It's a Tay' Hicks post!
Here's some news about everybody's favorite Idol winner, Taylor Hicks!
HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA - When you think about the “American Idol’s” who have made it, two names really pop out - Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. And, you could probably add non-winner Chris Daughtry to the list.
Unless you’re a real “Idol” fan, it’s hard to name many others who have won “Idol,” much less competed and didn’t win.
Around this area, we remember Ruben Studdard and Bo Bice - Studdard attended Alabama A&M and lives in Birmingham and Bice was born here and still has family in the area. Bice, who now lives in Nashville, also occasionally performs in clubs around here and has put out three albums.
Then, there’s Taylor Hicks, another Birmingham guy who spent a summer in Huntsville growing up. In fact, he’s performing next Sunday night as the final act of this year’s Panoply in Big Spring International Park.
He’s been working nonstop since he won “American Idol” in 2006, performing in a traveling Broadway production of “Grease” for 18 months, making plans for a new restaurant in Birmingham, doing gigs with people like Vince Gill at the Ryman and Steven Colbert on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” and auditioning for TV and film roles.
It appears Hicks’ 15 minutes of fame aren’t quite up yet.
“After you hit on everything all the time, a lot of people get complacent,” Hicks said. “They get the big pop and go under a rock.
“You’ve got to constantly stay out there and stay in the eye. That’s hard work and a lot of people don’t want to work hard. That separates you from the pack.”
Old salt and pepper
Some remember Hicks because he looked like the oldest contestant ever on “Idol” with his salt and pepper hair, although he was only 30 when he won in 2006. Others might remember his goofy dancing or pulling out his harmonica, the first “Idol” contestant to perform with an instrument.
It’s been five years since Hicks won “Idol” and some may think he has gone the route of other “Idols” - relegated to the fair/club circuit, or just disappeared. In 2008, Hick’s record label, Arista Records dropped him because he had the then-lowest selling album for an “Idol” winner, although it’s still sold more than 700,000 copies. In 2009, the New York Times mentioned Hicks in a story about “Idol” success, or in Taylor’s case, lack thereof.
“It is doubtful that any of the remaining 24 contestants on ‘American Idol’ hope that they will be playing the ‘Teen Angel’ in a touring production of ‘Grease’ in Milwaukee three years from now,” The New York Times wrote. “But that’s what Taylor Hicks, the 2006 ‘American Idol’ winner, is doing. And it shows that winning the most popular talent competition in the country is no guarantee of superstardom.”
Forbes’ Top 10 “Idol” in ’09
There are all kinds of ways you can measure superstardom, but a 2009 story on the celebrity site popeater.com gives one barometer - “Hicks Laughing All the Way to the Bank.” In the story Hicks confirms, he made $3.5 million during an 18-month run in the Broadway play “Grease” in tour, album, merchandise and appearance fees. That’s one reason Forbes listed him as one of the top 10 money-making “Idols” in 2009, making over $300,000.
His debut “Idol” album sold “only" 700,00 copies and his followup, “The Distance,” a modest 52,000. So, he’s not making the Forbes’ list selling CDs, so what is it?
People, including his beloved Soul Patrol, love to see this Soul Man live. For instance:
• On April 1, Hicks made a surprise appearance on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” during a parody of Rebecca Black’s “Friday” sung by Stephen Colbert.
• Recently, he sang with Vince Gill and Keb Mo at the Ryman in Nashville in a concert to benefit mental disorders.
• Two weeks ago, he attended The Masters in Augusta, Ga., and performed at several corporate parties, included the prestigious Maxim Magazine soiree.
• He’s getting ready to open in late May a new upscale bar and grill in the Crestwood suburb of Birmingham called the Ore. It’s in a building that used to house The Open Door, a place Hicks performed for years before “Idol.”
• He’ll perform with other winners on this year’s “Idol” finale in May and then do another 25 or 30 concert dates this summer.
• And, maybe the project that has him most excited, Hicks has been auditioning and talking to network and movie executives. In fact, he feels confident you’ll be seeing him on the television and/or movie screen soon.
An acting career ahead?
“Yeah, I think it’s only a matter of time for film or television,” Hicks said during a phone interview this week while he was working on his restaurant in Birmingham. “I’m getting a lot of good feedback from TV and film producers. The music thing has been great, but this is a brand new facet to the spectrum.
“To be honest, I should have worked on this right out of ‘Idol.’ This acting thing might end up being my home.”
How has Hicks managed to stay relevant?
Persistence. Determination. Hard work. Being business-savvy. Hicks has taken all those to heart, working nonstop since he won “Idol” five years ago. There were 585 performances of “Grease” over 18 months - he only missed three of them. His things are still packed away in boxes in his parent’s basement and he travels between Nashville, New York and Los Angeles.
“I lost a couple of years in my early 30s,” Hicks said, laughing. “I heard they were great, but they slipped by me. I’m trying to catch up a little bit now with the scripted acting and a new record in the fall.”
A Southern gentleman
Yes, he’s a tenacious performer/businessman, but deep down, he’s also a Southern gentleman. Whether you enjoy his original music or not, there’s no denying he’s a nice guy and great performer. Hicks always poses for pictures, signs autographs and supports, performs for several causes and charities.
“I get brought down to Earth every show because there’s always someone there who has a disability or a type of cancer or is with the Make a Wish Foundation,” Hicks said. “We can talk about the great things that happen, but it’s not how many records you sell or the ‘Fallon’ shows. It’s how many lives you can touch through charities like Habit for Humanity, Children’s Research and groups like Make-A-Wish Foundation.”
Hicks said the timing of his “Idol” run allowed him to hit the ground running in the music world.
“As an entertainer, you want to make an impression, and I think that’s one of the things I did,” Hicks said. “If you watched my ‘Idol’ run, I was making an impression on the biggest shows they ever had.
“I really wanted to imprint on America who I was as an entertainer, musician and singer. And, the timing couldn't have been better. I’m very blessed.”
Source~
HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA - When you think about the “American Idol’s” who have made it, two names really pop out - Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. And, you could probably add non-winner Chris Daughtry to the list.
Unless you’re a real “Idol” fan, it’s hard to name many others who have won “Idol,” much less competed and didn’t win.
Around this area, we remember Ruben Studdard and Bo Bice - Studdard attended Alabama A&M and lives in Birmingham and Bice was born here and still has family in the area. Bice, who now lives in Nashville, also occasionally performs in clubs around here and has put out three albums.
Then, there’s Taylor Hicks, another Birmingham guy who spent a summer in Huntsville growing up. In fact, he’s performing next Sunday night as the final act of this year’s Panoply in Big Spring International Park.
He’s been working nonstop since he won “American Idol” in 2006, performing in a traveling Broadway production of “Grease” for 18 months, making plans for a new restaurant in Birmingham, doing gigs with people like Vince Gill at the Ryman and Steven Colbert on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” and auditioning for TV and film roles.
It appears Hicks’ 15 minutes of fame aren’t quite up yet.
“After you hit on everything all the time, a lot of people get complacent,” Hicks said. “They get the big pop and go under a rock.
“You’ve got to constantly stay out there and stay in the eye. That’s hard work and a lot of people don’t want to work hard. That separates you from the pack.”
Old salt and pepper
Some remember Hicks because he looked like the oldest contestant ever on “Idol” with his salt and pepper hair, although he was only 30 when he won in 2006. Others might remember his goofy dancing or pulling out his harmonica, the first “Idol” contestant to perform with an instrument.
It’s been five years since Hicks won “Idol” and some may think he has gone the route of other “Idols” - relegated to the fair/club circuit, or just disappeared. In 2008, Hick’s record label, Arista Records dropped him because he had the then-lowest selling album for an “Idol” winner, although it’s still sold more than 700,000 copies. In 2009, the New York Times mentioned Hicks in a story about “Idol” success, or in Taylor’s case, lack thereof.
“It is doubtful that any of the remaining 24 contestants on ‘American Idol’ hope that they will be playing the ‘Teen Angel’ in a touring production of ‘Grease’ in Milwaukee three years from now,” The New York Times wrote. “But that’s what Taylor Hicks, the 2006 ‘American Idol’ winner, is doing. And it shows that winning the most popular talent competition in the country is no guarantee of superstardom.”
Forbes’ Top 10 “Idol” in ’09
There are all kinds of ways you can measure superstardom, but a 2009 story on the celebrity site popeater.com gives one barometer - “Hicks Laughing All the Way to the Bank.” In the story Hicks confirms, he made $3.5 million during an 18-month run in the Broadway play “Grease” in tour, album, merchandise and appearance fees. That’s one reason Forbes listed him as one of the top 10 money-making “Idols” in 2009, making over $300,000.
His debut “Idol” album sold “only" 700,00 copies and his followup, “The Distance,” a modest 52,000. So, he’s not making the Forbes’ list selling CDs, so what is it?
People, including his beloved Soul Patrol, love to see this Soul Man live. For instance:
• On April 1, Hicks made a surprise appearance on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” during a parody of Rebecca Black’s “Friday” sung by Stephen Colbert.
• Recently, he sang with Vince Gill and Keb Mo at the Ryman in Nashville in a concert to benefit mental disorders.
• Two weeks ago, he attended The Masters in Augusta, Ga., and performed at several corporate parties, included the prestigious Maxim Magazine soiree.
• He’s getting ready to open in late May a new upscale bar and grill in the Crestwood suburb of Birmingham called the Ore. It’s in a building that used to house The Open Door, a place Hicks performed for years before “Idol.”
• He’ll perform with other winners on this year’s “Idol” finale in May and then do another 25 or 30 concert dates this summer.
• And, maybe the project that has him most excited, Hicks has been auditioning and talking to network and movie executives. In fact, he feels confident you’ll be seeing him on the television and/or movie screen soon.
An acting career ahead?
“Yeah, I think it’s only a matter of time for film or television,” Hicks said during a phone interview this week while he was working on his restaurant in Birmingham. “I’m getting a lot of good feedback from TV and film producers. The music thing has been great, but this is a brand new facet to the spectrum.
“To be honest, I should have worked on this right out of ‘Idol.’ This acting thing might end up being my home.”
How has Hicks managed to stay relevant?
Persistence. Determination. Hard work. Being business-savvy. Hicks has taken all those to heart, working nonstop since he won “Idol” five years ago. There were 585 performances of “Grease” over 18 months - he only missed three of them. His things are still packed away in boxes in his parent’s basement and he travels between Nashville, New York and Los Angeles.
“I lost a couple of years in my early 30s,” Hicks said, laughing. “I heard they were great, but they slipped by me. I’m trying to catch up a little bit now with the scripted acting and a new record in the fall.”
A Southern gentleman
Yes, he’s a tenacious performer/businessman, but deep down, he’s also a Southern gentleman. Whether you enjoy his original music or not, there’s no denying he’s a nice guy and great performer. Hicks always poses for pictures, signs autographs and supports, performs for several causes and charities.
“I get brought down to Earth every show because there’s always someone there who has a disability or a type of cancer or is with the Make a Wish Foundation,” Hicks said. “We can talk about the great things that happen, but it’s not how many records you sell or the ‘Fallon’ shows. It’s how many lives you can touch through charities like Habit for Humanity, Children’s Research and groups like Make-A-Wish Foundation.”
Hicks said the timing of his “Idol” run allowed him to hit the ground running in the music world.
“As an entertainer, you want to make an impression, and I think that’s one of the things I did,” Hicks said. “If you watched my ‘Idol’ run, I was making an impression on the biggest shows they ever had.
“I really wanted to imprint on America who I was as an entertainer, musician and singer. And, the timing couldn't have been better. I’m very blessed.”
Source~
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