Taylor Hicks

For the school, see Taylor Hicks Elementary School.

File:Taylorh.jpg

Taylor Hicks

Taylor Reuben Hicks (born October 6, 1976 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American soul singer, songwriter, and musician who is a finalist on the fifth season of American Idol. Hicks is best known for his stage presence, gray hair, bluesy singing voice, eccentric dance moves, and harmonica playing.

Biography

Hicks was born at Saint Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham. As an infant, he had blond hair. His hair color turned dark brown/black as an adolescent, and then grey as a young adult. He and his family moved to suburban Hoover when he was 8 years old. His parents divorced when he was 8, and his father Brad and stepmother Linda shared custody until he became of age. His half-brother, Sean, is a student at Georgia Tech and plays trumpet in the school's jazz band.

Growing up in Hoover, Hicks played Little League baseball, golf and varsity basketball (Hicks is 6'1"). The first time he performed for his grandmother when he was 12 years old he sang Otis Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness", causing her to assume her grandson never had music lessons. However, she was wrong. Hicks was in choir throughout middle and high school. According to his father, when he was 5 years old he sang to random strangers the music of Kenny Rogers or Michael Jackson, to name a few. Hicks' music reflects his favorites from that era: the classic songs of Redding, Sam Cooke, and Ray Charles. He plays guitar as well as blues harp and writes most of his own songs. He bought a USD$2 harmonica at a local flea market when he was 16 and has been playing harmonica ever since. He has worked with Nashville veterans Billy Earle McClelland and Percy Sledge.

Hicks was a former student of Berry High School and graduated from Hoover High School in 1994. He attended Auburn University for a semester, lost interest and dropped out. Later he graduated from University of Alabama at Birmingham. Hicks had a small following in the state of Alabama for his performances at dive nightclubs and other local venues. His trademark was Hawaiian shirts, and slacks that didn't quite match. He released two independent albums, In Your Time (1997) and Under the Radar (2005), prior to appearing on Idol; the latter was made available at local music outlets in the Birmingham area. Hicks has also spoken on Tapestry, a radio program on National Public Radio affiliate WBHM in Birmingham, in December 2005.

Hicks has also worked at a shopping mall and would dress up as the Easter Bunny for Easter and spring promotions.

Hicks has two goldfish, Lamont and Ray.

American Idol

Hicks auditioned for American Idol in Las Vegas, Nevada. He passed the audition by the approval of judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, but not Simon Cowell, who said that Hicks did not have enough of an Idol image for any of the judges to put him through the Hollywood rounds. In this Cowell was proven wrong, which he subsequently acknowledged.

Hicks' fans call themselves the "Soul Patrol" . Hicks frequently mentions the "Soul Patrol" after performances and in subsequent appearances. Hicks became the subject of a Weekend Update lampoon on NBC's Saturday Night Live on April 15, 2006, portrayed by cast member Jason Sudeikis. In the allusion of Hicks' quirky tweeks and disposition, Sudeikis mocked playing Hicks' trademark blues harmonica and repeatedly shouted out "Soul Patrol!". Hicks, when interviewed by Ryan Seacrest on the subsequent episode of American Idol on April 18, 2006 as to whether or not he saw the imitation, admitted that he had and that the impression made him "fall out on the floor" with laughter. On the May 10, 2006 results, Hicks was in the top 2 along with Elliott Yamin, and they made the Top 3 with Katharine McPhee. On May 12, Idol producers brought Hicks to Birmingham for a weekend of promotional events including television interviews for the local FOX affiliate, a downtown parade and mini-concert, another concert at the Riverchase Galleria, an evening appearance at the Birmingham Museum of Art, and a campaign appearance with Governor Bob Riley and Mayor Bernard Kincaid. May 16 was proclaimed Taylor Hicks Day and Hicks was given the key to the city. on May 17, Hicks joined Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, and Carrie Underwood as the only "idol" contestants never voted in the bottom 3.

American Idol performances

Semifinals

• Week 1: "Levon" (Elton John)
  • The judges enjoyed the performance. Jackson and Abdul agreed that there never was a performer like Hicks in the history of American Idol. Cowell took back what he said to Hicks during the audition by stating that he was wrong about saying that Hicks would never make it to the finals, states that Hicks is interesting, and that he received more compliments from people outside the show about him than any of the other contestants.
• Week 2: "Easy" (The Commodores)
  • The judges did not like the song choice. Jackson said that Hicks probably sang the song a lot when he was coming up in bars, but he thought it could have been better. Abdul was complimentary, but said it was not her favorite performance from Hicks. Cowell thought if Hicks would go back and watch the show, and have no doubt in his mind that the performance was "average."
• Week 3: "Takin' It to the Streets" (The Doobie Brothers)
  • The judges loved this performance — Jackson said it was not his favorite song from Hicks, but he was trying to comprehend his dance moves onstage. Abdul said that the song was great and loved the energy and dancing. Cowell "loved the song" and said that "that's what its all about— having fun and being memorable." Cowell also said it was the best performance of the night.

Finals

• Week 1: "Living for the City" (Stevie Wonder) Stevie Wonder´s songs
  • The judges loved his performance. Jackson said that it was "hot" and "fearless." Abdul praised Hicks and said that she wanted to "steal his dance moves for her next video." Cowell thought it was like a "drunken father singing at a wedding" but the difference being that Hicks is a good singer.
• Week 2: "Not Fade Away" (Buddy Holly) Songs of the '50s
  • Mixed reviews. Jackson wished that Hicks would have showed off a bit more vocal range. Abdul, like the week before, loved his dancing and enthusiasm, but Cowell argued that the show is about singing and said that even Hicks had to admit that "it was a complete and utter mess."
  • Barry Manilow complimented Hicks on being one of the best vocalists on the competition, pointing out his distinct whiskey tenor.
• Week 3: "Trouble" (Ray LaMontagne) Songs of the 21st Century
  • Jackson thought Hicks almost had a big moment at the end, and was upset that he didn't take more of a risk with his song choice. Abdul enjoyed his performance a lot, particularly for the fact that Hicks showed a different side, without relying on the frenetic dance moves. Cowell "rather liked the song" and thought it was an "excellent vocal", but did not like the way he dressed, calling the outfit and image "too Clay Aiken."
• Week 4: "Take Me Home, Country Roads" (John Denver) Country songs
  • The judges gave mixed reviews. Jackson thought it did not show his vocals. Abdul admitted that she loved Hicks and that she was a fan. Cowell described it as "safe, boring, and lazy" and wondered if Hicks chose the song just a few minutes before the show.
• Week 5: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (Queen) Queen songs
  • Jackson described this performance as his Hicks' revival from the two weeks prior, Abdul considered it a great performance and did not know whether or not to have Hicks sign a record deal or be fitted for a straitjacket. During the performance, Hicks attempted to kick over the stand while taking the microphone off and missed. He then kicked some more and finally knocked it over. Cowell asked if Taylor was drunk and said the performance was ridiculous. Entertainment Tonight later reported that Hicks took offense to Cowell's remarks.
• Week 6: "You Send Me" (Sam Cooke) Songs from The Great American Songbook
  • The judges universally praised Hicks, with Jackson stating that the performance was "hot" and that Hicks was "in his element." Abdul said that "Sam Cooke would have been proud" and that the ending was "superb." Cowell described the beginning as "lame cabaret," but the end of the song as "magic."
• Week 7: "Just Once" (James Ingram) The Greatest Love Songs of All Time
  • Jackson said it was the wrong song choice and believed it was too karaoke. Abdul enjoyed it and said it was the perfect song. Cowell said the performance would be "played every day of the week in a hotel lounge." In a radio interview, executive producer Nigel Lythgoe defended Hicks by admitting he had to change his song choice from Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness", saying it didn't fit the week's genre. Was told by David Foster, producer, to have charisma and Andrea Bocelli said that he had an extrordinary voice.
• Week 8: "Play That Funky Music" (Wild Cherry) Songs from the birth year of the contestants, "Something" (The Beatles) Songs from the top ten of any Billboard Chart.
  • 1st song: Jackson loved the performance and thought it was wild. Abdul also loved the performance and thought Hicks dressed the part, it was fun and "authentic Taylor we love." Cowell thought it was like another "horrible wedding performance."
  • 2nd song: Although the song is more than thirty years old, it is included in the Beatles album 1 which was in the top 10 of the Billboard charts. The judges were surprised at the song choice believing it was daring and clever. All the judges loved the performance. Cowell also said that, in all of his barminess, it's easy to forget that he is a "very, very good singer."
• Week 9 Two Elvis Presley's songs
  • 1st song: "Jailhouse Rock", (Elvis Presley)
    • Jackson said Hicks was "in his element" and did a good job overall. Abdul said Hicks looked fantastic and liked the performance. Cowell said it was a "terrible impersonation of Elvis Presley," the dancing was hideous and the performance was "karaoke with a capital K."
  • 2nd song: "In the Ghetto", (Elvis Presley)
    • Jackson said it was the perfect key for him. Abdul said Hicks was great. Cowell said "you just sang your way into the semi-finals".
  • In Week 9, special guest Rebecca Romijn asked Hicks to sing Jailhouse Rock for her, he did. He ended up in the top two along with Elliott Yamin. Katharine McPhee and Chris Daughtry were in the bottom two. Chris Daughtry had the lowest vote total and was dismissed from the show.
• Week 10 Three songs
  • Clive Davis pick: "Dancing In The Dark", (Bruce Springsteen)
    • Jackson said he loved Hicks having fun and liked the performance. Abdul said she loved him dancing with her. Cowell thought it was okay although it wasn't as good as the original.
  • Judge's pick: (Randy Jackson)- "You Are So Beautiful", (Joe Cocker)
    • All three judges agreed Hicks was dead on in his best performance so far.
  • Contestant Pick: "Try A Little Tenderness", (Otis Redding)
    • Jackson dubbed Hicks the "Have a Good Time Funky Taylor", and loved his performance. Abdul said she's waited all season for that performance and it was fantastic. Cowell said the performance was great, the ending a little off, but he told Hicks he will "see him next Tuesday".

Discography

• Under the Radar (2005) Independent Release
  Under the Radar
  (2005)
  Independent Release

Albums

• In Your Time (1997)
• Under the Radar (2005)

External links

• American Idol profile
• Taylor Hicks at IMDb
• Template:Myspace - promo site courtesy of Fox's americanidol.com with News Corporation
• Taylor Hicks PacMan