Upon winning “Idol”, he was signed to Arista Records, under which his self-titled major label debut premiered on December 12, 2006. His dynamic stage performances and sways derived from classic rock, blues, and R&B music had earned him a following of devout devotees, who’ve been dubbed the “Soul Patrol.” The newest CD, “The Distance”, was released March 10, 2009, with the initial single, “What Is Right Is Right”, going to AC adds January 27, 2009. The next single was verified to be “Seven Mile Breakdown” via his Myspace page. In May 2011, Taylor Hicks started ORE Drink and Dine restaurant in Birmingham, Alabama’s Crestline Park. ORE Drink and Dine reopened as Saw’s Juke Joint, a barbecue and live music pub, on October 30, 2012. On June 14, 2011, Taylor Hicks performed at Bama Growing: A Benefit Concert For Alabama Twister Retrieval in the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. Based on “Billboard”, the Bama Increasing benefit concert raised an estimated $2.2 million for Alabama tornado relief efforts. On August 30, 2012, Taylor Hicks performed “Takin’ It to the Streets” in the last night of the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. Hicks is the primary Idol winner to secure a long term residency in Vegas. He started his residency at Bally’s Las Vegas in June 2012 and moved to a bigger site, Paris Las Vegas, in January 2013.
Singer, Musician, Author, Songwriter, Record producer, Singer-songwriter, Actor, Restaurateur
Education
Hoover High School, Auburn University, Do I Make You Proud, What's Right Is Right, Just to Feel That Way, Nashville, TN, United States, Gulfport, MS, United States, Tuolumne, CA, United States
Nationality
United States of America
Parents
Pamela Dickinson, Bradley Hicks, Do I Make You Proud, What's Right Is Right, Just to Feel That Way, Nashville, TN, United States, Gulfport, MS, United States, Tuolumne, CA, United States
Siblings
Sean Hicks
Nicknames
Taylor Reuben Hicks , Hicks, Taylor , Tay Tay , The Silver Fox
Movies
, American Idol, Warren Haynes
TV Shows
American Idol
Star Sign
Libra
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Trademark
1
Grey hair
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Quote
1
I stole an Otis Redding album from a buddy of mine's house when I was about 10 years old and I have been in love with it ever since. It must have been a bug or something. He told me to keep it.
2
I love New York. I'm working on Broadway and it's a great way for me to get my feet wet in acting and a great way to season yourself as a performer. I've been able to breathe more as a songwriter, having the time and being able to find the right songs.
3
Come on America! I'm living the American dream!
4
It's music man. If it's in your heart, you feel it, you play it, you sing it, you perform it, you bust your buns doing it, and that's what it's all about.
5
When you are doing something you love, sleep can wait!
6
I want my voice heard.
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Fact
1
Has a younger half-brother named Sean, who encouraged Taylor to audition.
2
Not only is he the oldest person to win American Idol, he is also the first white man to win, and the first guy to win over a girl in the finale.
3
In his Idol audition, Simon predicted he'd never "make it to the finals", but instead ended up winning American Idol without ever being in the bottom two or three. Simon quickly took back his words on the first week of voting.
4
Started going gray when he was 14.
5
Is a fan of the Jonas Brothers.
6
In college was in a band called Passing Through.
7
"Do I Make You Proud" debuted at #1 on Billboard Hot 100.
8
He performs the song "Takin' It To The Streets ", originally sung by the Doobie Brothers, on the American Idol top 12 CD.
9
Has two goldfish, named Lamont and Ray.
10
His father Brad, is a dentist.
11
He also performed in the huge infield of Talladega Superspeedway in 2004 during a NASCAR race weekend. After he won Idol, driver David Stremme said that he hoped Hicks would come back for the October race weekend there.
12
Parodied on Saturday Night Live by Jason Sudeikis
13
He was born at Saint Vincent Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, and his birth time is 10/06/76 at 3:30am.
14
He is the second American Idol winner from Birmingham, Ruben Studdard being the first.
15
On May 24, 2006, he became the new American Idol.
16
He bought a $2 harmonica at a local flea market when he was 16 and has been playing harmonica ever since.
17
He was attending a friends wedding on the night Hurricane Katrina hit and used a ticket voucher to fly to Las Vegas.
18
Sang a duet with Toni Braxton "In the Ghetto" in the finale of American Idol [2006], where later he won the title of the 'American Idol'.
19
Is close friends with Elliott Yamin.
20
Worked at a shopping mall and would dress up as the Easter Bunny for Easter and spring promotions.
21
On May 17 2006, joined Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood as the only Idol contestants who were never voted in the bottom 2 or 3.
22
Made the top final 2 on "American Idol: The Search for a Super Star"
23
His fans are known as the Soul Patrol.
24
He left college before graduating and went to Nashville for nine months to pursue a musical career. He has played for various venues around the United States. He has even played a couple nights at the Playboy Mansion.
25
Plays guitar and a "blues" harmonica or "harp." He writes most of his own songs. He has a CD entitled: Under the Radar.
26
According to his grandmother, Taylor has never had any music lessons. He came running up to her when he was about twelve years old saying, "Grandma, you've got to hear this!" Then he sang Otis Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness" for her.
27
His music reflect his favorite music: the old songs of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Ray Charles. In fact, he used to always carry a tiny statute of Ray Charles on stage with him. It was lost or stolen recently and he's been looking for another one.