Taylor Hicks Display at the Alabama Hall Of Fame Music Unveiled!

Over the weekend, Taylor Hick's exhibit at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame was unveiled to a swarm of fans and family. In attendence were his grandmother Ms. Joni and his younger cousin Morgan. Displayed are Taylor's bathrobe from the 2006 Idol Tour, a set of drum sticks, a signed cow bell, a signed harmonica, the infamous purple jacket from the 2006 American Idol finale, the paisley shirt he wore when he sang "Play That Funky Music White Boy" on American Idol, the tamborine that he played in Seattle (the last concert of his 2007 Spring tour) and a beautifully framed and signed concert picture hanging on the wall.

Thanks to "OldieButGoodie" for these fab pictures of the event!

Alabama Hall of Fame To Be Televised on APT - Taylor Hicks Honored

Alabama Public Television (APT) announced that it will broadcast The Alabama Music Hall of Fame 2008 Induction and Awards Ceremony statewide on Monday, April 14 from 7 until 10 p.m. The program, which features the induction ceremonies and 16 performances by music greats, repeats on Saturday, April 19, Sunday, April 20, and Thursday, April 24.

Hosted by Randy Owens, the festivities feature induction of five Alabama music achievers (including Grand Ole Opry star Ernie Ashworth, Rock & Roll pioneer Boyd Bennett, Jazz bassist Cleveland Eaton, songwriter and performer Donnie Fritts and Styx guitarist and songwriter Tommy Shaw) and presentation of six Contemporary Music Awards (to Chris Tompkins [songwriter award], John Briggs [music industry award], Larry Byrom [music industry award], Angela Hacker and Taylor Hicks [America’s Music Award] and Rick Shayne [media award]). Awards to Bennett and Shayne were made posthumously to their widows.

The ceremony was recorded live Feb. 22 at the Montgomery Convention Center at the Hall of Fame’s black-tie gala and features performances by Kris Kristofferson (in honor of his friend, Donny Fritts) and some of Alabama’s most notable performers. The broadcast’s featured performances include:

Kris Kristofferson: “Me and Bobby McGee”
Percy Sledge: (1993 Inductee) “When a Man Loves a Woman”
Tommy Shaw: “Crystal Ball”
Clarence Carter: (2003 Inductee) “Patches”
Eddie Floyd: (2001 Inductee) “Knock on Wood”
The Commodores: (1995 Inductee) “Brick House”
Randy Owen: (1993 Inductee) “Braid My Hair”
The Thrasher Brothers: (2005 Inductee) “Still The One”
Taylor Hicks: “Soul Thing”
Angela Hacker: “These Walls”
Ernie Ashworth: “Talk Back Trembling Lips”
Cleveland Eaton: “I’m Just A Lucky So and So” (instrumental)

And according to the Enterprise Ledger, a two-DVD set featuring all of the music performed during the evening-30 performances in all-is available from APT for a pledge of $90. (http://www.aptv.org)

Source and Source

Taylor Hicks Gets Exhibit at Alabama Music Hall of Fame

Taylor Hicks will get his very own display at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, the same organization that bestowed an American Music Award on him just last month. This display will include items from Taylor's own personal collection including the infamous purple velvet jacket he wore on the final night of competition between he and Katharine Mcphee back in May of 2006. It also will include the paisley shirt he wore when he sang "Play That Funky Music White Boy" and various instruments donated by his supporters. Family members, including Taylor's beloved grandmother, Ms. Joni Hicks will be in attendance.

Admission is $8 and includes a tour of the museum. The unveiling is scheduled between 10:00-10:30am on Saturday, May 10, 2008.

For more information, contact them at:

The Alabama Music Hall of Fame
P.O. Box 740405
Tuscumbia, AL 35674

Phone: (800) 239-AMHF
Fax: 256-381-1031
Email: info@alamhof.org

Taylor Hicks Accepts American Music Award from Alabama Hall of Fame

Alabama's own American Idol 2006, Taylor Hicks never expected to see "Soul Patrol" signs when his plane landed in Jakarta, Indonesia.

"It's amazing the responses I had in Asia," said the Birmingham native, who's as famous for his head of salt and pepper hair as he is for his soulful singing and harmonica playing. "I'm blessed to have such a dedicated group of fans."

These days, he's living on the road. "There are four pieces of luggage that I carry with me at all times, and I call that my apartment," he said. "I'm letting the music carry me where it needs to go."

He's also doing a lot of writing and making plans for his next project, for which he will have more creative control. That pleases him a lot.

It's thrilling to be part of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, he said. On Friday, he received the 2008 America's Music Award. It was thrilling to just be in the same room with all the legends of music.

"I'd buy a ticket just to go," he said.

Source



Taylor and the legendary Percy Sledge ("When A Man Loves a Woman")

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Musicians and movie stars Donnie Fritts and his buddy Kris Kristofferson made time after a press conference Thursday to be part of a video salute to the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind's 150th anniversary.

The two are in town for the Alabama Music Hall of Fame's annual induction ceremony and dinner. Fritts is being honored with a 2008 Lifework Award. He has known Kristofferson for about 40 years. Kristofferson turned down a movie project to be here to support his friend and will perform for the crowd.

American Idol Taylor Hicks also stopped by to record a greeting for the AIDB. Check Saturday's Montgomery Advertiser for more details.

Source

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Stars rock Capital City
February 23, 2008
Reporters Teri Greene, Robyn Bradley Litchfield and Ken Mullinax contributed to this story.

American Idol and 2008 America’s Music Award honoree Taylor Hicks also stopped by to record a greeting for the AIDB, capping it off with his signature head jerk and “Woo, Soul Patrol!”

Hicks followers like Rhonda Huffman of Montgomery were out in full force.

“I am a Soul Patrol member, which means I’m a BIG Taylor Hicks fan. He has the voice of an angel, and he’s a non-stop entertainer,” she said. “His performance always knocks it right out of the park, and it’s great that he’s from Alabama, too.”

Source

Videos to check out:

Taylor singing "Soul Thing"

Taylor singing "Before He Cheats"

Taylor accepting his "American Music Award"!

Taylor Hicks Pictures from the Alabama Hall of Fame Ceremony!

Taylor was looking mighty fine indeed at the Alabama Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony tonight. Isn't he always the most gracious, humble, appreciative and hottest man at these formal affairs he's been attending lately - sorta like a shining diamond? Forget the Grammy's - Taylor got to share the stage with some real legends of the music industry - Percy Sledge, The Commodores and Kris Kristofferson just to name a few and be honored with the American Music Award on top of it! It's about f*cking time Taylor got some recognition for the long road he's traveled to get to this point. Yes Taylor, you DO make us proud in every sense of the word. Taylor had his family and friends with him and said that getting the American Music Award was coming full circle for him.
He belted out Chris Tompkins' "Before He Cheats," the song that won a Grammy for Carrie Underwood last week (hey, at least it wasn't a Daughtry song - that would have sucked!). Tomkins, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Walt Aldridge and Donnie Fritts, backed up Taylor's vocals with crowd-pleasing piano, guitar and harmonica. Taylor also sang "Soul Thing" at the show.

Posing with a lucky fan!
With Governor Riley of Alabama









Pictures courtesy of the Montgomery Advertiser, David Bundy, Amanda Sowards, Jamie Martin

Taylor Hicks To Receive Award From Alabama Music Hall of Fame

Mary Colurso wrote a nice article today in al.com about Taylor's performance at the Alabama Music Awards that is being held this Friday, February 22 in Montgomery. He will also receive one of the two American Music Awards that will be handed out. Well deserved Taylor! The article reads:

Give Taylor Hicks a plate of Birmingham barbecue and he's a happy man. Give Hicks, 31, an award from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, and he's happy about that, too.

The Hoover-born singer, foodie and 2006 "American Idol" winner will receive the America's Music Award on Friday in Montgomery, at the hall of fame's annual induction and awards ceremony. Hicks will share that accolade with Angela Hacker of LaGrange, the 2007 winner of the "Nashville Star" TV show.

"I'm very honored," Hicks said today. "I think the last award I received was for being tardy the most in high school. This will be a step up."

Hicks plans to perform "Soul Thing" at the 7 p.m. ceremony, held at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel. Other performers will include Kris Kristofferson, Percy Sledge, Tommy Shaw, Beth Nielsen Chapman and the Commodores.

The hall of fame will induct five Alabama natives that evening, including jazz bassist Cleve Eaton, 68, of Fairfield. Eaton, a veteran on Birmingham's music scene, has done stints with the Ramsey Lewis Trio, toured with the Count Basie Orchestra and collaborated with many other jazz luminaries.

Hicks has performed with Eaton in the past, and sat in with his band at the Open Door Cafe in Mountain Brook. Eaton is known for his intense focus and flamboyant musicianship during concerts.

"When Cleve plays, he's one of those musicians who's in another world," Hicks said. "While we're listening to him on Earth, he's playing the bass in Mars. I think that has to do with talent. He's that talented, and knows the instrument that well. It was an honor to play with a guy like that."

The hall of fame will distribute four awards at Friday's ceremony, aside from the one given to Hicks and Hacker. Recipients will include songwriter Chris Tompkins of Greenhill, who recently won a Grammy Award as the cowriter of Carrie Underwood's hit "Before He Cheats."

Alabama musicians, producers and other achievers are commemorated with memorabilia in the hall of fame's museum in Tuscumbia. Hicks said he donated his "infamous purple jacket," which drew applause and criticism from "Idol" viewers, for his display case at the museum.

Hicks said the last time he wore the purple jacket, he was headlining the "Idol" tour at the BJCC Arena in August 2006.

"I wore it in Birmingham and retired it," he said, laughing.

Taylor Hicks Appears on LIVE w/Regis & Kelly during "Wedding Week 2008"!

During Rehearsals

ETA: Update! It was a beautiful wedding for Kacy and Jordan this morning. Taylor looked HOT as ever in a gray suit and black shirt and black boots (pant! pant!) - just perfect for the occasion! And OMG, he sounded just awesome, slowing down his signature song "The Right Place" and singing it with much feeling and soul (with harmonica) as the wedding party marched into the studio. Here is the video followed by just the audio:







Kelly Ripa and Taylor dancing up a storm at the reception!



Meet The Couple, Kacy Hardenbrook and Jordan Edsall and their tragic, yet inspiring story.

Also, don't forget to see Taylor at the following events this month:

February 11: Taylor performs at Kacy and Jordan's Wedding Reception at Tavern At The Green Restaurant overlooking Central Park in NYC! Catch it on "Live W/Regis and Kelly" 9am EST!

February 15: McDonald's Celebrity NBA Basketball Game!

February 22: Alabama Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony!