Taylor Hicks Has An Awesome New Website!!

TaylorHicks.com is all new! Please be sure to visit the newly launched Taylor Hicks Website. Check in frequently for news, updates, tour information, and more. Also, be sure to sign up for the mailing list and stay connected to other Taylor Hicks fans in "The Soul Lounge".

We'll see you there!

http://www.myspace.com/taylorhicks

Ticket Sales for Grease on Broadway in Decline Recently

The Broadway production of *Grease* has seen a dramatic decrease in attendance since Taylor Hicks finished his role as Teen Angel this summer. During his reign from June 6 through Sept 7, attendance saw some of its highest levels since the show started a year ago. But since he left, attendance went from the mid 95% level to a dramatic plunge into the 70% level. This weeks gross for the week ending Sept. 28 had only 74.6% of the seats filled, making a mere $443,596. It was reported by the NY Post that Taylor's appearance as Teen Angel in the summer brought in an additional $150K per week. For example, for the week of July 27, 2008, the gross total reached $707,983 with 95% attendance. Apparently the addition of American Idol contestant Ace Young has had little affect maintaining the levels Taylor brought into the show. I'm not saying the dismal attendance all falls in Ace's lap, because the 2 new leads in the show were also replaced recently, but the numbers don't lie.

It's no wonder why their producers asked Taylor to star in the cross-country "Grease" tour this Winter and Spring. The tour will start in New England and end up on the west coast. You can check out Ticketmaster (link at the top of the blog) to see when and where the show will stop in your neighborhood! The addition of Taylor to the cast is not only brilliant, but a big money maker for production! I've got my eyes on a few tickets in San Diego and can't wait to see it!

Season 5 American Idol Tour Stills Reigns As Most Profitable

There cannot be any doubt left that the headliner for the 2006 Idol Tour, winner Taylor Hicks, had a major part in the most profitable and most successful tour thus far in all seven seasons of that cheesy show. This is no coincidence, my friends - just look how the gross receipts for Grease soared during this summer when Taylor starred in the production.

According to USA Today, "the 2008 American Idol tour, headlined by David Cook, was a substantially greater success than last year's, but failed to match the star-studded, Taylor Hicks-led 2006 edition. This summer's tour pulled in $29.3 million, according to Billboard Boxscore, compared with 2007's $20.9 million and 2006’s $35.2 million. Seats were filled at an 85.4% average rate; in 2007 that figure sagged to 68.4% after the 2006 tour ran at 96.1% capacity."

Taylor Hicks Singing National Anthem at the The New Yankee Stadium? See The Odds...

According to BetUS.Com, here are the odds for the singer most likely to belt out the National Anthem at the new Yankee Stadium next year. Cool that Taylor is even in this elite groups of musicians/singers being considered! Perhaps his total triumph on Broadway in "Grease" endeared him to the city. Cross your fingers!

First singer of national anthem:
Sheryl Crow 50/1
Mariah Carey 25/1
Cyndi Lauper 30/1
Taylor Hicks 40/1
Beastie Boys 100/1
Carrie Underwood 35/1
Bono Vox 40/1
Jordin Sparks 35/1

Taylor Hicks, Ace Young, Elliott Yamin & Bucky Covington @ Herman's Hideaway

Thanks to videos posted on YouTube by Lh1100, here are some awesome performances from Taylor's shadow tour in September of 2006 at Herman's Hideaway in Denver, CO. These shadow tour shows were sprinkled throughout the U.S. after performances of the American Idol, Season 5 tour. Taylor performed with Elliott Yamin, Bucky Covington, Ace Young, George Porter, Jr., and The Little Memphis Blues Orchestra.

Ain't No Use


Call Me The Breeze


Use Me


What I Say

Taylor Hick's "Early Works" Now Available On-Line!

Taylor's new CD of his older songs will be re-released to other retailers, besides Target, on Tuesday, October 28, 2008. New Music TipSheet, a website that lists upcoming new releases has the CD listed again. So, if you don't have this great collection of Taylor's early original songs yet because you don't live near a Target, here is your chance to pre-order it on-line or buy it in another store. I found the CD available for pre-sale at the following retailers:

Barnes & Noble Online
Release Date: 10/28/2008
Sales Rank: 213,480
Label: WELK RECORDS
UPC: 015707987028

F.Y.I
Early Works Taylor Hicks
Format: CD
Release Date: 10/28/2008

Sam Goody
Early Works
Taylor Hicks
Format: CD
Release Date: 10/28/2008
Record Label: Wel
UPC: 015707987028
Product Id: 47718674

Tower Records
Early Works * (CD)
By: Taylor Hicks (Artist)
List Price: $11.98
Tower Price: $9.87
You Save: $2.11 (18%)
Availability: Pre-Order: This CD is scheduled to be released on October 28, 2008.

Chris Daughtry Gets Sued For Stealing Song!!!!!!!!

The shiz just hit the fan. Seems the dullest tool in the drawer, the band (and I use that term loosely) Daughtry, is rightfully getting sued for stealing music. The band 'The Asphalt' is sueing him and others for the song "Feels Like Tonight". Apparently he isn't creative enough to come up with any original music, so he and his boy band need to steal other musician's property. This comes as no surprise to most of us since it's universally known that Daughtry is a copy-cat band who steals its style and sound from Nickleback.

I've got only one thing to say about this embarrassment. Bwawawa!! It couldn't happen to a better bunch of tools!

"....Randy Mazick, of the Arizona-based band The Asphalt, has named Apple in a new lawsuit against Chris Daughtry. The suit, which targets Daughtry, songwriters Lukasz Gootwald, Martin Karl Sandberg, and Sheppard Solomon, the Bertelsmann Music Group (owner of RCA Records), and Apple for violation of copyright over Daughtry's 2006 hit "Feels Like Tonight," claims the song lifts its "hook" from The Asphalt song "Tonight," written by Mazick in 2005 and registered with the US Copyright and Trademark Office in April of this year. Apple is named in the suit because the company distributes the song via iTunes...."

Source

Check out the actual court papers here!

Taylor Hicks - The One That You Want - Info on Show Dates for "Grease"!!

I just want to alert you of a few dates Taylor will NOT be appearing in when Grease goes on tour across the country. If you see your city, please note the dates so you don't spend all kinds of money on a show he's not in. I'm getting totally excited about seeing Taylor in the flesh, I'll admit. I haven't seen him live since May of '07, so I'm ready to see him in America's finest city - San Diego, Ca!

Dates Taylor will NOT be performing:
Minneapolis - Dec 30, 31, Jan 1
Baltimore - Feb 10 through Feb 15
Los Angeles - Mar 18, 19
San Francisco - April 7, 8, 9

The Regular Schedule is as follows:
Dec. 2-7, 2008 at the Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence, RI
Dec. 9-14, 2008 at the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, East Lansing, MI
Dec. 16-21, 2008 at Palace Theatre, Columbus, OH
Dec. 30, 2008-Jan. 4, 2009 at the Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
Jan. 6-18, 2009 at the Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
Jan. 20-Feb. 1, 2009 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, Cincinnati, OH
Feb. 3-15, 2009 at the Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore, MD
Feb. 24-March 1, 2009 at the Music Hall, Tucson, AZ
March 3-8, 2009 at the Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA
March 10-22, 2009 at the Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
March 24-April 19, 2009 at the Golden Gate Theatre, San Francisco, CA
April 21-26, 2009 at Keller Auditorium, Portland, OR
April 28-May 10, 2009 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa, CA
May 12-30, 2009 at the 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, WA

Grease will be produced on tour by Paul Nicholas and David Ian, Nederlander Presentations, Inc. and Terry Allen Kramer by arrangement with Robert Stigwood.

Taylor Hicks to Star in the Touring Company of Grease!!

If you missed Taylor this summer on Broadway as the Teen Angel in *Grease*, you will have another chance as he joins the touring cast of the show which will come to at least 15 cities this Winter and Spring! Yes, according to Broadway World, "...the producers of the Tony Award nominated new Broadway production of GREASE are proud to announce that "American Idol" Season Five winner, Taylor Hicks, will star in the first national tour of the show, launching at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI on December 2, 2008. Taylor Hicks made his debut on Broadway in the role of "Teen Angel" this past summer..."

Taylor goes on to say, "I had such a great experience on Broadway for the last three months," says Hicks. "This is such a great opportunity to visit old fans and new fans across the country while bringing them a great Broadway show!"

Here are my thoughts.... As I'm reading comments from long time fans of his who are expressing disappointment that this is somehow a distraction from working on and completing his new album, I say that nobody has walked in his shoes and therefore are not in a position to pass judgement on this man's business decisions. After 10+ years of being a broke musician, perhaps Taylor sees this as an opportunity to secure his financial independence in the short term. Perhaps this is a way to finance a kick-ass tour coming up in support of the CD that's on it's way. We have NO IDEA what he has mulling in the back of his mind.

The word "selfish" keeps coming to my mind when reading about those whiners. They are like children - wanting it their way and their way now. Whaaa! I swear, this recent development is like deja-vu all over again when the news of Taylor's role in Grease at the beginning of the summer garnered a lot of whining & disappointment. Let's not forget people - it turned out to be one of the BEST career decisions he has ever made - gaining kudos from everyone from the press, to his fellow cast members to hard-core, long time theater goers. I have enough faith in Taylor to know what's best for HIM.

As much as some refuse to admit, Taylor is FIRST an entertainer and SECOND a musician, in my not-so-humble opinion. Let's not forget people, whether you like Taylor in this role or not, it's rejuvenated his career, got people excited about him again, gained GREAT press and put a hell of alot of cash in his pocket - enough to afford that gorgeous $4,600/month sky-line apt in the heart of Times Square.

As a fan, I will support him in any career decision he deems good for himself because I'm not in a position to know the ins and outs of his life and what he needs for himself and what he's aiming for. I may not always be enthusiastic about every decision he makes, but I will be there for the next gig.

Those 'fickle fans' should be ashamed. Should he just disappear again for 6 months while finishing this CD, or should he continue to get out there and be a working entertainer gaining kudos across the country until the CD is ready? It's a no-brainer in my mind.

For those planning on seeing this production of Grease starring Taylor Hicks, here is the current itinerary:

Dec. 2-7, 2008 at the Providence Performing Arts Center, Providence, RI
Dec. 9-14, 2008 at the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts, East Lansing, MI
Dec. 16-21, 2008 at Palace Theatre, Columbus, OH
Dec. 30, 2008-Jan. 4, 2009 at the Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, MN
Jan. 6-18, 2009 at the Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
Jan. 20-Feb. 1, 2009 at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, Cincinnati, OH
Feb. 3-15, 2009 at the Hippodrome Theatre, Baltimore, MD
Feb. 24-March 1, 2009 at the Music Hall, Tucson, AZ
March 3-8, 2009 at the Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA
March 10-22, 2009 at the Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
March 24-April 19, 2009 at the Golden Gate Theatre, San Francisco, CA
April 21-26, 2009 at Keller Auditorium, Portland, OR
April 28-May 10, 2009 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Costa Mesa, CA
May 12-30, 2009 at the 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, WA

If you'd like to audition for this touring company, check out the audition schedule. According to Broadway.Com Taylor is the only role that has been cast so far. So... who knows, it's possible Taylor could be singing to you on that stage!

http://www.playbill.com/jobs/find/job_detail/23560.html

Taylor Hicks - Revamped Facebook Page

If you haven't been over to Taylor's Facebook page lately, you may want to take a look! He updated his bio (says the brand new album will be out Spring '09)... added a few official Grease photos, added "Early Works" to the discography, added his recent blogs, and lots more. Check it out! Oh yea, if you haven't already, add yourself as a "fan"!

Here is the new Taylor Hicks bio....

"....Alabama’s favorite son continues to be in “The Right Place” since becoming the fifth-season winner of American Idol. During the last two years, Taylor Hicks has seen his Arista debut album certified platinum, performed with the likes of Earth, Wind & Fire, The Allman Brothers and Willie Nelson, toured through Asia, penned a brisk-selling Random House memoir, and made his Broadway debut in Grease.

Currently working on new album, to be released in Spring 2009, Taylor recently released another reflective of his pre-Idol years, Early Works (Vanguard Records), which merges his indie albums In Your Time and Under the Radar into one collection. Along with his contribution to the forthcoming Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, recorded live in Ashville, North Carolina, his own DVD, Whomp at the Warfield, offers fans exhilarating live performances by Taylor and his band at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco.

For now, he is excited to spend the summer in New York City, performing eight shows a week in Grease at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. As Teen Angel, singing “Beauty School Dropout” while also showcasing his harmonica skills, Taylor appreciates the opportunity as “a perfect fit for me to experience Broadway theater,” in a musical much-loved for its memorable songs. The three-month role, which began in June, will wrap in early September 2008.

Taylor was eight when his family moved from his native Birmingham to nearby Hoover and his parents divorced. Early hardship quickly led him to the warm and tender mercies of soul music. As a youth he realized he had perfect pitch, and taught himself to play guitar and a blues-wailin’ harmonica. After graduating high school in 1995, he studied business and journalism at Auburn University and shepherded the release of his first independent album, In Your Time.

Focusing on music full-time, Taylor became a fixture around Birmingham, opening concerts and club dates for visiting stars like James Brown, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, Robert Randolph, Keb’ Mo’ and others. He honed his skills and learned to please diverse audiences. “At some of the beach bars I played over the years, I had to entertain 15-year-olds sitting with their 75-year-old grandparents,” Taylor recalls. In early 2005, Taylor released his second indie CD, entitled Under the Radar.

His personal twist of fate came in New Orleans, at the wedding of an Auburn friend, the night before Hurricane Katrina hit on August 29, 2005. With his flight cancelled, he was given a free airplane voucher. Earlier that summer, he had considered auditioning for AI in Memphis, but the auditions were cancelled as the city became one of hubs of the Katrina relief effort. Through the summer and fall, however, auditions proceeded in eight cities across the country Taylor eventually used his voucher to travel for a Las Vegas holiday, coincidentally American Idol were auditioning in Vegas during his vacation.

By February, as the fifth season got well underway, two dozen semi-finalists had been chosen. From the start, Taylor’s material set him apart, with such blues and funk-based rockers as the Doobie Brothers’ “Takin’ It to the Streets,” Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away,” Sam Cooke’s “You Send Me,” Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock” and “In the Ghetto,” and Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness.” By May 12, “Soul Patrol!” fever was everywhere as Taylor was brought to Birmingham for a weekend celebration, a concert in his honor and a personal meeting with Governor Bob Riley, who officially proclaimed Monday, May 16 as “Taylor Hicks Day.”

A lifetime steeped in the blues, soul and R&B of his native Southern heroes – Ray Charles, Otis Redding, James Brown and Sam Cooke, to name a few – culminated in no uncertain terms as Taylor Hicks won the fifth season of American Idol. It was an emotionally uplifting night – May 24, 2006 – when 36.4 million viewers tuned in to watch the season finale, the year’s third-largest audience for a televised event after the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards. More than 63 million votes were cast in crowning a gritty, down-home, white R&B singer the new winner.

Less than three weeks later came the debut of Taylor’s first single, “Do I Make You Proud,” coupled with “Takin’ It to the Streets,” culled from the AI Season 5 Encores CD. The single entered at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, Pop 100 and Single Sales charts, with first-week sales over 190,000 units. As with previous AI winners’ singles, a portion of the proceeds from every CD single, download, ringtone and ringback benefited the American Red Cross. Coinciding with the single release, a cover story named Taylor as People magazine’s Hottest Bachelor of the Year.

His self-titled album, Taylor Hicks (Arista), was released on December 12, 2006. It debuted in the #2 spot on the Billboard 200 and was quickly certified platinum. Produced by Grammy winner Matt Serletic (Matchbox Twenty, Santana, Willie Nelson, Courtney Love), the album showcased Taylor’s talents and roots: from the feel-good groove of “The Runaround” to the ballad “Just to Feel That Way” to the bluesy “Heaven Knows” to the earnest “The Right Place,” originally written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance for Ray Charles to record before his death. During the fifth season of AI, in the summer of 2006, Taylor had already recorded his third indie album, Live at the Workplay Theatre, with the Little Memphis Blues Orchestra.

Audiences cheered Taylor during the summer American Idols Live! tour, and he went on to thrill audiences across Asia. Back in the U.S., Taylor went on the road performing with Willie Nelson, Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers and Jackson Browne. Adding publishing to his list of growing accomplishments, Taylor’s memoir, Heart Full of Soul: An Inspirational Memoir About Finding Your Voice and Finding Your Way (Random House), was released in July 2007. It’s clear that Taylor Hicks continues to find his way to success, at a level that a young boy from Birmingham may not have imagined".

Taylor Hick's Bids Adieu to Broadway's 'Grease' - Pictures Galore!

Courtesy of Getty Images, here are some wonderful shots of Taylor's last night on stage as the Teen Angel and at the aftershow party at the Bourbon Street Bar & Grill near W. 79th Street in NYC. Fellow American Idol season five contestant Ace Young (who will take of over the roll of Kenickie on Sept 9) and Season 4 contestant Constantine Maroulis joined Taylor for the festivities. It's been a summer to remember for Taylor and his fans - old ones and new ones alike! He says he will be taking a well deserved vacation and then be back to finish and release his much anticipated new album.

I mentioned in the last blog that 'Grease" is taking the show out on the road across the US starting in January of 2009. There are rumors Taylor will join this traveling road show, but nothing is confirmed yet. If and when this happens, I'll be sure to post all the details! Until then, thanks to *everyone* who attended 'Grease' this summer and shared all their media with us to enjoy! It's MUCH appreciated!

Thanks to Amy K. Hall for getting the watermarks out of some of the pictures. Enjoy!



Kirsten Wyatt (Frenchy) w/Taylor


Kirsten Wyatt (Frenchy) w/Taylor


Allie Schulz w/Taylor


Lindsay Mendez w/Taylor


Robyn Hurder w/Taylor


Constantine Maroulis, Taylor Hicks, Ace Young


Grease Cast + Ace Young w/Taylor Hicks



























































A few more pictures here at GettyImages

Broadway Bids Taylor Hicks Goodbye - For the Time Being

Sunday marks Taylor's last appearance in Grease - for the time being. What a ride it's been for him, his old and new fans and the cast and crew of Grease. Not only were sales up the entire summer, but the buzz surrounding Taylor has been remarkable, gathering kudos and smiles from all directions. Yes, he will be sorely missed on Broadway. But you know what they say, 'leave 'em wanting more' - and more might happening in the not so distant future. It seems that the Grease Producers will be taking the show on the road this spring with some of the cast from the Broadway show. Taylor has indicated on his site that he will be taking a 'creative break' from Grease to focus on his fourth album. Only time will tell if that comes to pass. All I know is that *if* he does join the road crew, he'll be in my backyard, according to Playbill. 'Broadway/San Diego', a Nederlander presentation, announced a jam-packed 2008-09 season of shows at the Civic and Balboa theatres in southern California, March 3-8, 2009.

Here is broadway.tv latest entry:

It is a battle for the weeping fans of Broadway. This weekend is the last for Taylor Hicks in Grease, the final performance for RENT, and the last weekend of Whoopi Goldberg in Xanadu. So, who will leave the biggest vacuum in their wake when Monday morning rolls around. RENT is getting all the attention, and Whoopi Goldberg was always just a visitor in Xanadu (though perfectly fitted to the fun of the show), our guess is that it is Taylor Hicks who might be most missed come next Monday. It is hard to imagine RENT will ever go away…in a touching bit of news we offer you this from Adelphi University where RENT creator Jonathan Larson was a student. It is a sweet and smart way to welcome RENT to the larger universe beyond Broadway:

Adelphi University is proud to present the first licensed full production of RENT, the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical by alumnus Jonathan Larson B.F.A. ‘82, after its Broadway closing. This completely new and reconceived version of RENT will kick off the inaugural season in the University’s new Performing Arts Center (AU PAC), and run from September 23 through September 28, 2008.

Best of luck to all. Very poignant news. Thanks for making great Broadway!

Taylor Hick's NYC Apt! Take A Look!

MIDTOWN RENTAL IS FIT FOR AN 'AMERICAN IDOL'
By MICKI SIEGEL

"This apartment has been perfect for me and what I wanted to achieve," Taylor Hicks says of his Midtown rental. "I wanted to write some music, have friends over, be comfortable and be close to Broadway."

But his stay is now coming to an end. The season five winner of "American Idol" is winding down his first role in a Broadway musical as a soulful, Elvis Presley-ish Teen Angel in "Grease." His last performance will be Sept. 7. (Not to worry, "Idol" fans: On Sept. 9, another season five contestant, Ace Young, will join "Grease" as Kenickie.) For the past two months of his run, Hicks, 31, has been living in the posh Atelier condominium on 42nd Street. This sort of "Hollywood on the Hudson" building, a half-block from the river, has residents including Lindsay Lohan and Nick Lachey. The building features a roof deck, swimming pool, fitness center and basketball court.

Hicks' two-bedroom, one-bath corner unit, which rents for $4,600 a month, includes floor-to-ceiling windows that offer river views as well as city views to the north and south.

"It's a wonderful apartment," says Hicks, who likes the convenient location. "I run in the Hudson River Park, I swim in the pool and I practice my golf swings at Chelsea Piers. It's close to the theater, and I really enjoy being near the water. It's just the best of both worlds."The apartment came furnished, but, Hicks "spruced it up a bit."

Together with decorator Marne Cahn, he bought new pieces that are both handsome and practical.

"This is my first time of having new things," the gray-haired, Alabama-born singer says. "Everything I've always had in my apartment have been my grandmother's hand-me-downs. This is the first time I've actually been able to go out on my own and buy a piece of furniture that hasn't been handed down over generations in my family."

One of his new pieces is a soft avocado suede couch daybed in the second bedroom. It can open out into a queen-size bed for friends who stay over.

"This room is kind of my sitting room," he says of the second bedroom. "I write music in here, I talk on the phone. And the view - it's just about a 180-degree view of whatever you want to see in New York. At night, with the city lights, it's absolutely stunning." The living room is outfitted with a deep brown, almost black leather sofa, which "is really comfortable," Hicks says. "Some mornings I wake up and realize I slept the entire night on the couch. That's how comfortable it is."

It's also the room where he has a wall of guitars.

"I keep the two guitars I like to write with hanging on hooks on the wall," he says. "They're handy, so, if the muse hits me, I can corral her before she gets away." In addition to playing guitar and singing, Hicks has many other talents that he didn't get a chance to display on "American Idol." Like his green thumb - almost every window is filled with thriving plants.

"Because there's so much light in this apartment, there's an equal opportunity for lots of plants to grow," he says.

That extends to the coffee table, which has a glass top with plants and peat moss inside it.

"I just thought it would be real cool to have some greenery within the table," he says.

Hicks is also quite the cook. The open kitchen has seen him whipping up dishes for guests. His specialties are lasagna and chicken piccata.

"A few days ago a fan sent me five slabs of barbecued ribs," Hicks says. "They were already pre-cooked, so I just put them in the oven to warm them and brought them to the theater so we could all eat them. Needless to say, we danced a little slow that night."

Now that he's leaving the show, Hicks is about to record his next album. There's no title or release date yet (he's hoping for early next year), but he's quite excited about it.

"I had time to really create and write the songs," he says. "It's going to be very creative."

And ending this run in "Grease" doesn't mean he's saying goodbye to Broadway. He's hoping for another musical in the not-too-distant future.

"I've had a wonderful time," Hicks says. "I'll be back here again. I'll be putting all my new furniture right back in a place somewhere around here.

"I'm really thankful that I was able to come here and experience New York and help spice up the place a little bit. It's definitely country come to town."

Taylor Hicks'


FAVORITE THINGS

* A painting of his band playing at the House of Blues in New Orleans

* A T-shirt he got when, at 18, he worked in a roadhouse called the Flora-Bama Lounge

* His TaylorMade golf clubs

* His collection of old music magazines: "I learn from the singers I read about. They helped me create my own style."

* His case of 12 harmonicas, all in different keys

* His book "Heart Full of Soul"

* The plants all over his apartment





Source: NY Post