Taylor Hicks My Idol: Take A Ride On The Soul Train

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Take A Ride On The Soul Train

THE PHENOMENAL HARP OF OUR SOULMAN, TAYLOR HICKS

WHO NEEDS CALGON TO TAKE YOU AWAY?

TODAY'S TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE IS BY TRAIN!

AT NIGHT, ALONG DISTANT TRACKS, THE 2:15 RUMBLES ITS WAY. THE MOURNFUL WAIL OF ITS WHISTLE, SOUNDING FAINT AND FARAWAY. ITS SIREN CALL DRIFTS INTO DREAMS, AWAKENING WANDERLUST. A YEARNING FOR THE UNKNOWN, THAT DWELLS IN EACH OF US. OH TO BE, WITH THROTTLE WIDE OPEN, BRAKEMAN'S LANTERN READY FOR USE, HEADLIGHT GUIDING THE MIGHTY WHEELS, AS THOUGH THEY HAVE A CHOICE!

"LONG TRAIN RUNNING"

FOR MY PAST TRIPS DOWN MEMORY LANE AND A LOOK AT WHAT'S NEW AT MY 'TAYLOR HICKS MY IDOL' SCRAPBOOK ... CLICK BELOW:

http://geocities.com/bloomingproud@sbcglobal.net/index.html

My thanks to DianeC for her "Takin' It To The Streets' mp3 and to ParTayGirl for her "Long Train Running" video ... without you ... where would we be right now?

Bloom

7 comments:

KarinP said...: I LOVE the new look, Bloom! This is fabulous!

Thanks for all of the work you do here and in your scrapbook.; October 11, 2007 at 5:10 PM
judyjs said...: I love this blogspot, Bloom. Like I have told you before, you are so talented. This will be fun. Ok then, I think I will say a word or two about TAYLOR.. I love Taylor Hicks (or maybe 4 words)....I know he is not perfect, but how close can you get anyway....He will do just fine......I have some pictures I took 3-14-07 @ New Orleans HOB that have never been online before..I think I will find some of the better ones if you like..Let me know.....Memories are very important to me right now...I didn't know how to download videos for a long time and now that I can , there are not many with download capabilities...I've been asking around; October 11, 2007 at 5:25 PM
DJinKC said...: REALLY love the new Blog!!! Maybe it's cuz I love the subject so!!! LOL Wonderful audio/video clips!! going to the scrapbook now to see what's new!! Good job Bloom!!; October 11, 2007 at 5:56 PM
Bloom said...: My train is already off track lol!
There seems to be a problem with the audio link and it may be because of the length of the url.

Jonnelle thanks for your great and might I add ... prompt response!! You rock girl!
Course I already knew that!!!
Would love the photos, not sure if you can post them here ... still finding my way seeing what you can and can't do. You have my email address though, so whenever you have the time!
WELCOME ABOARD!!!

Karin your support of my endeavors and our friendship means the world to me!!!
The memories we have made late at night, the I'm sure by now 1000's of emails we have exchanged, our working together on Trip Around The Sun ... the laughter, the tears we have shared ... what can I can but THANK YOU!!!; October 11, 2007 at 6:02 PM
Bloom said...: Whoops, I missed the latest passenger ... hey Donna welcome aboard ... couldn't take the trip without my buddy!!!
You really love the blog??? .... in the words of our Soul Man WOOOOOOOOOO!; October 11, 2007 at 6:13 PM
marykry said...: Bloom,

I love your Blog....It is wonderful. Thank you for everything and the work you do. It is going to be a pleasure to come here....

I got on the "Soul Train" and don't think I will get off anytime soon.

Taylor has a wonderful, soulful voice that captured me the first time that I saw him....He has tremendous talent.

Thanks Bloomie...

mary ann; October 15, 2007 at 4:40 PM
Anonymous said...: THIS IS A GREAT BLOG..REALLY LOVE IT...ALSO I GO LOOK AT THE SCRAPBOOK OFTEN. WHAT A GREAT JOB YOU DID WITH THAT...AND ON IT GOES. HAPPY HOLIDAYS...; November 17, 2007 at 12:02 AM

Taylor Hicks
"Early Works"

First and foremost, these two albums represent who I am and who I am trying to represent as a songwriter.
"In Your Time" was a first attempt at recording songs that I had written at the time. Some songs that were really hitting home with me at the time.
"Under the Radar" was a second attempt at a first attempt to try to record an album that resembled the production quality of Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat." The songwriting was getting better and my direction as an artist was getting clearer. Warmth in the production was the main goal; "nostalgic" and "endearing" are the terms that I like to use for these two records.
Thanks for going on the ride!
Taylor Hicks

MTV News

'American Idol' Alum Taylor Hicks Channels Elvis, Liberace For 'Grease' Gig

In 2006, when salt-and-pepper-pelted soul singer Taylor Hicks won the fifth season of "American Idol," he probably never imagined he'd be popping out of an ice-cream cone, singing "Beauty School Dropout."

Now Hicks is doing just that, playing the Teen Angel - a role made famous by Frankie Avalon in the 1978 film version of "Grease" - in the musical's latest Broadway revival. For his first foray into acting, it's not a bad gig, and Hicks is hoping it will open more doors for him down the line.

"It's a really cool part," he said. "The Teen Angel comes down and tells Frenchy she should put down her teasing comb and go back to high school. I've kind of channeled Elvis, a little Graham Parsons and Liberace, all at the same time, for this role. It was just a perfect fit and a way for me to experience the Broadway stage in a small dose, instead of a full role. I come out in the second act. I pop in from an ice-cream cone, in a blue rhinestone suit, and rock it out for a few minutes."
Hicks said his Teen Angel is like none that has graced the stage before him, because he "Taylor-ized it."

To prepare for the role, he claims he "started doing séances to channel Elvis, and he told me that I needed to wear a midnight-blue, rhinestone-studded suit, and that's what happened. Now we're packing the place out. It's sold-out every night, and I get to play a little harmonica, which is cool. I couldn't do that on 'Idol.' That wasn't the year where you could play instruments."

According to Hicks, the "Grease" part wasn't his first offer. Earlier this year, he'd been asked to join the Broadway cast of "Hairspray," a gig he couldn't fit into his schedule. But being part of "Grease" has given him the itch to act again.

"Right now, I'm releasing a new record in the fall - hopefully - so [doing] this allows me to stay in the city, be in front of thousands and thousands of people for the next three months, and it allows me to reinvent myself, as a musician, an entertainer and possibly a Broadway actor," he said. "This is a nice way to get my feet wet in the acting field. Before, I was so entrenched in music - playing clubs and roadhouses when I was a kid - so Broadway was kind of an abstract thought for me. It's not now. It's real, and I enjoyed being directed from a theatrical aspect as opposed to a musical aspect. It's going to be an interesting road for me."

Hicks said that his fans, known as the "Soul Patrol," have been at each performance - so much so that during one of the shows, he looked down and spotted his face tattooed on a woman's body ("It wasn't anywhere revealing," he said).

Hicks' year has been full of ups and downs. It started off on a bad note, as Arista Records revealed they'd dropped Hicks from their roster after just one release. His 2006 self-titled effort has sold 702,000 copies to date, making it the worst-performing of all the "American Idol" champs' albums. But then, Hicks landed the "Grease" gig, and, with a new album to record, he's close to signing with a new label.

"I don't have a name for the album yet, but I do know that it's some of the best music that I've ever written, and from an artistic standpoint, this album, being in my control, has allowed me to really breathe as a songwriter," he said. "As an artist, you kind of understand the times and what your surroundings are and write from them. So there's some political undertones on the album. It's a serious time for us."

Hicks said he's not worried about the future, because he knows he has what it takes to sustain a career in music. "It would be scary if I didn't really believe that I was supposed to do this," he said. "For me, as a kid, I knew I was supposed to entertain and perform for folks. When you have that self-belief and inner-determination, you understand there are peaks and valleys in this business, and you just keep working at it. You show up to work, whether it's 25 people at a Steak & Ale, or Wembley Stadium and there's 500,000 people. If you keep working, and you're good to people, you'll be blessed."

Despite the poor sales, Hicks said he's still proud of his debut album. "As many songs as were thrown at me in the 10 minutes I had to choose them, I kept a good guard up, because I knew my artistic guard would allow people to say that I really took the integrity to keep my art," he said. "I've been working 15 years to make it in this business. I didn't want to not make it anymore. I'm proud of that record. I just wish we would have had more time to record it, but I'm proud of it. That's key."
MTV News (click MTV for video)
By Chris Harris, with reporting by Jim Cantiello

THE INSIDER
May 15, 2008

Taylor sets his sights on a new project!
Soul man TAYLOR HICKS is tackling a new role.
The former "American Idol" is joining the Broadway cast of Grease on June 6, reports the Associated Press.

Hicks is set to play Teen Angel in the infamously popular musical, saying, he plans to add "soulful flavor" to his performance of "Beauty School Dropout."

The country crooner spoke to the AP saying, "It's a big number, and, you know, I've made some pretty grand entrances before ....
And this one is probably the grandest entrance I've made in my career."

PEOPLE.COM - TAYLOR HICKS ADMITS ...

Taylor Hicks is used to being the object of adoring fans – but when the Jonas Brothers made a TV appearance in New York, the American Idol swapped roles.

Hicks, who is currently starring in Grease on Broadway, couldn't resist partaking in Jonas Brothers mania with thousands of other fans outside of the Live With Regis & Kelly studios in New York City Thursday morning, he told PEOPLE.

"Once I arrived and saw all the Jonas Brothers fans, I got in on the screaming.
We were all having a great time out there," said Hicks, who grabbed a sign from a fan and proudly held it up when the band arrived for the show.

"We were all just being fans and that's a cool thing."
Asked if he's really a true fan, he told PEOPLE "I am!"
"What they do is awesome because it gets kids into music," said Hicks who was at the ABC studio to tape a performance of "Beauty School Dropout" for the show's Broadway Week celebration, to air on Friday.

"They are a classy act," he added, noting that Nick is his favorite Jonas Brother because "he's the leader of the band."
Sadly, Hicks didn't get to bond with the guys.
"I just saw them in passing. They’ve got some pretty heavy security."

In addition to starring on Broadway, Hicks is busy recording his second album, which he hopes to release in the fall.
"I love New York.
I'm working on Broadway and it’s a great way for me to get my feet wet in acting and a great way to season yourself as a performer," he said.

"I've been able to breathe more as a songwriter, having the time and being able to find the right songs."

A Soulful Night On The Farm

Boot, Blues, and BBQ with Taylor Hicks
a Benefit for Hannah Home Shelby
(A Ministry of The King’s Ranch and Hannah Homes)
Saturday, May 10th
Presented by Governor and Mrs. Riley

Hannah Homes provide long term shelters for women, and women with children, who are fleeing domestic violence.

This Christ-centered home provides free housing, food, clothing, transportation, counseling, parenting classes, dometic violence classes and a host of other services to aid residents on their journeys toward healing and wholeness.

"We've probably all called Hannah Home to come get some stuff from us at one point in time," says Taylor Hicks - musical guest for the fundraising event.

"It's a great cause ... and I'm wearing the old boots, and got some blues, and I just had some barbecue."

Taylor Hicks escorted Alabama's first lady Patsy Riley, as the Governor was on crutches and unable to attend.

Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind

Taylor Hicks Donates Autographed Harmonica for 23rd Annual Event
TALLADEGA, AL

April 25th @ the International Motorsports Hall of Fame SPEED Channel Dome at the Talladega Superspeedway.

Alabama’s own soulful singer/songwriter and 2006 American Idol winner, Taylor Hicks, is supporting the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind by donating an autographed harmonica for the upcoming live auction at this year’s Race Fever.

Autographed during the 2008 Alabama Music Hall of Fame Induction Banquet and Award Show where Hicks received the 2008 America’s Music Award, this “Taylor-made” item is sure to “Make You Proud” when you “Take it to the Streets”.

Opportunity

You never know when it will knock.
My big opportunity came during an audition in Birmingham, Alabama.
I walked through that door and when I came out, I had the opportunity of a lifetime.

We probably walk through a million doorways in our lives – some more important than others.
Some of those doors lead to opportunities that are beyond our imagination.

I believe your home should represent your outlook on life. The front door to your house leaves a strong impression on guests.
My front door is a symbol and it says when you enter my home, you are entering a place that is very special.

I’ve teamed up with Harmony Doors to create a series of distinctive doors designs inspired by the same influences that have shaped my music.

The Taylor Hicks Orleans Collection

Hicks Gets Slick
by Neil Ray Ramos
Manila Standard Today - Philippines
1/18/08
Just like when he slowly but surely won over many to his cause during the fifth season of the popular TV singing contest, American Idol, Taylor Hicks broke stereotypes and exceeded expectations when he flew in recently for a short visit and to perform in several gigs.

Once described as “the least likely Idol,” owing to the fact that he looked very much as tubby (and with the same salt and pepper hair) as Jay Leno, Hicks was surprisingly fit and trim, and is now more comparable to George Clooney (the other famous guy with the same salt and pepper hair) rather than the obese comedian/TV host—and quite amicable to boot.

Clad in black coat and jeans and brandishing his trademark harmonica, Hicks, was as candid as he was accommodating during the press conference held answering every question with typical flair.

Asked what he knew about the Philippines prior to coming over, the singer said that “I knew from friends that the Filipinos are very musical in that you guys love dancing and singing.”
He also said that friends told him that the Philippines is “the place to be if you want (to pursue) a career in singing.”

Well, if Hicks knew a thing or two about the country, most of those who came to the meet-and-greet session seemed to know a lot about him, mentioning intricacies associated with the singer like the Ray Charles Statuette he always travels with (yes, it was with him) and screaming “Soul Patrol” (a term of endearment for Hicks fans and supporters).

'Idol' Sings The Blues In Manila
By Fran Katigbak
Philippine Daily Inquirer
01/01/2008

It’s not easy singin’ the blues to an audience whose daily dose of music comes from skinny teenyboppers, booty-shaking divas and bling-clad “boys from the ’hood.”
Not if you are gray-haired and inclined to play the harmonica or if your dancing looks drug-induced.
But just as he defied pop stereotypes when he won “American Idol” Season 5, soul singer Taylor Hicks also proved it pays to stay true to his style and brand of music.
Filipino fans, even those as young as 6, watched the 31-year-old artist in a series of shows recently sponsored by the Ayala Malls in Manila.
At the show in TriNoma, Hicks was in his element singing tracks from his self-titled album as well as songs he composed early in his career.
Of course, not to be missed were the Alabama native’s harmonica-playing and the manic, footloose moves that became his trademark on “AI.”
Article continued here ...

Taylor Hicks My Idol

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Take A Ride On The Soul Train

7 comments:

TO TAYLOR HICKS MY IDOL

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