Photo by: www.taylorhicksfansite.com
If you like Taylor Hicks, check out these professional music artists
Jordin Sparks, Daughtry, American Idol, Mandisa, Katharine McPhee, Rob Thomas, Chris Sligh, Ray Lamontagne, Avril Lavigne, A-Ha, Amy Lee, Anastacia, Ashlee Simpson, Ace of Base, The Allman Brothers Band, Amy Adams, Ambrosia, Alanis Morissette, Aerosmith, Amy Studt, The Andrews Sisters, Aimee Mann, Alan Parsons, America, Backstreet Boys, Bad Company, Bad Religion, B-52'sMore Pop & Rock Music...
|
|
|
|
Taylor Reuben Hicks (October 7, 1976) is an American singer who achieved fame in 2006 as a contestant on the fifth season of American Idol, which he won later that year. Hicks got his start as a professional musician in his late teens and performed around the Southeastern United States for well over the span of a decade, during which he also released two independent albums
. Upon winning Idol, he was signed to Arista Records, under which his self-titled major label debut was released on December 12, 2006. His energetic stage performances and influences derived from classic rock, blues, and R&B music had earned him a following of devout fans, who have been dubbed the "Soul Patrol." He is currently on Broadway in "Grease" playing Teen Angel, the role originated by Frankie Avalon.
BiographyEarly lifeTaylor Hicks was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on October 7, 1976, to Bradley Hicks and Pamela Dickinson. His hair started turning gray by the time he was 14. He and his family moved to suburban Hoover when he was eight years old. His parents divorced, and stepmother Linda shared custody of their son until he became of age. Hicks attributed his difficult childhood as the reason for him to find solace in soul and blues music.[ publisher= Gray Charles: The Official Taylor Hicks Weblog ] He has a younger half-brother, Sean, who would later convince him to audition for American Idol.
He bought his first harmonica when he was 16, for $2 at a flea market in Bessemer, Alabama,["Taylor Hicks Bio"] and taught himself to play blues harp. He discovered that he possessed absolute pitch when he was able to recognize the pitches of ordinary noises and mimic them on the harmonica. Hicks was 18 when he wrote his first song, "In Your Time", and he taught himself to play guitar when he was 19.
Hicks graduated from Hoover High School in 1995. He played varsity baseball, soccer, and basketball while studying in Hoover. He then majored in business and journalism at Auburn University, but lost interest and dropped out after three years.
Independent musiced in [[Seattle, Washington]] on May 12.December 16, 2007, Hicks performed "Do I Make You Proud" live together with 6 Asian Idol finalists in Jakarta Indonesia. Hicks also performed on the American Idol (season 6) finale at the Kodak Theatre on May 23, 2007.
2008: Early WorksDespite winning American Idol 2006, Hicks' post Idol career had its ups and downs. Arista Records confirmed in January, 2008 that it had dropped Hicks from its roster.
J records, a subsidiary of Sony BMG, also announced that they were releasing Hicks from his recording contract. Hicks has the lowest selling American Idol winners album.
Early January, Taylor Hicks made this statement on his Myspace page:
cquote
As of June 2008, Hicks has signed a distribution deal with Vanguard/Welk records to distribute a compilation album "Early Works". At this time, he is also starring in Grease on Broadway as the Teen Angel. Early Works was released on August 12, 2008.
Soul PatrolHicks's fanbase has been dubbed the "Soul Patrol". The phrase started among his Internet fan base after the episode of Hicks's Idol auditions aired, but it is difficult to trace its exact origin. Hicks frequently mentioned the Soul Patrol after performances on Idol, which was best shown after winning the competition—Ryan Seacrest asked if he had any parting words and Hicks yelled, "Soul Patrol!".
During a promotional event for Idol in Alabama, Hicks "inducted" Governor Bob Riley and his wife into the Soul Patrol.
In addition to zealously following the musical career of Taylor Hicks and related artists, the Soul Patrol is also known for its charity work on behalf of various organizations such as Studio By The Tracks, Kid One Transport, Habitat for Humanity, and American Red Cross among others.
The first Soul Patrol Convention was organized in Birmingham, Alabama, USA on May 9th and 10th, 2008, with event proceeds earmarked for Kid One Transport. The Soul Patrol was represented from all over the US, Canada and the United Kingdom.
Popular cultureHicks 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 a reference to Hicks's quirkiness and disposition, Sudeikis mocked playing Hicks's trademark harmonica 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.[ title = American Idol ]
"Weird Al" Yankovic parodied Hicks on his 2006 album, Straight Outta Lynwood, on a track called "Do I Creep You Out", which is set against the melody of "Do I Make You Proud". In the music video of the song, an animated Hicks, played by Yankovic, is portrayed as the stalker. The video can be seen on JibJab. Hicks is also known to perform Yankovic's version during soundchecks.
Talk show host Jay Leno frequently refers to Hicks as "his son" due to their striking gray-haired resemblance. Seacrest has also mentioned on American Idol that Hicks resembles Leno, Phil Donahue and George Clooney.[AI5]
Stephen Colbert, host of The Colbert Report, had also promised to give political pundit Bill O'Reilly a copy of "Do I Make You Proud" upon O'Reilly's appearance on the show on January 18, 2007.
On the television sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine, in the episode entitled "The Real Thing", Christine, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, mentions that she has an imaginary relationship with Taylor Hicks.
Discographydetails Taylor Hicks discography
External Links
AskMen.com - Taylor Hicks
Copyright Citations
This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Taylor Hicks
|
|
