Somehow

I'd like to meet:

TAYLOR REUBEN HICKS

An american soul singer, songwriter, and musician. He was an independent artist for the span of a decade before rising to prominence as the winner of the fifth season of American Idol. Upon winning American Idol, Hicks was immediately signed to Arista Records.

His major-label debut is scheduled for release on November 14, 2006

According to updated Info the new release date is December 12, 2006

Get your own countdown at BlingyBlob.com

His energetic stage performances and throwback to classic soul music have earned him a following of devout fans, who have dubbed themselves the "Soul Patrol"

You can check out how the Soul Patrol originated at the following site:

www.taylorsoulcentral.com

Memories From Taylor
“The first thing I ever stole was an Otis Redding LP from my friend’s house,” says singer/songwrite and harmonica player Taylor Hicks.
“I think I was in third grade.”

A Little Bio
Although he was born years after the heyday of the great soul and blues performers, Hicks, spent his childhood immersed in a steady stream of music by artists such as
Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and Van Morrison. At 16, he bought a $2 harmonica from a flea market in Bessemer, AL and spent most of his time practicing while other kids were more concerned with driving cars.

Today, Hicks’ own brand of soul-and-blue-influenced music reflects the same sort of raw emotion and sensibilities so apparent in the songs he grew up on: pain, loss, love and the confusion inherent in them all.

He says his passionate writing and singing style is just a natural progression of a life that has been a little different than those of his peers. “Some people grew up in close-knit families,” he explains, “they could identify with the sugar-coated, new-wave music that was popular in the ’80s and even now. My home life wasn’t very supportive or comfortable - with divorce (among other misfortunes). I had to make life-changing choices at an early age. And the whole time, I was listening to soul music - music where you can actually hear a man’s heart break. So it just really made sense to me - even at such a young age.”

Hicks said he found the comfort he was looking for on stage. “I just made it my home. It’s where my heart is.” And watching his intensity on stage, it’s apparent that he holds nothing back. Even the slowest songs are sung with such energy, sweat and grit it would make his predecessors proud. The addition of his growling harmonica style is explosive at least.

Backed by several bands and such musicians as Nashville veteran Billy Earle McClelland, he has entertained audiences at festivals, clubs and fraternities for the past seven years while sharing the bill with some of his idols
such as Percy Sledge along the way.

On his debut album,
“In Your Time“, Hicks demonstrates that, although he has a reverence for those artists he learned from, he’s far from a stuck-in-the-past purist. The title track from this live CD could be identified as modern soul music, but it is tinged with swinging horns and jazzy guitar licks. The acoustic ballad “The Fall” brings the listener along on Hicks’ sentimental thoughts of a relationship on its last leg. He leaves behind the bigger band sound, opting for more sparse accompaniment that drives home the nakedness of emotion in the song. The recording also features classics including “Georgia” and the Archie Bell & the Drells song “Tighten Up”.

Mr. Taylor Reuben Hicks

Birth:
Taylor Hicks was born at 3:30 am on October 7, 1976 to Brad Hicks and Pamela Dickinson Hicks at Saint Vincent Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama.

Likes/dislike:
Taylor Hicks was not a musician in school. What he did like was basketball where he scored 48 points in one game! Taylor also eats healthy where his favorite food is "meat plus 3" which is any meat plus 3 veggies! Lets not forget Turnip Greens!

Personality:
What you see is what you get with Taylor. He knows how to perform and loves to put smiles on people's face. Taylor has a little jokester in him, but when it comes to entertaining all he needs is a stage. One of the things I love most about him is his ability to stay true to himself despite the not so nice remarks about his funky dance moves! wooo hooo

Music Career:
Taylor was never had music classes in school. He got his music motivation from an Otis Redding record he stole from a friend. He sang "Try A Little Tenderness" to his grandmother Joni and she knew instantly that Taylor had a gift. After High School Taylor was in a couple bands, one being The Taylor Hicks Band which has recently changed their name to LiMBO while Taylor is on American Idol.

Taylor has 2 independent CD's.
"In Your Time".
Release Date "1997"

"Under The Radar".
Release Date "2005"

BOOK DEAL
" Taylor has signed a deal to write a book on his career called "Heart Full of Soul." Release date set for Spring of 2007

An Inspirational Memoir
About Finding Your Voice and Finding Your Way