Taylor Hicks goes home to Birmingham again in September. He went home during the American Idol competition in 2006 still chasing an elusive dream. He went home in 2007 on his dream ride—a new shiny tour bus and played sold out concerts at the historic Alabama Theatre. He goes home in 2009 as a Broadway star with musical theatre clearly on his resume.
Returning home as the Broadway star of “Grease” is only half the playbill. He headlines in the hometown venue where he played with The Taylor Hicks Band before all of this happened. Taylor plays two Shadow Tour concerts at WorkPlay on Friday, September 25th and Saturday, September 26th.
WorkPlay, a premiere entertainment complex in the Southeast, opened in autumn, 2001. The Taylor Hicks Band was playing the chitlin’ circuit throughout the Southeast and at WorkPlay when they could get the gig.
They were also playing City Stages—a Birmingham venue that will be silent this year.
While WorkPlay has seemingly thrived, City Stages has not. It was announced last week that the nonprofit organization that has run the Birmingham cultural icon for 21 years is going out of business, and the future of the Homegrown Stage is uncertain.
City Stages, in the very heart of the city, was more than brick and mortar. President and founder, George McMillan impacted the lives of young musicians like Taylor Hicks, who spoke about the hometown stage that gave him confidence and a chance to hone his craft.
Birmingham entertainment reporter, Mary Coloruso, captured the spirit of City Stages when she recently wrote:
“Still, for musicians such as Taylor Hicks, City Stages' legacy lies not in money, but in personal inspiration. Hicks, who struggled on Birmingham's nightclub scene before catapulting to public attention on ‘American Idol,’ says McMillan always encouraged his career.
“‘He was one of those people who liked my music at the very beginning and gave me an opportunity to perform,’ Hicks says. ‘I'd always submit CDs, call George and ask him to consider me.’
“Playing even a short set on the festival's Homegrown Stage, which catered to local acts, was a coup for an unknown performer, he says. ‘It gave me some self-confidence and an exposure factor back then.’
“That's partly why Hicks returned to the festival in 2006, shortly after he won the ‘Idol’ crown, playing the Homegrown Stage for free in an effort to boost ticket sales and help to fill City Stages' coffers.
“Also, Hicks says, he remembered seeing two of his own idols, Ray Charles and Randy Newman, draw large crowds and evoke civic pride with their sets at City Stages.
“‘Ray was one of my musical heroes, and seeing him there made me proud of my hometown,’ Hicks says. ‘Hearing Randy Newman play 'Birmingham' with the moon rising and the city as a backdrop ... well, it was like seeing Van Gogh paint 'Starry Night' or something.’"
The Homegrown Stage was a place for the well known and for those still struggling to have their voices heard. Taylor Hicks appeared there as both.
The final song performed at City Stages was Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.”
It is unfortunate when we lose those people and places that have inspired and encouraged us. Then it remains for others to continue the legacy of giving a hand to those coming along.
There was a stunning performance this week on America’s Got Talent by a young unemployed farmer from Mayfield, Kentucky—a town just a few miles from where I grew up. Kevin Skinner is just starting out with a dream like Taylor Hicks once did.
Taylor has said that he hoped someday to sign new young artists to his recording label, Modern Whomp Records. Although music will always be his passion, perhaps Taylor will continue the legacy in Birmingham of giving a leg up to young musicians just as George McMillan and City Stages once did for him.
It is a legacy to be proud of and one worth pursuing.
Passing along to others the opportunity to realize a dream really makes all of this a long train running…
And a little like…
Dreaming it forward….
Sources: Mary Coloruso, http://blog.al.com/scenesource/2009/06/city_stages_demise_after_21_ye.html
Photo courtesy of Gypsee: Taylor Hicks at The Magic Bag, Ferndale, Michigan, 6.22.09
Returning home as the Broadway star of “Grease” is only half the playbill. He headlines in the hometown venue where he played with The Taylor Hicks Band before all of this happened. Taylor plays two Shadow Tour concerts at WorkPlay on Friday, September 25th and Saturday, September 26th.
WorkPlay, a premiere entertainment complex in the Southeast, opened in autumn, 2001. The Taylor Hicks Band was playing the chitlin’ circuit throughout the Southeast and at WorkPlay when they could get the gig.
They were also playing City Stages—a Birmingham venue that will be silent this year.
While WorkPlay has seemingly thrived, City Stages has not. It was announced last week that the nonprofit organization that has run the Birmingham cultural icon for 21 years is going out of business, and the future of the Homegrown Stage is uncertain.
City Stages, in the very heart of the city, was more than brick and mortar. President and founder, George McMillan impacted the lives of young musicians like Taylor Hicks, who spoke about the hometown stage that gave him confidence and a chance to hone his craft.
Birmingham entertainment reporter, Mary Coloruso, captured the spirit of City Stages when she recently wrote:
“Still, for musicians such as Taylor Hicks, City Stages' legacy lies not in money, but in personal inspiration. Hicks, who struggled on Birmingham's nightclub scene before catapulting to public attention on ‘American Idol,’ says McMillan always encouraged his career.
“‘He was one of those people who liked my music at the very beginning and gave me an opportunity to perform,’ Hicks says. ‘I'd always submit CDs, call George and ask him to consider me.’
“Playing even a short set on the festival's Homegrown Stage, which catered to local acts, was a coup for an unknown performer, he says. ‘It gave me some self-confidence and an exposure factor back then.’
“That's partly why Hicks returned to the festival in 2006, shortly after he won the ‘Idol’ crown, playing the Homegrown Stage for free in an effort to boost ticket sales and help to fill City Stages' coffers.
“Also, Hicks says, he remembered seeing two of his own idols, Ray Charles and Randy Newman, draw large crowds and evoke civic pride with their sets at City Stages.
“‘Ray was one of my musical heroes, and seeing him there made me proud of my hometown,’ Hicks says. ‘Hearing Randy Newman play 'Birmingham' with the moon rising and the city as a backdrop ... well, it was like seeing Van Gogh paint 'Starry Night' or something.’"
The Homegrown Stage was a place for the well known and for those still struggling to have their voices heard. Taylor Hicks appeared there as both.
The final song performed at City Stages was Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.”
It is unfortunate when we lose those people and places that have inspired and encouraged us. Then it remains for others to continue the legacy of giving a hand to those coming along.
There was a stunning performance this week on America’s Got Talent by a young unemployed farmer from Mayfield, Kentucky—a town just a few miles from where I grew up. Kevin Skinner is just starting out with a dream like Taylor Hicks once did.
Taylor has said that he hoped someday to sign new young artists to his recording label, Modern Whomp Records. Although music will always be his passion, perhaps Taylor will continue the legacy in Birmingham of giving a leg up to young musicians just as George McMillan and City Stages once did for him.
It is a legacy to be proud of and one worth pursuing.
Passing along to others the opportunity to realize a dream really makes all of this a long train running…
And a little like…
Dreaming it forward….
Sources: Mary Coloruso, http://blog.al.com/scenesource/2009/06/city_stages_demise_after_21_ye.html
Photo courtesy of Gypsee: Taylor Hicks at The Magic Bag, Ferndale, Michigan, 6.22.09
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1 comment:
Thank you for the updates about Taylor Hicks. Taylor is a musical magician with many talents and he contiues to be a bright rising star on the horizon. What a wonderful man both inside and out. I beleive and am thankful for being invited to share in his joy of entertaining. There's none like him.
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