An Interview with Taylor Hicks

It’s a pretty crazy time to be Taylor Hicks.

His album’s just gone platinum, and now, the most recent winner of American Idol begins his national tour on February 21^st. Before he heads down to Jacksonville, Florida, to start the show, however, he’s going back to New Orleans, the city that played an important role in his trip to the top of Idol stardom. Last time, he was fleeing the imminent arrival of Hurricane Katrina, on his way to his first American Idol auditions. This time, he’s going to be joining the likes of Britney Spears, Emeril Lagasse, Jim Belushi, and Dan Aykroyd as this year’s Grand Marshal of Endymion, the largest of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras parades.

I asked Hicks about the parade when I had the pleasure of speaking with him the Friday before the Grammy Awards. He was appropriately humbled by the New Orleans invite.

“I’ve come full circle with that city for sure,” he said. “I’ve been traveling down there and playing as a musician and visiting down there all my life. Now, ending up in New Orleans as the Grand Marshal—it’s truly amazing. I’m excited I’m going to hopefully go down there and [with] the Soul Patrol, we can make something happen.”

For the handful of people who didn’t watch any of Hicks’ winning season of American Idol (of which I am one), the “Soul Patrol” is the self-applied nickname given to the dedicated fan base that Hicks has amassed through his Idol tour of duty. And Hicks is grateful for their dedication.

“I spend time on the online sites,” he admits, “primarily Gray Charles and Taylor Made Online and the official Soul Patrol headquarters. All those great fan sites have helped me when I was on the show and now into this career.”

One might wonder what it’s like to read as much in-depth analysis of yourself as Hicks finds on the fan sites, as I did, but Hicks doesn’t worry too much about it. “I don’t read too much into [what is said]; I usually look at what’s going on on the front page but I don’t get too into who says what. That’s not me.”

As a special treat for Taylor Hicks fans and gather.com members, Hicks was happy to take a few minutes to answer several fan questions.

Barbara D. asks: What song will put a lump in your throat, no matter how many times you have heard it?

A: “Am I Blue” by Ray Charles.

Twyla C., a member of the Soul Patrol since AI last year, wants to know if the band that you used to perform with will be traveling with him on his tour or if he has put together a new band?

A: A mix of old and new.

Millie W. asks: since you were a working musician for 10 years before winning Idol, how hard was it being considered an overnight sensation?

A: You have to understand, you have to work to get to the opportunity. The opportunity was American Idol and I took it and you know, you’ve gotta make the best of it.

LenaK. asks: I know sometimes artists are not allowed to write their own material for an album. Have you been able to write your own songs, at least lyric-wise? And if so what inspired you?

A: Well, I have four songs that I’ve written on my album; three that are written by me and one that’s a co-write. Inspiration comes at different times. The music will come and then the lyrics will come.

Was it a struggle to get your own material on the album?

A: Yeah, it was a struggle. But you have to take the best material you have available.

Is it hard to get taken seriously as a songwriter, coming from American Idol?

A: It is, but you just have to make the best of it.

Karen E. asks: Do you still have Ray and Lamont?

A: They are at my parents’ house. They are my goldfish.

Yorgo d. asks: Do you feel like you are treated differently by the industry, or in the press, than you would be if you had gained success by a more traditional route? If so, what about it would you most like to change?

A: I don’t know; it would be hard to tell. I don’t really know. I haven’t really been in the position to be able to compare.

Connie P. says: Thank you for the new world you have opened for my daughter. You have implanted music in her soul. God Bless you!!

A: That’s always wonderful to hear.

As a bit of a follow-up to that, Andie B. asks: How do you feel when people tell you about how your music has changed their lives? And how YOU have changed their lives?

A: It’s an awesome feeling. It’s very flattering. I feel like that is what I was intended to do and I’m just really glad that fans are following it.

Shannon J wants to know: if you had a moment with Ray Charles, what would you say?

A: I would probably give him a big ol’ hug.

Bonzie A. and Tish P. both love the song “Somehow.” Bonzie wants to know if there a particular reason you don’t sing it live?

A: You never know.

So can we look forward to hearing it sometime soon?

A: You never know.

Tish wonders--Of all your original music, which is your personal favorite, or can you pick a favorite?

A: I can’t say that I have a personal favorite. I write ‘em because I love ‘em. They’re all personal favorites, or they wouldn’t be Taylor Hicks’.

Gypsee G. and bill h. both wrote in look for details about a video. Any news on that front?

A: It’s in the works; it’s coming around. They haven’t told me [which song] yet.

Julie G. is impressed with your breath control and wonders how you’re able to play the harmonica on some of those long jam sessions without appearing to be short of breath?

A: Circular breathing. It’s a saxophonist trick. You can breathe and blow and the same time.

 Faith H. wants to know where you see your career in 10-20 years?

A: On the road touring and in front of fans and having a lot of albums under my belt.

 She also mentions that she’s heard that you prefer playing smaller venues?

A: For right now, I think my music is best suited for the theatres.

 Michelle K.thinks you are very charismatic and wants to know if you could you ever see yourself acting?

A: If the right part came along, yes. Maybe Elvis.

What movies/tv are you a fan of?

A: I want to see Dreamgirls; I haven’t gotten a chance to see that yet.

While doing research for this interview, I came across an interview you did with MTV just after your American Idol win. In it, you said that your goal was to create “an album with soul. It's gonna have a lot of feeling. I'm an instrumentalist as well as vocalist, and I'm going to play harmonica and guitar on it.” How well do you think your album held up to your expectations?

A: I think everything I did on that album explored what I said in that interview.

 By then, we were just about out of time, but I had one last music geek question to which I was dying to know the answer:  The guitar on the back of Taylor Hicks, the album—was it an original gold Les Paul? And, if so, was it his?

 “Yes, it’s an original gold Les Paul, but no [it was not his],” he laughed. “I do own one similar. I don’t own an original Les Paul, but I wish I did.”

Sarah Erlewine, Music Correspondent:

Sarah’s column, Single of the Week, published every Wednesday to Gather Essentials: Music (http://music.gather.com), is a look at the latest up-and-coming singles highlighted on iTunes and available for free download.

Sarah Erlewine has previously written for the All Music Guide. In her daily life, she is a technical writer for Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI.

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