Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by MisterHand (talk | contribs) at 03:17, 28 February 2006 (moved soul patrol link up as a reference, some cleanup, citation needed on last paragraph). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Taylor Hicks (born January 24, 1977 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American singer and semifinalist on the 5th season of American Idol. He is a former student at Auburn University and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and auditioned for American Idol in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hicks is best known for his prematurely gray hair, and his bluesy singing voice, and harmonica playing. Before auditioning on American Idol, Hicks had gained some fame in the state of Alabama for his performances at nightclubs and other local venues. An album, Under the Radar, was recorded prior to Idol, and was made available at local music outlets in the Birmingham area. Hicks also was heard on "Tapestry", a radio program on NPR affiliate WBHM in Birmingham, in December, 2005.

Hicks's fans on the Fox American Idol message boards have nicknamed themselves the "Soul Patrol" . After Taylor's first performance in the first show featuring the final 24, Taylor mentioned the "Soul Patrol" by name.

According to his grandmother, Hicks 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. His music reflect his favorites: the old songs of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Ray Charles. He plays guitar and a "blues" harmonica or "harp," and writes most of his own songs.

External Links

• American Idol profile
• Taylor Hicks links

This article on a singer is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e

• Singer stubs
• 1977 births
• Living people
• American Idol contestants
• American male singers
• American harmonica players
• People from Alabama
• Blue eyed soul