In a twist of fate that would reshape his life, Taylor Hicks was in New Orleans for a friend’s wedding on the weekend in 2005 that Hurricane Katrina struck with devastating fury. In the early Sunday morning hours, he managed to take a taxi out of the imperiled city. From the airlines that cancelled his flight out of New Orleans, he received a voucher that became his ticket to American Idol tryouts in Las Vegas and to a new life in the bright lights of stardom.
Originally encouraged by his brother, Sean, to audition for American Idol in Memphis, Hicks missed this opportunity when tryouts were cancelled because of Katrina relief efforts. He had never been to Las Vegas and tryouts there were still scheduled. The American Idol competition would measure his resolve to never walk away, even in the long audition lines outside the huge convention center in Las Vegas.
Hicks recounted three years later his encounter that shaped that resolve:
"I remember standing outside in Las Vegas at American Idol [auditions], and kids were coming up to me asking me where my kid was that was auditioning. If that doesn't make you want to walk away, I don't know what does. But I never walked away. I knew I had a vision, and that was to entertain people—and here I am."
At age 13, his hair had begun to turn prematurely gray. He did not fit the image of the young, pop music hopefuls.
On May 24, 2006, in the most-watched TV show of the DECADE, Taylor Hicks became the unlikely winner of American Idol Season 5 with over 63.4 million votes--more votes than the President had received in the last election. He was one of only three winning Idols who had never placed in the bottom two or three. Kelly Clarkston and Carrie Underwood share that distinction. When Idol judge, Simon Cowell asked in auditions why he wanted to be American Idol, Hicks said, “I want my voice heard.” Cowell insisted, “Why?”
“Because I think I have one,” Hicks proclaimed.
Life in the spotlight as 2006 American Idol began with a non-stop media blitz and sharing the stage with stars like Willie Nelson, Widespread Panic, and Snoop Dog. He appeared on every early morning news show and twice visited with Jay Leno on the late night talk show. His first major concert appearance was at the huge Stadium of Fire Fourth of July Celebration in Salt Lake City Utah, July 1, 2006.
After signing a recording contract with Arista Records his American Idol single, “Do I Make You Proud” and the Michael McDonald classic, blue-eyed soul number, “Takin’ it to the Streets” hit the streets. The front side debuted at No. 1 and stayed there for nine weeks. “Do I Make You Proud” quickly sold gold and was the No. 1 selling single in 2006. It has become a modern classic for memorable occasions like graduations. Hicks began a tradition of dedicating this song to the American troops.
As headliner for the American Idol Summer Tour that was launched on July 5, 2006, Hicks and Idol finalists boarded their busses and crisscrossed the country from New England to the West Coast and were welcomed by record-setting crowds. It was the most successful American Idol tour ever, or since, grossing over $35.2 million and averaging 96% capacity. (Syracuse.com)
At the time of Season Five, American Idol had not allowed competitors to play instruments on the show. On the Idol tour, however, Hicks played harmonica and guitar for every scheduled concert, and he never missed a performance on the killer schedule. Hicks also performed in a “shadow tour” meeting up with his former band mates, the Little Memphis Blues Orchestra. After the Idol concert, at historic clubs like Smith’s Bar in Atlanta, he and the band jammed into the early morning hours. He said that it kept him grounded.
At age 13, his hair had begun to turn prematurely gray. He did not fit the image of the young, pop music hopefuls.
On May 24, 2006, in the most-watched TV show of the DECADE, Taylor Hicks became the unlikely winner of American Idol Season 5 with over 63.4 million votes--more votes than the President had received in the last election. He was one of only three winning Idols who had never placed in the bottom two or three. Kelly Clarkston and Carrie Underwood share that distinction. When Idol judge, Simon Cowell asked in auditions why he wanted to be American Idol, Hicks said, “I want my voice heard.” Cowell insisted, “Why?”
“Because I think I have one,” Hicks proclaimed.
Life in the spotlight as 2006 American Idol began with a non-stop media blitz and sharing the stage with stars like Willie Nelson, Widespread Panic, and Snoop Dog. He appeared on every early morning news show and twice visited with Jay Leno on the late night talk show. His first major concert appearance was at the huge Stadium of Fire Fourth of July Celebration in Salt Lake City Utah, July 1, 2006.
After signing a recording contract with Arista Records his American Idol single, “Do I Make You Proud” and the Michael McDonald classic, blue-eyed soul number, “Takin’ it to the Streets” hit the streets. The front side debuted at No. 1 and stayed there for nine weeks. “Do I Make You Proud” quickly sold gold and was the No. 1 selling single in 2006. It has become a modern classic for memorable occasions like graduations. Hicks began a tradition of dedicating this song to the American troops.
As headliner for the American Idol Summer Tour that was launched on July 5, 2006, Hicks and Idol finalists boarded their busses and crisscrossed the country from New England to the West Coast and were welcomed by record-setting crowds. It was the most successful American Idol tour ever, or since, grossing over $35.2 million and averaging 96% capacity. (Syracuse.com)
At the time of Season Five, American Idol had not allowed competitors to play instruments on the show. On the Idol tour, however, Hicks played harmonica and guitar for every scheduled concert, and he never missed a performance on the killer schedule. Hicks also performed in a “shadow tour” meeting up with his former band mates, the Little Memphis Blues Orchestra. After the Idol concert, at historic clubs like Smith’s Bar in Atlanta, he and the band jammed into the early morning hours. He said that it kept him grounded.
~~~
Tomorrow: Whomp Sent Spinning "With the Idol tour completed..."
(Scroll down for Part 1)
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