Great Taylor Hicks Article
Here’s an article I was sent from the St. Catharines Standard in Ontario, Canada (and yes, I know that they do not capitalize his name - it isn’t me).
Taylor Hicks is known to millions as the silky-smooth, somewhat quirky winner of the 2006 version of TV phenomenon American Idol.
He’s appearing at a gala dinner for the inaugural Niagara Wine Auction on Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., in a black-tie event at The Commons behind the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
It will be hosted by funnyman Dan Aykroyd and features other top singers and a gourmet meal prepared by celebrity chefs.
In a phone interview during a tour stop in Council Bluffs, Iowa, hicks belies his sometimes odd stage persona, and reveals himself as a straight-shooting man of choice - and often few - words.
“Never been, I’m looking forward to it, I always hear it’s a beautiful place,” says the 30-year-old, when asked if he’s visited Niagara before. It turns out he’s never stepped foot in Canada.
And hicks’ plans once he crosses the Niagara River and takes in the fabled Falls?: “Probably taking pictures,” he states.
hicks says he was approached about the auction and accepted the gig in a heartbeat: “I thought, ‘wine and Dan Aykroyd, there’s no question I’ll be there.’
“It’s for a good cause and I think it’ll be a great time.”
The Blues Brothers fan also hopes to “swap some licks on harmonica” with Aykroyd this weekend. As for the vino itself, hicks says he likes Pinot Noir, “but there’s so many to choose from.
“When you get to an event like that, I’ll be able to find some good ones, that’s for sure.”
hicks is single, hails from Birmingham, Ala., and claims no fixed address for the last couple of years: “I live on my bus … I am serious.”
Among his most memorable recent anecdotes are squeaking that big puppy on wheels through narrow drive-thrus.
“Which is pretty interesting, because tour buses usually don’t fit in drive-thrus - we kind of stay on the outer edge of the drive-thru; but all-in-all, it’s a pretty funny sight.”
Between frenetic touring and near-misses at fast-food joints, hicks has released two independent albums, and a self-titled debut through a major label last year.
The standout singer is also known as the Soul Patrol by a legion of rabid online fans, and he has a book coming out this summer called Heart Full of Soul.
Life in the celebrity spotlight has been just fine, he reveals.
“You have to know where you are as an artist and go from there. “Things are just really well,” adds hicks.”The music is great, I’m really happy.”
About 1,000 people are expected to be part of the ritzy Niagara Wine Auction and many are sure to get their own taste of hicks’ sweet vocal chops.
The goal is to raise some serious cash - from $250,000 to $500,000 - for the SickKids Foundation in Toronto and the St. Catharines General Hospital pediatric foundation.
Tickets for the gala, at $500 each, aren’t for the budget-conscious. Other auction events and dinners are roughly half that amount, and an all-inclusive weekend package goes for a cool $1,000.
Still, tickets have sold well, and as of press time, not many were left. For more information, visit www.niagarawineauction.ca.
This year’s eighth annual Niagara Indie Filmfest in downtown St. Catharines includes some standout shorter films from Niagara and across the country.
The juried short film and video festival starts with a meet-and-greet this evening at Niagara Artists’ Centre at 354 St. Paul St, to be followed by screenings at 7:30 p.m. Screenings continue Saturday at the St. Catharines Centennial Library at 1 and 3 p.m. An evening program at NAC includes a meet-and-greet before the 7 p.m. showings, with awards at 9:30 p.m.
Tickets are $6 per screening, $15 for a full pass, and can be purchased at Esprit Films, 2 Lake St., or at the door. Visit www.niagaraindiefilmfest.org for more details.
Tags: american idol, taylor hicks, interview
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1 opinion for Great Taylor Hicks Article
MARILYN GOTFRIED
Jun 26, 2007 at 1:04 pm
6-26-07
I AM A BIG MUSIC COLLECTOR
TAYLOR IS A GREAT SINGER AND I KNEW HE
WOULD WIN ON AMERICAN IDOL
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