Taylor Hicks

Taylor Reuben Hicks (born October 6, 1976 in Birmingham) is a singer/songwriter who became the champion on the fifth season of the FOX Network talent show American Idol.

Early life

Born in Birmingham, Hicks moved to Hoover after his parents divorce in 1982. He played Little League baseball and went on to play golf and basketball at Berry High School. He graduated in 1995 after the school was renamed Hoover High School. He attended both Auburn University and UAB. He had gained some fame in the state for his nightclub performances, and released two independent albums, In Your Time (1997) and Under the Radar (2005). Hicks also was heard on Tapestry, a radio program on WBHM in December 2005.

American Idol

Hicks auditioned for American Idol in October 2005 in Las Vegas with the song "A Change is Gonna Come". Idol judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul were early fans of his quirky performance and humble manner, while Simon Cowell found his act grating. Despite Cowell's predictions, Hicks never ranked among the lower ranks of contestants. During the seson, his fans adopted the nickname the "Soul Patrol". Saturday Night Live cast member Jason Sudeikis debuted a Hicks impression that turned "Soul Patrol" into an all-purpose outburst.

On May 12, Idol producers brought Hicks to Birmingham for a weekend of promotional events: television interviews for the WBRC 6, a parade up 20th Street North with a mini-concert in Linn Park, another concert at the Riverchase Galleria, an evening appearance the the Birmingham Museum of Art, and a campaign appearance with Governor Bob Riley.

On May 24 Hicks was crowned American Idol champion, joining Ruben Studdard, also from Birmingham, as one of the only two male vocalists to have achieved that honor.

American Idol performances

• Semifinals Week 1: "Levon" (Elton John)
• Semifinals Week 2: "Easy" (Commodores)
• Semifinals Week 3: "Takin' It to the Streets" (Doobie Brothers)
• Finals Week 1: "Livin' for the City" (Stevie Wonder)
• Finals Week 2: "Not Fade Away" (Buddy Holly)
• Finals Week 3: "Trouble" (Ray LaMontagne)
• Finals Week 4: "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (John Denver)
• Finals Week 5: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (Queen)
• Finals Week 6: "You Send Me" (Sam Cooke)
• Finals Week 7: "Just Once" (James Ingram)
• Finals Week 8: "Play That Funky Music" (Wild Cherry)/"Something" (Beatles)
• Finals Week 9: "Jail House Rock"/"In the Ghetto" (Elvis Presley)
• Finals Week 10: "Dancing in the Dark" (Bruce Springsteen), "You Are So Beautiful" (Joe Cocker), "Try A Little Tenderness" (Otis Redding)
• Week 11 (Finale): "Livin' for the City", "Levon", "Do I Make You Proud?" (written for Hicks by Tracy Ackerman, Andrew Watkins and Paul Wilson)

Discography

• Hicks, Taylor (1997) In Your Time.
• Hicks, Taylor (2006) Under the Radar.
• Hicks, Taylor (2006) "Takin' it to the Streets." (single). Arista Records
• Hicks, Tyalor (2006) "Do I Make You Proud." (single, #1 US). Arista Records
• Hicks, Taylor (December 2006) Taylor Hicks. Arista Records
• Hicks, Taylor (not yet released) "The Runaround" (singe). Arista Records

References

• Kwon, Wade. (March 17, 2006) "Gray-haired Hicks brings soul to Idol". Scripps-Howard News Service. [1]
• Taylor Hicks at American.Idolblog.com
• Interview on "Tapestry" at WBHM.org
• "Taylor Hicks." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 21 Mar 2006, 19:35 UTC. 22 Mar 2006, 15:53 [2].

External links

• profile at American Idol website
• The Official Soul Patrol H.Q.