Taylor Hicks My Idol: Soul Train

Showing posts with label Soul Train. Show all posts

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Can't Whomp Me Down

Taylor Hicks "Forever Man"

'Cause "People Get Ready" there's a train a coming!!

Who could ever forget the excitement of Taylor's
'One Night In Nashville' tracks surfacing!!
Everybody was playing Name That Tune
with the lyrics from "Happier With Him".

It's been seven years now since that snowy night Taylor first arrived in Nashville, ready to take the Music City by storm.

From 'Heart Full Of Soul'

(Lost And Found In Music City)
Taylor says it took only one night for his hopes and dreams to come to a crashing halt.
"Thinking back on it now, I can conjure up the excited, hopeful feeling I had driving into Nashville on that very first snowy evening.
The entire Music City appeared before me like one big clean slate.
For one night at least, Nashville looked exactly like I'd hoped it would be - a place of limitless promise where I'd undoubtedly make my mark.
And then the next morning I woke up."

Like a million other hopefuls Taylor had gone to Nashville with the dream of becoming a star and landing a major record deal.
But as Taylor points out ...

From 'Heart Full Of Soul'
(Lost And Found In Music City)
"There was one huge hitch ... I never paused long enough to consider what should have been glaringly obvious ... whatever else I might have been, I was - for better or worse - no country singer.
When I speak I might sound country, but when I sing I am just a soul man."

While Taylor might think he is just a Soul Man, his Soul Patrol knows better.
His music spans an endless list of genres, Country included.

Those Nashville doors he knocked on didn't open for him 7 years ago, but you have only to watch his concert at the Ryman ... and listen to the roar of the crowd ... to know how much Nashville loved Taylor Hicks!

So I say ... Music City get ready ...'cause there is an inbound train approaching and it is on track for 2008 ... get those doors open!

The titles of these 2 tracks from 'One Night In Nashville' ..."People Get Ready" and "Forever Man" .... are telling 'cause you can't Whomp Taylor Hicks down.

From 'Heart Full of Soul'
(What'd I Say)
""If you believe in yourself, anything that comes your way - good, bad, or really ugly - can't knock you too far off track"

video presentation by PayTheDevil
(Thank You)

I love when Taylor sings "Forever Man" and although I have not been fortunate enough to catch him singing it live .... we have video!
Taylor appears with his old band, Little Memphis Blues Orchestra (LMBO), at the Woodlands in Wilkes-Barre 9-24-06 after the final American Idol tour show.

video capture thanks to jensenholmes

And a big thank you to DidNotExpectThat for her wonderful photos of Taylor at the Ryman that I took liberty with to create the header collage!

OUR FOREVER SOUL MAN IS ON TRACK ...
AMERICA GOT IT RIGHT IN 2006
AND THE LIBERTY BOWL GOT IT RIGHT IN 2007 ...
I'M READY AND I'LL BE WATCHING!!

The 49th annual Auto Zone Liberty Bowl will be played Saturday,
December 29, 2007 at 3:30 p.m. CST
at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis
Halftime show ~ Headlined by Taylor Hicks

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

I Heard It Thru The Grapevine

What is going on in Soul Patrol land?
I think the Soul Train has derailed, most certainly it has become side-tracked!
I touched on this issue back in October with my post
Naked In The Jungle, and it seems SOME of the natives are still restless.
Everyone is missing Taylor on board as our conductor, our engineer ... but it was time for refueling and maintenace and we just need to remember It Is About The Music!

So maybe it's time for a chill-pill along with a bit of humor to get back on the right track :-)

And to remember ...
Every time a hand reaches out to help another ....
That is Christmas
Every time someone puts anger aside and strives for understanding ...
That is Christmas
Every time people forget their differences and realize their love for each other ...
That is Christmas
May this Christmas bring us closer to the spirit of human understanding
Closer to the blessing of peace!

Backing up and switching tracks here is the latest Taylor Hicks news via the grapevine!

Taylor Hicks was a big hit on "American Idol" and AutoZone Liberty Bowl expects he'll be a big hit with football fans next month when he performs during the halftime show.

Hey, Isn't That ... From The Washington Post
Taylor Hicks -- yes, the prematurely gray dude who won "American Idol" last year -- dining with three others at BLT Steak Saturday night.
Told the manager he was just visiting D.C. friends on his days off.

THE GRAPEVINE: LATEST NEWS from HQ
11.21 Thanksgiving Audio Message from Taylor!
Taylor wishes you a happy and safe Thanksgiving!

I'm ready to board the 2008 Soul Train,
hope you all will be on board!

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!

Get your own playlist at snapdrive.net!

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

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

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

Taylor Hicks My Idol

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Can't Whomp Me Down

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

I Heard It Thru The Grapevine

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Take A Ride On The Soul Train

TO TAYLOR HICKS MY IDOL

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