Taylor Hicks

Taylor Reuben Hicks"Gray-haired Hicks brings soul to Idol" by Wade Kwon for the Scripps Howard News Service, 17 March 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2006. (born October 6, 1976Official Soul Patrol Biography Unofficial fansite dedicated to Taylor Hicks.) 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

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.TaylorHicksFan.com 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'Idol' Standout Hicks Likes Music With Soul for the AP by Desiree Hunter on May 10, 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2006. He plays guitar as well as blues harp and writes most of his own songs. Alabama Idol for the Mobile Register by Mike Brantley on February 21, 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2006.

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.Promotional flier scan from Taylorhicks.com

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.Fans of Taylor Hicks hope Birmingham native grabs 'Idol' title, The Montgomery Advertiser, March 7, 2006, accessed June 30, 2006 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.Tapestry interview Hicks was a regular performer for weddings, including the wedding of Congressman Spencer Bachus's daughter, three years prior to Hicks' Idol run.Orndorff, Mary. ".From the Office of Congressman Spencer Bachus, 6th District of Alabama. FOX Immediate Release." May 25th 2006. Retrieved on May 29th 2006.

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.Idol Winner Has NASCAR Ties

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. Katherine, Taylor speak up for USA Today by Ann Oldenburg, 5/19/2006. Retrieved May 24, 2006Hicks 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.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. May 12 was proclaimed "Taylor Hicks Day" and Hicks was given the key to the city.Proclamation from the Mayor of Hoover, Alabama Also on May 12, Governor Bob Riley issued a proclamation making May 16 "Taylor Hicks Day".State of Alabama proclamation

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.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. He is the fourth person to never be in the bottom two or three (after Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, & Carrie Underwood).

Current career

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. 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. American Idol to light up Stadium of Fire by Camilla Hodge for BYU News Net on June 1, 2006. Retrieved June 12, 2006.. He did perform at Birmingham's City Stages music festival, first on-stage with Snoop Dogg Snoop Dogg and… Taylor Hicks? on Saturday, June 17, and with both the Allman Brothers and his former band, the Little Memphis Blues Orchestra, on Father's Day. The Stages light up by Kathy Kemp for The Birmingham News on June 17, 2006. Retrieved June 17, 2006. 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.Ford signs American Idol winner Taylor Hicksto star in national advertising

Fans

Fans of Hicks have been dubbed the "Soul Patrol."Homepage of the "Official Soul Patrol" by Chris Harris. Retrieved May 25th, 2006. 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!" 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)

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 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.

During a promotional event for Idol in Alabama, Hicks "inducted" Governor Bob Riley and his wife into the Soul Patrol.'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. Hicks also has two goldfish, named Lamont and Ray, around whom fans have created and maintain a blog.Lamont and Ray homepage "Finfans and Guppies". Retrieved May 25th, 2006.

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."Taylor Hicks' Biggest Fan? by Elaine Shannon for TIME.com, 25 May 2006. Retrieved on May 26, 2006. Hicks has also won the respect of Republican Congressman Spencer Bachus (sixth district of Alabama, where Hicks is from).

Discography

Albums

In Your Time (1997)
Under the Radar (2005)

Singles

Year	Single	Album	US	US AC	US Pop	US Dig	US Sales	CAN Singles	iTunes 100	AOL's KOL Top 5	RIAA Certification
2006	"Takin' It to the Streets"	Encores	69	-	-	42	-	-	25	-	-
2006	"Do I Make You Proud"	"Do I Make You Proud/Takin' It to the Streets (Single)"	1	15	1	18	1	1	6	5	-

References

External links

Taylor Hicks | Taylor Hicks | Taylor Hicks

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