Artist Of The Week: Taylor Hicks!

Working with producer Simon Climie, Taylor Hicks is set to drop a new album titled 'The Distance' on March 10 under his newly-formed record label Modern Whomp Records.

After being released from his contract with Arista Records, Taylor Hicks refuses to back off from music industry. Believing that "this is turning the page on a new chapter" in his career, he forms a record label Modern Whomp Records. Taking the advantage of "artistic freedom," he is back to studio, making music for his new album "The Distance" and plans to release it across U.S. on March 10.

In the new album, Taylor steps behind songwriting table, co-penning several songs including "Wedding Day Blues", "Seven Mile Breakdown", "Once Upon a Lover of Mine" and "Woman Gotta Have It". Teaming up with producer Simon Climie, who has recorded songs for Eric Clapton, Faith Hill and Carlos Santana, he also works with guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, bassist Nathan East and drummer Abe Laboriel Jr to provide the album's sounds.

"What's Right Is Right", the lead single off the new record has been available for digital purchase since January 27. Driven by funky keyboards and sax work, the mid-tempo song about love and commitment peaked at number 25 on Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. A music video for the track has also been debuted, providing a look into the crooner performing in a dark lounge with his trademark soulful sound.

"I wanted to create that alone, James Dean feel, and get across my point of what true love is," Taylor says when referring to the romantic set behind the moody, and mature lyrics in the song. "There's a couple with something to overcome, an obstacle. But when you know it's real, what happens with one person happens with another. It also brings out the idea that there might be a little bit of longing for true love in me. I know true, real love is out there."

Since becoming the winner of the fifth season of "American Idol", Taylor Hicks has dropped self-titled debut album, which was certified platinum and peaked at number two on Billboard Hot 200. He has also toured through Asia, performing with Willie Nelson, Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers Band as well as Jackson Browne. In the beginning of 2009, he embarks on a national U.S. tour with Grease. Fans can log on to MySpace to check his complete tour dates.

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Elliott Yamin Sings Backup on Taylor Hicks' New Album

Interesting news! According to USA Today blogger, Brian Mansfield, fellow American Idol Season 5 contestant, Elliott Yamin, has contributed background vocals to Bobby Womack's classic soul song "Woman's Got To Have It", a cut from Taylor Hicks' forthcoming album, The Distance, which drops on March 10, 2009! I think their voices will blend really nicely and it's one of the 14 cuts I'm most anxious to hear from the new album! It's not the first time these two have worked as a duo. The two sang together during the 2006 American Idol tour at Workplay, an Alabama hotspot, on other classic soul classics such as "Use Me" and "What's Goin' On". The entire article reads:

Taylor Hicks' new single, What's Right Is Right, will be available for download starting next Tuesday, but you can hear the song now on his website. What's Right Is Right is the first single from Taylor's new album, The Distance, will come out March 10.

The Distance also features a cover of R&B great Bobby Womack's Woman's Gotta Have It. Elliott Yamin told me the other day that he'd cut backing vocals for Taylor's version.

Taylor's backing band on the album includes guitarist Doyle Bramhall II, bassist Nathan East and drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. The Distance was produced by Simon Climie, who has also worked with Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and Faith Hill.

The other songs on The Distance, which will come out on Taylor's Modern Whomp label, are Wedding Day Blues, Seven Mile Breakdown, New Found Freedom, The Distance, Nineteen, I Live on a Battlefield, Maybe You Should, Once Upon a Lover of Mine and Keepin’ It Real.