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| Topic Started: Jan 31 2008, 11:38 AM (121 Views) | |
| Taymanfan | Jan 31 2008, 11:38 AM Post #1 |
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posted at the Whomp Swamp by Mouser FANS ARE GOING TO BE THERE Source: The Desert Sun Date Published: January 18, 2007 Spotlight On: singer Taylor Hicks Q. What is a Ford pitchman doing in a Chrysler tournament? I'm just learning to play golf and hopefully keeping the ball in the air and straight. Q. You were in New Orleans for a friend's wedding when Katrina struck. Because you couldn't get a flight out, you got a voucher that you eventually used to audition for American Idol in Vegas. Did you believe in destiny before, and did that strengthen your belief? I definitely believed in it before. You have to be when you're a struggling artist for 10 years. It's something where you have to believe in yourself. If you don't, you'll end up working in a bank. Destiny had a lot to do with it, from what happened with Katrina. I definitely believe in it now. Q. Have you been involved in any of the Katrina relief stuff. I'm actually the Grand Marshall of Endymion on Feb. 15. It's something I'm looking forward to and a great way to go back to New Orleans and to give back to that community. I'm playing in the Superdome. It's a great fit for a city that still needs our help in rebuilding it. Q. Right before they're announcing the 2006 winner of American Idol, what goes through your mind? And then do you wonder what ever happened to that Justin guy from Season One? No. That didn't happen. Q. But what did go through your mind? I was just hoping my knees wouldn't buckle and I wouldn't fall over. Q. You were the second winner from Birmingham, Ala., and fourth finalist from Birmingham. What is it about Alabama that people do so well on American Idol? I think there's just a lot of different styles of music that comes though the state. There's definitely a gospel flavor and it's a melting pot for music. Q. People Magazine has named you the hottest bachelor. What have been some of the perks? I've been so busy, I haven't been able to use any of them. Hopefully when I slow down, it will perk back up, no pun intended. Q. So you don't have the Tom Jones effect on stage of girls throwing underwear? We all wish we had the Tom Jones effect. Q. Is Soul Patrol anything like Soul Glo from Eddie Murphy's movie "Coming to America?" If I could sell Soul Glo to the Soul Patrol, I'd be in business. That is funny. Q. Condoleezza Rice is a fan of yours from American Idol. Who are some of your other famous groupies? Christopher Cross and Chris Rock is a fan and Tobey Maguire. I got to see him at a Lakers game not too long ago. Edited by Taymanfan, Jan 31 2008, 11:44 AM.
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| Taymanfan | Jan 31 2008, 11:38 AM Post #2 |
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Source: It's My Life Date Published: January 21, 2007 Taylor Hicks talks about his tough middle school years American Idol Taylor Hicks knows all about being an underdog! He went from being “that gray-haired old guy” who looked and sounded different from all the other contestants, to winning the chance to record and release his first album, Taylor Hicks. Now that his lifelong dream has come true, Taylor bares his soul to IML, opening up about his music and the role it played during the challenges he faced growing up. IML: First of all, congrats on the album! Is there a particular song that has a lot of personal meaning for you right now? Taylor: I would say “The Right Place.” That song means a lot to me artistically because it’s a summary of all the things that have happened to me. It’s one of my favorites on the album, and I think it’s a good representation of me. IML: So most IML’ers are in middle school. Tell us: what were YOU like in middle school? Taylor: I had already started getting gray hairs! And I was pretty much a class clown. Just really goofy! IML: Were you ever bullied when you were younger? Taylor: I definitely got bullied a little bit. I remember one time, there were some people in my class who said they were going to beat me up and made me scared for about three or four days. I just remember being nervous that they were going to come beat me up, and they never did! I also remember trying to make the situation less scary by being goofy…and goofy helps! IML: You’ve been making music since you were a kid. How was it an outlet for you growing up? Did it make certain challenges easier? Taylor: Music was a big outlet for me. Being able to play an instrument and sing was definitely a good way for me to escape things I was dealing with: family issues, growing up, being a kid and not knowing what I wanted to do with my life. Getting to high school was a big deal, and being able to play an instrument and be a part of something like a band really helped me to get away and helped me deal. IML: Why do you think it’s important for young people to find a way to express themselves through music or another form of art? Taylor: It relaxes you! It makes you feel like you’re good at something. IML: You stuck to your dreams through a lot of tough times in your life so far. Why do you think hanging on to your goals is so important, even if they never happen? Taylor: Life throws many curve balls, and if you don’t swing…you’re never going to hit any! IML: During the American Idol competition, the fact that you were so popular with kids and teens was a surprise to some. Why do you think young people came on board the “Soul Patrol”? Taylor: I think maybe they were pulling for the gray-haired guy! No seriously…I think it was something about me being “different,” and young people understanding what being different is like. I think that’s the connection I involuntarily made: letting people know that it’s okay to be different. When you’re growing up, you feel different from other people at some point or another. I think I connected with young people because I looked different or had a different quality about me. IML: What would you like young listeners to take away from your music? Taylor: I would like them to understand that it’s real music! It’s got real instruments and they’re just really good songs. You can understand the lyrics and the words and the music and they all go together. IML: Is there a cause or charity that you’re passionate about these days? Taylor: I’m involved with Kid One Transport and Studio by the Tracks in Alabama. Kid One literally transports kids to better health by giving them transportation they may need to get medical care. Studio by the Tracks is an art outlet for mentally challenged children. I can connect with not having all the advantages that other kids have growing up, and because art was such an outlet for me in that situation as a kid, that’s where my heart is. IML: What was your family like when you were growing up? Taylor: It was a very rocky road for me. There were definitely curveballs in my growing up, from a family aspect. My parents got divorced when I was in second grade. I moved around a lot. Actually, I went to about four different schools when I was in fourth grade. IML: Wow! That’s really tough. How did you keep yourself together during that time? Taylor: Listening to the radio and doing extracurricular things helped. Playing soccer, being in a club. I really got into my school and the people at my school, because my home life was not really “all that and a big of chips.” IML: Who were your role models during that time? Taylor: There were a few teachers who were just great. One of my science teachers was really cool and I had some friends and family around that time who were good to me. IML: What advice do you have for kids who might be experiencing similar problems? Taylor: Have faith, and enjoy school as much as possible. Because school takes a big chunk of your day! So find things you like to do, find subjects and activities that you like, even find your favorite food you like to eat. The little things count in a big way. Finding the “big” in little things can carry you a long way. IML: That’s great advice! Thanks, Taylor, and good luck! Taylor: Thank you! |
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| Taymanfan | Jan 31 2008, 11:39 AM Post #3 |
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Source: AOL Television Date Published: January 29, 2007 It's a 'Soul Thing' for 'Idol' Winner Taylor Hicks Jan. 29 -- Only someone as smooth as Taylor Hicks would describe his recent success as "cool." True to form, the blue-eyed soul belter is taking his 'American Idol' win in stride. His recently released self-titled CD was certified platinum, and he's preparing to take his show on the road -- great news for his Soul Patrol faithful. In an exclusive interview with AOL Television editor Geoff Bennett, Hicks weighed-in on his new music, his thoughts on 'Idol' season six and Simon Cowell's relentless trash talk. Congrats ... I heard you were recently certified platinum. Yeah -- recently -- that's real cool. You've been working toward that type of success for about a decade. So how is it different from what you imagined? Well, there's a lot more work, which I'm really happy about. The more work, the better. When the phone stops ringing, then you have problems. So, I'm glad that things are working out right now. I just have to stay true to the music and keep going. Speaking of your music, what's your favorite track on the CD? I like how 'Soul Thing' came out. You know, that's off my earlier two albums that I released -- 'In Your Time' and 'Under the Radar.' I just had a vision for that song, and that vision came true on this album. Is your album any different than it would have been if you weren't on 'Idol' and had influence from people involved with the show? I tried to keep the hands out of the pot as much as possible with this album -- one producer, one A&R, one artist. I think that helps to really keep the focus on the direction the artist wants to go Is there any real benefit to winning 'American Idol'? I asked Katharine McPhee that same question, and she didn't think there was. I mean, Chris Daughtry's CD came out before yours. Publicity-wise it definitely helps. In this day and age, a new artist coming out definitely needs as much publicity as possible, and winning definitely helps. What role will 'Idol' play in your future? Do you plan to distance yourself or move on? I'll definitely go back this year. I'm watching a little bit of it now when I can and definitely like being a viewer. Do you buy into the controversy that the judges are meaner and more insulting to the contestants this year? No, everybody gets their opportunity to sing. And if you feel like you've got that opportunity, you gotta take it. Simon Cowell was on 'Oprah' a couple weeks ago and said you wouldn't have won if it weren't for your gray hair. Do you get tired of hearing him talk trash -- even now after you've won and released an album? (Laughs) I don't think I'll ever hear the end of it. But that's OK, you know. It's tit for tat. We've always been like that. So you don't think there's any malice involved? I think it's just Simon being Simon. What was the first thing you splurged on after you got your deal? I bought a camera -- a Cannon EOS 30. It's a really nice camera. I wanted to document all that's going on, and I got to with this camera. I hear you have a book coming out. What's it about? It's called 'Heart Full of Soul.' It's a memoir about the story of Taylor Hicks. It's got a little bit of 'Idol' stuff in it and some stuff that people can take with them. A question about your journey to 'Idol': I was reading the story about how you got one of the last cab rides out of New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina hit and ended up flying to Las Vegas, where you auditioned. You said it was a 15-hour ride, right? (Laughs) Yeah. Now how much does a ride like that cost? (Laughs) Right ... well, me and my girlfriend split it at the time, and I probably paid $200. A well-spent $200 for sure. Yeah, and at that particular time, the cab ride fares from New Orleans to Baton Rouge -- which was 30 minutes away -- were going for $1,500 by the time we got there. Your tour starts soon, right? How is that going to be different than what we've seen on the show and the 'Idol' summer tour? The tour starts Feb. 21 in Jacksonville, Fla. But I'm an instrumentalist -- I play guitar and harmonica. I think things are going to be a lot looser and musical. Any collaborations you'd like to do? Yeah, on the road possibly with some different talent in the towns I go into. I might pull some local famous musicians that live in that town. Maybe the Tower of Power or something like that when I go through San Francisco. What does your old band think of your success? A couple of them are on my tour, and then a couple are keeping their own bands going, like the Little Memphis Blues Orchestra. They're keeping it moving, keeping the ball rolling. Now a question submitted by an AOL user: Hazel Parrish of Carolina Beach, N.C. wants to know if you feel your popularity has changed you? If so, in what ways? My situations have changed, but I haven't. I spent 29 years being a nobody, so I'm pretty good about who I am as a person, and I'm not going to change that. When word of this interview got out, I learned firsthand that your Soul Patrol is pretty hardcore. So do you have any wild fan stories? I got chased out of an airport, which was pretty cool. It was interesting to say the least. But any fan is a good fan in my opinion. |
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| Taymanfan | Jan 31 2008, 11:40 AM Post #4 |
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Source: PopEntertainment.com Date Published: February 4, 2007 Taylor Hicks: Blue-Eyed Soul Man By Jay S. Jacobs There aren’t too many people in the world who were in any way helped by Hurricane Katrina. For Taylor Hicks, however, surviving the horrifying storm did play a strange role in catapulting him to fame. You see, Hicks was in New Orleans the night before Katrina hit the city. "I was actually one of the last out of Hurricane Katrina," Hicks recalls. Due to the harrowing experience in the New Orleans airport, Hicks was given a flight voucher for future use. "They had a plane ticket to go anywhere in the country. So I went to Las Vegas and tried out." Those Vegas tryouts he is referring to were for American Idol – merely the most popular show on television. Hicks seemed a long-shot to make it on the talent contest, but his blue-eyed soul style and friendly common-guy manner made him a surprisingly sturdy contestant – the only person in the 2006 contest who never was even in danger of being eliminated from the show. In fact, the only time he was in the bottom three vote-getters on the show it was merely because there were only three singers left. He couldn’t have known that he would reach those heights when he was flying to Las Vegas. It just seemed to be a fun adventure. Plus, American Idol has become sort of like the lottery to struggling singers and Hicks – who had released two albums as an independent – thought that the exposure would only help his career. Besides, as he recalls humbly, "I had a couple of buddies tell me I should do it." Not that it was all a whim. Music has always been central to his life. Hicks has been a singer for as long as he can remember. He has been recording and gigging for years, independently releasing the CDs In Your Time in 1997 and Under the Radar in 2005. "I was always singing as a child," Hicks recalls. "I was always entertaining as a kid. The actual music part came when I was about sixteen. I bought a harmonica. I taught myself harmonica off of the Breakfast in America album by Supertramp. Then I taught myself guitar. Once I started writing on guitar and started playing harmonica, started singing, writing and playing my own music, I figured I had all my bases covered, to a certain extent." Hicks’ season of American Idol had quite possibly the most talented and diverse crop of singers yet for the insanely popular singing contest. In the early years of the show, it tended to get lots of R&B and pop. This season, arguably the top six singers were worthy of recording, taking on different styles like Hicks’ blue-eyed soul, adult contemporary with Katharine McPhee, more straight-ahead soul from Elliott Yamin and Paris Bennett, rock from Chris Daughtry and country with Kellie Pickler. "It just shows you that America is made up of many different tastes," Hicks says. "I think on the show last year, it represented very well a lot of the aspects." It all ended up in Hollywood last summer. Hicks and McPhee, the final two standing, stood together, nervously waiting as host Ryan Seacrest announced the next American Idol. It was a swirl of activity and thoughts and Hicks will always remember the moment when his name was called. "It was amazing," Hicks says enthusiastically. "It was a very surreal moment in my life. I just was hoping that I didn’t fall over once they called my name." Right out of the gate, Hicks released his first single "Do I Make You Proud?" The song topped the pop charts, even though the warm-hearted ballad did not exactly take advantage of Hicks’ soulful musical persona. Still, the song resonated with Hicks. "I thought the song was great," Hicks says. "It had a great message. I know that there are some people that have sent it over to the troops in Iraq. The first song that I was given in the competition, I didn’t really connect with. So I found ‘Do I Make You Proud’ and I decided to sing that. I really connected with it." Now, months later, finally off of Idol and the subsequent AI tour, Hicks has recorded and released his self-titled major label debut. One of the biggest surprises was that the process wasn’t all that different than when he was a struggling unknown. "There are some differences," Hicks says, "but there are other things that are very similar, you know? Having time. I think time is a big aspect of the major label, because you have time in the studio. With those indie albums, time is money in the studio." Musically the album is surprsingly diverse. There is rockier stuff like "The Runaround." "The Right Place" has a gospel feel. "Heaven Knows" is very soulful. "Places I’ve Been" is a power ballad. Hicks was looking to experiment with musical styles on the album. "Stylistically, that’s just my musical interest in songs and how you interpret them," Hicks explains. "I like all styles of music, not just one. The music and the lyrics, they have to connect with me, no matter what style they are." The album included songs written for Hicks by people like superstar Rob Thomas, rock veteran Bryan Adams and popular songwriter Diane Warren. The album was produced by Matt Serletic (Matchbox Twenty, Aerosmith, Celine Dion). It was hard for Hicks to believe that he’d be working with such respected industry veterans. "I didn’t have any idea," Hicks admits. "I was so excited that I had the opportunity to meet some of these people. Actually get to sing some of their music. Not only that, have some of my own music on the album as well." Hicks had some help in choosing the songs on Taylor Hicks, but it was important to him that the buck stopped at him on the album. "Ultimately I had the last say so," Hicks explains. "All of the songs I had to connect with emotionally. Ray Charles taught me how to do that. You have to make the song your own. All these songs that I was given, and all these songs that I decided to sing and decided to perform on this album were all songs I connected with. Even on American Idol, it was obvious that Hicks idolized Ray Charles. The song "Heaven Knows" on the new album is built on a sample of Charles’ classic single "What’d I Say." Hicks was happy to use the song as a tribute to his hero. "That was really cool that I got to do that." Sometimes the blue-eyed take on the 60s soul sound is obvious. For the album, Hicks recorded a version of Marvin Gaye’s classic "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)." However instead of the exuberant testifying of Gaye’s original recording of the song, Hicks has used a more hushed, slowed-down tempo. It seems the new recording is much more directly descended from the ballad cover of the song by 80s new wave blue-eyed soul singer Paul Young. "Yeah, it is," Hicks agrees. "It had more of a melodic feel, this last go around of that song. The melody is so great and the lyrics are so great, when you slow things down a little bit, you’re able to hear the words. That is a great version." Hicks was also able to resurrect, "Gonna Move," a song by a long-overlooked soul man named Paul Pena. Pena was a blind singer who released a respected first album in 1973, but due to bad management his second album (which was recorded in the early 70s) never was released until the new millennium. Another Pena song, "Jet Airliner," became a big hit when it was covered by the Steve Miller Band in 1977. "I’ve always been a fan of Paul Pena," Hicks says enthusiastically. "I’ve always played ‘Gonna Move’ live. I’ve always played his music. I’m a very big fan. I always will be. I thought he was a great soul. I still think he’s a great songwriter. He has contributed to music history." As much as he loved being able to play tribute to some of his favorites, it was even more important to Hicks that he get some of his own songs on the CD, too. Surprisingly, they stack up well with the other recordings. There are two songs, the swinging "Soul Thing" and a mid-tempo devotional called "The Deal," which Hicks had recorded before "[on] my previous albums Under the Radar and In Your Time." As Hicks does more recording, he plans to incorporate more of his own music and new songs on his albums. "I am a songwriter at heart," he says. "I have songs now that I’m into singing. I’m enjoying the songwriting process. I always have. It’s been a little bit stagnant because of all I’ve been doing right now. But this next album will have more songs by me on it." Now that his album is widely available, Hicks does not want to forget where he came from, either. With a new season of American Idol starting up, Hicks has gotten the strange opportunity to watch the show with hindsight. It’s a fun experience to see thousands of young hopefuls giving their all to get to where he is. "I got to catch a couple of episodes as a casual viewer and I’m definitely enjoying it." Still, a year on from his own auditions, Taylor Hicks’ life has changed completely. He still is getting used to existing in the spotlight, but he’s enjoying the education. "I’ve had twelve months worth of really good practice," Hicks says. "You’re always forever learning. You’re always learning about the limelight and what kind of aspects it has. I’m falling into a good zone. I’m about to go on a national tour that starts February 21st in Jacksonville, Florida. I’ll be touring all these songs and a lot of obscure covers from way back when." Does Taylor Hicks know he’s really made it big because "Weird Al" Yankovic has decided to parody one of his songs? "You could say that. That’s definitely one thing that you could say," Hicks laughs. Not that Hicks is letting everything which has happened in the last year all get to his head. When asked how he’d like for people to see his music, Hicks sums it all up in one world: "Real." Now that he’s been the American Idol and working on being a pop star, it will not change his life in one fundamental way. "I am who I am," Hicks smiles, "and I’ll always be what I’m going to be. "It’s interesting each day, which is really cool," Hicks sums up. "It’s a blessing and an honor. I just try to stay who I am in music and who I am as a person." |
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| Taymanfan | Jan 31 2008, 11:41 AM Post #5 |
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Source: Yahoo! Date Published: February 5, 2007 Gray Matters By Lyndsey Parker This time last year, when a silver-haired soulman named Taylor Hicks auditioned for a skeptical Simon Cowell on American Idol, few people could have predicted then that this harmonica-wielding, table-dancing cut-up would become one of the most popular contestants in the show's history, let alone the season 5 champion. But this unlikely pop star soon won America's hearts with his goofy antics, bubbly personality, and old-school soul stylings, and soon after winning the Idol title over more conventional contestant Katharine McPhee, he was appearing in TV commercials, being named People magazine's most eligible bachelor, and releasing a top 10 album. A star was truly born. But Taylor Hicks didn't come out of nowhere, though that may seem to be the case. The oldest Idol winner ever (at the ripe old age of 30), Taylor Hicks was paying his dues on the club circuit and self-releasing albums back when younger Idol hopefuls like Paris Bennett and Kellie Pickler were still playing with dolls. This victory has been a long time a-comin'. And when Yahoo! Music managing editor Lyndsey Parker sat down with Taylor in his newly adopted home city of Los Angeles, she got to see a mature, serious side of the Idol that TV viewers never even knew existed. Surprisingly reserved, straightfaced, even shy (yes, shy), Taylor spoke earnestly of his battle for uncompromised creative control, his passion for classic rock and old soul, and his undying determination that helped him beat the Idol odds. Here's how their conversation went: YAHOO! MUSIC: I know that sometimes it's difficult for an Idol winner to maintain creative control of his first album. So how did you manage that? TAYLOR: Ha! I just insisted! Being in the business 10 years and keeping your ears open and hearing tales of other artists having the same situation, I personally wasn't going to have that. You have to be smart about the whole situation and realize that this is your music, this is your career, and it's your name, it's not the label's. So with that being said, if you understand that, then you know that artists ultimately have the say-so in the end. It was tough, but the album I recorded was a Taylor Hicks record. YAHOO! MUSIC: Yes, the album does really sound like you. It doesn't sound like anyone tried to change what you're all about. TAYLOR: Thank you, I appreciate that. It's all about paying dues, and struggling. You get to this point, and you've put in all these years trying to make it, and you know who you are as an artist and where you want to go. And because you went through all of that struggle and hard times and stuff, you're not gonna let anyone mess with that. YAHOO! MUSIC: Do you think maybe you had an advantage over past Idol winners, who were younger and not as experienced as you? TAYLOR: I think my experience helped, definitely. It made me realize what an opportunity it was. When you get an opportunity like that to be in this business, you have to take that shot. YAHOO! MUSIC: So, how do you think an Idol contestant ultimately breaks away from the show, and becomes known as an artist in his own right? TAYLOR: You write and you perform and you lay it down, and then you do all over again. You've just got to make really good music. You have to have great material. Because your fans are going to be the people that will always be with you, not necessarily the media. YAHOO! MUSIC: What do you think of how the media's treated you so far? TAYLOR: I think we're cool. I think everything's cool. You know what you're up against and you deal with it and you make the best of it. YAHOO! MUSIC: Honestly, are surprised you won the show? You were a bit of an underdog... TAYLOR: Um, yeah, I was surprised somewhat. But I could feel that for the people that watch the show, I was a breath of fresh air for them. I don't know if the record-buyers think that, but as far as the show goes, I was a nice breath of fresh air. And hopefully that's what I'd like to breathe into music right now. I've always had that vision to maybe upset the musical applecart, so to speak. YAHOO! MUSIC: So where do think you fit in with today's musical climate? Or do you fit in at all? TAYLOR: I'm just trying to make good music. If it fits in, fine; if not, someone will still buy a ticket for it! YAHOO! MUSIC: What do you think Simon Cowell's problem is with you? This season, he actually told a contestant to stick her gum on the picture of you on the audition room wall. I didn't think that was very nice! TAYLOR: Oh, I think it'll always be tit for tat with us--which I think drove a lot of the show last year! I think that will go on forever, but I don't mind that. YAHOO! MUSIC: Tell me a bit about your showbiz background, before you went on the show. TAYLOR: I lived in Nashville for about a year and a half, and I took any gig that I could possible take, no matter where it was, even if it was 200 miles out or 300 miles out. I tried sending my music to every label possible, meeting with every label possible...I just didn't fit it. I look at it as hopefully the Willie Nelson approach to music. I know of so many legendary artists that didn't fit in anywhere...because they fit themselves. That's kind of what I strive to be. YAHOO! MUSIC: If you hadn't been on American Idol, do you honestly think you would have "made it" anyway? TAYLOR: Probably. I started feeling my career move forward before I got on Idol, because the band I put together was great. I once asked someone, "Why is my career so stagnant?" And he said, "Well, if you got a hot band, it wouldn't be stagnant." So all these pieces came together. I had people tell me early on in my career that if you put the most creative and talented people around you, they better you, whether it's in a roadhouse band in southern Alabama or if it's out here in L.A. And I think that can be said for any business, whether it be music or accounting, you know? Those principles can apply anywhere. It just took me about 10 years to actually fit all the pieces together, you know? And then all of a sudden I win American Idol. YAHOO! MUSIC: So what became of that band? TAYLOR: They still play. I've got a couple of guys from that band that are touring with me now. And I'll be sitting in with them in the next year. YAHOO! MUSIC: Are they tripping out that their former bandmate won this huge show and became this big phenomenon? TAYLOR: I don't know if they're tripping. I mean, I was driven. I wasn't going to let anything stand in my way. Because honestly, I don't think I could do anything else! This was it. Do you think John Elway could have worked at a bank? That guy needed to be throwing footballs. That's kind of like me. I need to be performing in front of people. YAHOO! MUSIC: At what age did you know music was your calling? TAYLOR: It kind of dawned on me around age 18 or 19. I put all the pieces together and taught myself how to play guitar, taught myself how to play harmonica, no lessons. I could already sing, but I realized if you teach yourself guitar and harmonica, and you write a good song, and you get a good response, and you get paid for it...well, that's a no-brainer! I put myself in that no-brainer position. That's how I knew that's what I'm supposed to do. YAHOO! MUSIC: You mentioned how important it is to surround yourself with good people. So what people did you work with on your album? TAYLOR: Matt Serletic, who does the Matchbox Twenty stuff and did Santana's "Smooth," was the producer. He's a Southern guy and he's very artist-friendly. He understands artists. I think he respects me as an artist--as a matter of fact, I know he does, because I have a voice and I have an opinion, and he understood that. Which was really cool. One producer, one artist, one album. YAHOO! MUSIC: Wow, only one producer? That's unusual for an Idol's debut. Did you have a hand in any of the songwriting? TAYLOR: Yeah, I've got four songwriting credits on this album. YAHOO! MUSIC: Again, that's unusual. TAYLOR: Maybe I'm the "Unusual Idol"! YAHOO! MUSIC: You're lucky, I have to say, to have that much control. TAYLOR: You know, I went in with my guns blazing. I had to. I'm not 20, I'm 30. And I'm gray-headed, too. YAHOO! MUSIC: So are you known as the "Problem Idol"? TAYLOR: The problem child? Maybe so! You could say that. YAHOO! MUSIC: Well, your fans would have been disappointed if your album had been a major departure from what you were like on the show. TAYLOR: Yes, there was a fine line that we had to balance between radio and my music--how we could bridge the gaps between modern radio now and modern soul. I think we did a really good job of that. I've been in the studio before, I know what I hear, and I have an opinion. And I think it was heard, and I think that's the reason why we all got along. There's some good music on that album. Every song I had to feel one way or another. Very rarely in music do you listen to an album all the way through and enjoy every single track. There's very few albums that I can count on my hands that actually do that for me, in all of music. There's probably 10, but those are masterpiece works. That's what I'm trying to do. YAHOO! MUSIC: Which albums come to mind? TAYLOR: [Van Morrison's] Tupelo Honey. Good Old Boys by Randy Newman. Breakfast In America by Supertramp. Running On Empty by Jackson Browne. [Van Morrison's] Astral Weeks. Such great music on one album... YAHOO! MUSIC: You know, a lot of people dismiss American Idol as fluff, but I think it actually exposes new generations to a lot of great old music like that. TAYLOR: I've always said that. When people ask me, "What do you like about Idol?" I say, "Here you have an 80-year-old grandmother, a 40-year-old mom, and a 10-year-old kid, and all of them like 'You Send Me' by Sam Cooke." That's the reason why I'm here, the reason I was there on the show: to re-energize the American population and let them know that that music is out there still. Music that is not exactly mainstream. YAHOO! MUSIC: Have you been watching American Idol this season? TAYLOR: I've watched a couple of episodes. Not all the way through. Casually watching, you could say. YAHOO! MUSIC: There are a lot of crazy people auditioning this year. Did you meet anyone like that when you auditioned? TAYLOR: I saw them, but didn't meet them. But you know, I was just as much of an outcast as they were. I looked like somebody's dad waiting for their kid in line! So I kind of empathize with outcasts, because at that time last year, I was one too. I was the weird, shy, gray-headed guy. YAHOO! MUSIC: Shy? You? TAYLOR: Yeah. I still am. YAHOO! MUSIC: You didn't seem too shy on the show! TAYLOR: In non-working environments, I am. It's always been like that for me: night and day. I kind of like it like that; I feel like that's real. I've always studied characters, artists who have that kind of persona, and I've kind of learned from that. You take everything in and store it, then you release it. YAHOO! MUSIC: So you're a character onstage? TAYLOR: I wouldn't say it's a character, but I'm just an entertainer, whatever that incorporates. It's really natural. It's what I've been working on all my life and I don't know any other way. I get onstage and it comes easy. I let it happen. YAHOO! MUSIC: So you live in L.A. now. What do you think of it? TAYLOR: Well, in Alabama you can put your car in reverse and go 300 feet without hitting something. That might be why people don't like L.A. so much. Everyone has to have a vehicle in L.A. YAHOO! MUSIC: OK, besides the crowded roads, do you have anything else to say about the city? TAYLOR: I love L.A., actually. I think it's a cool town. It's a beautiful city, very vibrant. I dig living here. But my heart's always going to be in a tour bus. YAHOO! MUSIC: Why'd you move to L.A.? TAYLOR: For work stuff. People can smell me here. YAHOO! MUSIC: So you mentioned your tour bus. What are your touring plans? TAYLOR: My tour starts February 21 in Jacksonville, Florida, and goes for about four months. I'm gonna bring back all that old stuff on this tour, some obscure music that hasn't been heard in 20 years--stuff from the late '70s, early '80s. YAHOO! MUSIC: How will you choose the songs you perform? TAYLOR: When I look at my music, I take myself out of my being and I look at it like, "You love music, you're a music connoisseur...would you like this music?" So I have this third-person approach to my music. It's one more side to my perfectionism when it comes to that. But yeah, I'm excited about this tour. I've been playing two-and-a-half-minute TV spots for three months now, and I'm a lot more loose and open and musical and instrumental onstage than I can be in the amount of time that I've been allotted in the last few months. So I'm ready to let loose! YAHOO! MUSIC: Are you still on a mission to introduce good music to the masses? TAYLOR: Yeah, yeah. I'm still in teaching mode, I guess you could say. I loved to do that on Idol, and I'm not going to stop now! |
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| Taymanfan | Jan 31 2008, 11:41 AM Post #6 |
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Source: Gather.com Date Published: February 12, 2007 An Interview with Taylor Hicks By Sarah Erlewine It’s a pretty crazy time to be Taylor Hicks. His album’s just gone platinum, and now, the most recent winner of American Idol begins his national tour on February 21st. Before he heads down to Jacksonville, Florida, to start the show, however, he’s going back to New Orleans, the city that played an important role in his trip to the top of Idol stardom. Last time, he was fleeing the imminent arrival of Hurricane Katrina, on his way to his first American Idol auditions. This time, he’s going to be joining the likes of Britney Spears, Emeril Lagasse, Jim Belushi, and Dan Aykroyd as this year’s Grand Marshal of Endymion, the largest of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras parades. I asked Hicks about the parade when I had the pleasure of speaking with him the Friday before the Grammy Awards. He was appropriately humbled by the New Orleans invite. "I’ve come full circle with that city for sure," he said. "I’ve been traveling down there and playing as a musician and visiting down there all my life. Now, ending up in New Orleans as the Grand Marshal—it’s truly amazing. I’m excited I’m going to hopefully go down there and [with] the Soul Patrol, we can make something happen." For the handful of people who didn’t watch any of Hicks’ winning season of American Idol (of which I am one), the "Soul Patrol" is the self-applied nickname given to the dedicated fan base that Hicks has amassed through his Idol tour of duty. And Hicks is grateful for their dedication. "I spend time on the online sites," he admits, "primarily Gray Charles and Taylor Made Online and the official Soul Patrol headquarters. All those great fan sites have helped me when I was on the show and now into this career." One might wonder what it’s like to read as much in-depth analysis of yourself as Hicks finds on the fan sites, as I did, but Hicks doesn’t worry too much about it. "I don’t read too much into [what is said]; I usually look at what’s going on on the front page but I don’t get too into who says what. That’s not me." As a special treat for Taylor Hicks fans and gather.com members, Hicks was happy to take a few minutes to answer several fan questions. Barbara D. asks: What song will put a lump in your throat, no matter how many times you have heard it? A: "Am I Blue" by Ray Charles. Twyla C., a member of the Soul Patrol since AI last year, wants to know if the band that you used to perform with will be traveling with him on his tour or if he has put together a new band? A: A mix of old and new. Millie W. asks: since you were a working musician for 10 years before winning Idol, how hard was it being considered an overnight sensation? A: You have to understand, you have to work to get to the opportunity. The opportunity was American Idol and I took it and you know, you’ve gotta make the best of it. LenaK. asks: I know sometimes artists are not allowed to write their own material for an album. Have you been able to write your own songs, at least lyric-wise? And if so what inspired you? A: Well, I have four songs that I’ve written on my album; three that are written by me and one that’s a co-write. Inspiration comes at different times. The music will come and then the lyrics will come. Was it a struggle to get your own material on the album? A: Yeah, it was a struggle. But you have to take the best material you have available. Is it hard to get taken seriously as a songwriter, coming from American Idol? A: It is, but you just have to make the best of it. Karen E. asks: Do you still have Ray and Lamont? A: They are at my parents’ house. They are my goldfish. Yorgo d. asks: Do you feel like you are treated differently by the industry, or in the press, than you would be if you had gained success by a more traditional route? If so, what about it would you most like to change? A: I don’t know; it would be hard to tell. I don’t really know. I haven’t really been in the position to be able to compare. Connie P. says: Thank you for the new world you have opened for my daughter. You have implanted music in her soul. God Bless you!! A: That’s always wonderful to hear. As a bit of a follow-up to that, Andie B. asks: How do you feel when people tell you about how your music has changed their lives? And how YOU have changed their lives? A: It’s an awesome feeling. It’s very flattering. I feel like that is what I was intended to do and I’m just really glad that fans are following it. Shannon J wants to know: if you had a moment with Ray Charles, what would you say? A: I would probably give him a big ol’ hug. Bonzie A. and Tish P. both love the song "Somehow." Bonzie wants to know if there a particular reason you don’t sing it live? A: You never know. So can we look forward to hearing it sometime soon? A: You never know. Tish wonders--Of all your original music, which is your personal favorite, or can you pick a favorite? A: I can’t say that I have a personal favorite. I write ‘em because I love ‘em. They’re all personal favorites, or they wouldn’t be Taylor Hicks’. Gypsee G. and bill h. both wrote in look for details about a video. Any news on that front? A: It’s in the works; it’s coming around. They haven’t told me [which song] yet. Julie G. is impressed with your breath control and wonders how you’re able to play the harmonica on some of those long jam sessions without appearing to be short of breath? A: Circular breathing. It’s a saxophonist trick. You can breathe and blow and the same time. Faith H. wants to know where you see your career in 10-20 years? A: On the road touring and in front of fans and having a lot of albums under my belt. She also mentions that she’s heard that you prefer playing smaller venues? A: For right now, I think my music is best suited for the theatres. Michelle K.thinks you are very charismatic and wants to know if you could you ever see yourself acting? A: If the right part came along, yes. Maybe Elvis. What movies/tv are you a fan of? A: I want to see Dreamgirls; I haven’t gotten a chance to see that yet. While doing research for this interview, I came across an interview you did with MTV just after your American Idol win. In it, you said that your goal was to create "an album with soul. It's gonna have a lot of feeling. I'm an instrumentalist as well as vocalist, and I'm going to play harmonica and guitar on it." How well do you think your album held up to your expectations? A: I think everything I did on that album explored what I said in that interview. By then, we were just about out of time, but I had one last music geek question to which I was dying to know the answer: The guitar on the back of Taylor Hicks, the album—was it an original gold Les Paul? And, if so, was it his? "Yes, it’s an original gold Les Paul, but no [it was not his]," he laughed. "I do own one similar. I don’t own an original Les Paul, but I wish I did." |
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| Taymanfan | Jan 31 2008, 11:42 AM Post #7 |
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Source: The Island Packet Date Published: February 15, 2007 Taylor made When he first auditioned, he was a longshot. As the season went on, he became a favorite. And in May of last year, Taylor Hicks was crowned champion of "American Idol," a phenomenon that, in its sixth season, shows no signs of wear. But with "Idol" behind him, the gray-haired 30-year-old from Birmingham, Ala., is about to embark on his own headlining tour, which kicks off Wednesday in Jacksonville, Fla. "I’m ready," Hicks says. "I’ve been stagnant too long." With a new album, tour and book all happening in the first half of 2007, the "Idol"’s hands are full. The Guide spoke with Hicks from tour rehearsals in Los Angeles. Q: What made you audition for "Idol" in the first place? A: I had a couple of friends that told me I should. I had a flight that was canceled and got a free ticket to anywhere in the country, so I went to Las Vegas to try out. And here I am. Q: Simon Cowell was famously mean to you in the first few rounds of the competition. In hindsight, do you think the judges’ criticism was constructive? A: Yeah. You have to take their criticism. They have been doing it a long time and have a lot of experience, so you have to take that, learn from it and work on it. Q: Have you met any of the past "Idol" winners? A: I have met Kelly (Clarkson) and Carrie (Underwood) both. They’re sweethearts; they’re the real deal. America got it right with both of them. Q: The "American Idols" finished a 60-city tour in September. Are there any rituals you had then that you’ll carry over to your solo tour? A: I never really got off the bus until right before I went right onto the stage. I like the confines of the bus. You want to make it feel as close to home as possible. Q: Onetime "Idol" contestant Jennifer Hudson is nominated for an Academy Award for her role in "Dreamgirls." Have you given any thought to acting? A: I have had a few people read some scripts for me. It’s definitely a possibility. Q: Is there anything you already know you’ll enjoy about spending all that time on the road? A: The after-show food is always a big plus — it’s usually local. You get to really taste the local flavor of each of the towns after the show. Q: Any downsides? A: I think there are some instances when you get on four- or five-night runs and your stamina gets tested. You get tired, but you push through it. I’ve been running three miles a day to get in shape. Q: Having experienced both sides of the music world — being both an ordinary guy and now a big celebrity — do you feel any different? A: I think those 10 years on the road I had before trying out for the show told me a lot about my character. Q: Do you like the whole celebrity thing? A: It’s all about the people. You play the music for them. Q: Have you been doing any work outside the music industry? A: I have started the process of writing. I have a book coming out this summer called "Heart Full of Soul" that encompasses the stories of my life, the road stories, stuff on "American Idol." I think it’s inspiration for people that aren’t just in music, but in everyday life, to keep going. Q: What have you found to be the best and worst parts about being a celebrity? A: The best is getting to meet the people that you admired growing up as a fan. The worst is probably not being anonymous anymore. Sometimes that can get on you. But this is definitely a blessed opportunity. |
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| Taymanfan | Jan 31 2008, 11:42 AM Post #8 |
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Source: The Florida Times-Union Date Published: February 16, 2007 A Star is born By Rachel Davis 'Idol's Taylor Hicks headlines first tour Taylor Hicks, the gray-haired crooner who won the fifth season of American Idol, is bringing his Soul Patrol to Jacksonville on Wednesday. The concert kick-starts a 23-city jaunt - Hicks' first headlining tour -which is already giving the singer/songwriter the first-time jitters. "The first couple [of concerts] I'll probably be nervous," Hicks told the Times-Union in a recent interview from Los Angeles. Since winning the hit TV competition last May, Hicks gave up his Birmingham, Ala., apartment, moved to California and released the hit single Do I Make You Proud. People magazine named him Bachelor of the Year; he went on the road with the "American Idols Live!" tour and recorded his self-titled album. It's a lot, but he took the time to talk with us about the concert, fame and the harmonica blues, baby. Q: You've created quite the predicament for Idol fans. Your concert falls on the same night that Idol airs. What would you have them do? TiVo. Q: So if they do decide to forego Idol for one night, what can they expect from your concert? I've written two albums prior to American Idol: In Your Time and Under The Radar. I'll be playing music off of that. I'll be playing music off of my CD [Taylor Hicks] and I'll be playing some really great obscure covers. Q: Will it be the Taylor we know from television or will it be a different kind of Taylor? It's definitely more musical. I'm a guitar player and a harmonica player, and I couldn't be that on the show. Q: How many harmonicas do you own? Probably about 30. There are different harmonicas for different keys. Q: Who did you learn harmonica from? I learned by playing off of airplanes and air-conditioners. Q: What? Yeah, like if you have an airplane that flies overhead, then I would play the sound of an airplane. Q: Do you watch reality TV? Of course, American Idol. I got into The Bachelor for a while. Q: Would you consider doing that show? No, I couldn't do that. That would just be too tough having all those women around [and trying to please all of them all of the time]. Q: What did you want to be when you grew up? I think it was a garbage man at one point. Q: Are you being serious? Yeah. My mom told me I was happy that they would show up. Q: So is there anything you want people to know about you that they might not know? I like ABBA. Q: What is a common misconception people have of you? There's a lot more than meets the eye. [I'm a] deeper guy, I guess. A deeper cat. |
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| Taymanfan | Jan 31 2008, 11:43 AM Post #9 |
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Source: The Ledger-Enquirer Date Published: February 22, 2007 Here comes Hicks Reigning champ says winning 'American Idol' no guarantee of future success By Sonya Sorich There was a brief period when "American Idol" fans thirsty for more competition could play Taylor Hicks Pac-Man. The game, which pitted the enigmatic gray-haired fifth-season winner against his fellow contestants, was later removed from the Internet due to a request from Pac-Man's creators, its Web site says. Still, its existence alone was enough to confirm Hicks' growing spot in popular culture, a world where "Soul Patrol" -- the name given to Hicks' followers -- rarely needs a definition. But 30-year-old Hicks knows keeping tabs on his popularity has its limits. "I stopped Googling myself, actually," the Birmingham native said in a recent phone interview. "I found it a whole lot more pleasurable and positive of an experience when I stopped." Hicks must suspect, however, that the cyber world is abuzz in reactions to his first Arista Records/19 Recordings' release, the 12-track "Taylor Hicks." Released in December, the disc debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Its tracks are reminiscent of influences like Ray Charles and Sam Cooke -- the same acts that fed Hicks‘ popularity during the fifth season of the reality TV series "American Idol." The "Idol" victory marked a milestone in a journey that began when, as a child, Hicks taught himself to play guitar and harmonica. Later, he played in venues around Birmingham, and already had two independent CD releases under his belt when a free airline voucher took him to "Idol" auditions in Las Vegas. "I think the experience definitely helped me," Hicks said of the role that a history of performing played in his victory on the reality TV series. Yet Hicks is quick to note that the more than 63 million votes he received to win the competition in May hardly guaranteed his future success as an artist. "That's kind of a big misconception," he said. "It's really what you do after you win that's important. It's really about you as an artist and as a singer." Those roles will likely be solidified as Hicks takes on his first tour in support of the eponymous album. He comes to Columbus Wednesday in a concert he describes as "high-energy, low-impact aerobics." Hicks, who for three years studied business and journalism at Auburn University, is no stranger to the region, and said he understands why Birmingham has produced two of "Idol‘s" five winners. "I think it has to do a lot with the musical influences of our region," he said. Time alone will tell if the sixth "Idol" winner will be a Southerner, but Hicks, who said he's been watching this season's competition sporadically, suggested an all-around good run at the title is possible. "I think there's some talent," he said. As for the many auditioners who approached the three-judge panel aspiring to be Taylors-in-training, Hicks called the vocal and physical replicas "very flattering." Also flattering? A title as the No. 1 bachelor in "People," an extension of the "Idol" allure that made fans display signs professing love and accepting nonexistent marriage proposals. During an interview earlier this month, Hicks said he was "single and working," emphasizing the constraints a busy schedule has put on his ability to hold down a relationship. But Hicks acknowledges the possibility of long-term love. Would he ever dye his trademark gray locks because of a woman's request? "Maybe," Hicks said, adding that it would have to happen within the privacy of his own home. That's too bad. It could make a good version of a Pac-Man game. ----------------------------------- Source: Star-News Date Published: March 01, 2007 Taylor made 'Idol' Hicks is finding out about the trappings of stardom By Mike Voorheis The new American Idol season has begun. Controversial photos of a contestant have emerged, Paula Abdul has denied rumors of drug addiction and Simon Cowell has lowered the bar for belittling comments. It seems all that's missing is a prematurely gray guitar man with peculiar dance steps and aw-shucks charm to win over the audience. That was last year, when Taylor Hicks was being swept from an unknown Alabama soul singer to Idol champion and overworked music businessman. In the six weeks after he wrapped his American Idol tour, Hicks churned out a self-titled, 12-track album. Because of his Idol win, he was blessed to have every musical resource at his fingertips. (He even got to play snare with a marching drum corps on the first track, The Runaround.) His album was released before Christmas, and now, just like his pre-Idol days, he's traveling from music hall to music hall. Only now, it's not a few dozen fans paying $8 to see him play. Today, there might be thousands paying $35 to Ticketmaster to stand and sway to his soulful music. Hicks will storm into a sold-out House of Blues in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., Friday night. Hicks, now a couple pants sizes smaller than he was during his Idol appearances, expects the crowd to be populated by three generations of 1-800 dialers and text messagers who helped him gain his status. They'll be there to see if Hicks is ready to make the leap that Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have - using their American Idol fame and access to create the music that defines who they are. Hicks thinks he's ready. The Ray Charles imprint on The Right Place, the final track on Hicks' self-titled debut album, is unmistakable. The piano styling, the voice, the delivery all come straight from the soul of the late soul legend. Only time will tell if this becomes Hicks' signature song. But he's certainly attached to it. The song was written for Charles by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, but the legend never got to record it. Hicks did, however, and in a style that would make Charles proud. That song, and a few of the songs he wrote himself, are among the favorites from his album. One gets the impression that Hicks wishes that more than three of the 11 tracks on his album included a writing credit for Taylor Hicks. Recording somebody else's lyrics is a concession he had to make when he moved from indie publishing to Arista, a major label. "There was some compromise," Hicks said during a phone interview. "Everybody has to compromise." And he appreciates the job a full staff can do. "There are a lot more people involved in the process," Hicks said. "You get to understand the reasons they are there … As far as the business end is concerned, the more the merrier. But when it comes to the musical side, less is more." Though he wouldn't say it outright, you can sense that the drain of photo shoots and repetitive interviews is taking some of the fun out of being a music star. You get the impression that he just wants to be alone, with a guitar and a piano and a few thousand fans. No questions from anyone. What he wants to say, you'll hear it in his music. Sometimes what he wants to say has been said before, so you'll hear a few covers, like he used to sing with his band in the small bars of Alabama, long before American Idol. "You can't leave great songs on the shelf - whether they're your own or somebody else's," he said. Covering a song is a bit of a tribute to those musicians, a way of stamping approval on someone else's song. Asked if he ever thought sometime, 20 years down the road, some struggling musician in a poorly lit bar room might be playing one of his songs. "Funny you should ask," he said. "A friend of mine called the other day. He was in a bar and the guy on stage was playing The Runaround." ------------------------------------------------ Source: Knoxville News Sentinel Date Published: March 02, 2007 Singer was spurred by his Tenn. ties By Betsy Pickle Taylor Hicks may be from the "Idol"-maker state of Alabama, which has given "American Idol" fans Season Two winner Ruben Studdard and Season Four runner-up Bo Bice, but part of his musical molding can be credited to Tennessee. "My musical pipeline stems from some ancestry that's out of Oak Ridge," says Hicks. Two of his maternal great-aunts were performers: "One of them played guitar, and one of them played the mandolin." Hicks moved to Nashville in 2000 and lived in Music City for about a year. "I love the town," Hicks says. "It's definitely a tough town to break through musically." Now that he's Taylor "Soul Patrol" Hicks, Nashville is singing a friendlier tune. "The Ryman has called," he says. "I've got a date at the Ryman." |
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| Taymanfan | Jan 31 2008, 01:01 PM Post #10 |
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