, 2006. Retrieved on October 8, 2006
- ^ TaylorHicksFan.com
- ^ 'Idol' Standout Hicks Likes Music With Soul for the AP by Desiree Hunter on May 10, 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2006.
- ^ Alabama Idol for the Mobile Register by Mike Brantley on February 21, 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2006.
- ^ Unlikely ‘idol’ content with his prospects by Gary Graff for the New York Times Syndicate on August 11, 2006. Retrieved August 12, 2006.
- ^ Ibid.
- ^ Promotional flier scan from Taylorhicks.com
- ^ Fans of Taylor Hicks hope Birmingham native grabs 'Idol' title, The Montgomery Advertiser, March 7, 2006, accessed June 30, 2006
- ^ Tapestry interview
- ^ Idol Winner Has NASCAR Ties
- ^ Katherine, Taylor speak up for USA Today by Ann Oldenburg, 5/19/2006. Retrieved May 24, 2006
- ^ Taylor Hicks' 'Soul Patrol' goes global Mike Brantley, Mobile, Alabama Press-Register, May 23, 2006, retrieved May 25, 2006.
- ^ American Idol and Taylor Hicks come to Hoover! City of Hoover, Alabama press release.
- ^ Proclamation from the Mayor of Hoover, Alabama
- ^ State of Alabama proclamation
- ^ '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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ American Idol to light up Stadium of Fire by Camilla Hodge for BYU News Net on June 1, 2006. Retrieved June 12, 2006.
- ^ Snoop Dogg and… Taylor Hicks? on Saturday, June 17,
- ^ The Stages light up by Kathy Kemp for The Birmingham News on June 17, 2006. Retrieved June 17, 2006.
- ^ Ford signs American Idol winner Taylor Hicksto star in national advertising
- ^ Taylor Hicks Prepares Memoir, Billboard by Stephen M. Silverman for People on August 4, 2006.
- ^ 29 September 2006 entry Gray Charles: A Taylor Hicks Weblog, September 29,2006. Retrieved October 2,2006
- ^ Homepage of the "Official Soul Patrol" by Chris Harris. Retrieved May 25th, 2006.
- ^ 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)
- ^ '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.
- ^ Lamont and Ray homepage "Finfans and Guppies". Retrieved May 25th, 2006.
- ^ Taylor Hicks' Biggest Fan? by Elaine Shannon for TIME.com, 25 May 2006. Retrieved on May 26, 2006.
- ^ 'American Idols' to visit White House, Bush by Nedra Pickler of the Associated Press. July 21st 2006. Accessed on July 22nd, 2006.
External links
- Taylor Hicks Official Site - temporarily redirects to Gray Charles: The Taylor Hicks Weblog
- Taylor Hicks Video Clips rehearsals.com performances of "What's Going On" and "Hell of a Day"
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- Taylor Hicks at IMDb
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