American Idol: June 2008 Archives

Ace Young, a season five "American Idol" finalist, called recently from the road. He's touring with his band and visiting radio stations to drum up interest to a fever pitch for his self-titled debut CD out July 15.

Ace only finished seventh but he points out that the same season,top-selling rocker Chris Daughtry finished fourth. For the record,Taylor Hicks won that year. But Ace's good looks and long flowing hair made him a hearthrob and his dedication to his craft could make him a rock star.

Even without a record out, he has managed to stay in the limelight as most other top 10 finalists from seasons past fade from sight. He has toured with his band and was nominated for a Grammy for co-writing the triple platinum hit single "It's Not Over" on
Daughtry's album. The 27-year-old LA resident has also done some acting, including a guest spot on the FOX series "Bones."

Still, why the heck has it taken him three years to finish his record?

"I didn't want the time crunch of forcing something out," he said. "I put together my own team and we are literally doing everything grassroots. I wrote the majority of the album and was able to write with Desmond Child and Diane Warren. I had a blast making the album that I wanted to make."

One of the reasons his album took so long to complete was because he traveled to different places to work with certain producersincluding Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, Miami and - get this - Sweden.

He wanted a Rock/R&B/Funk collaboration record where each song would stand alone. The quality of the music, he said, is key because "I want to tour for the next 30 years, not just be out for a minute and then be gone."

While the album won't hit stores for a few more weeks, its first single "Addicted to Love" is already out. Although he is eager to establish his identity as an artist, he hasn't run from his "Idol" roots. He was in the audience for some of the tapings this year and performed with his band at several post-show parties, including a bash after the May finale.

"It was fun, I had a blast," he said of his experience on the show. "I made life-long friends. At the same point, I got to be seen across the world singing songs that I enjoyed."

After winning "American Idol" a couple years back, Taylor Hicks didn't go on to sell nearly as many records as fellow "Idol" champs Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson.

But the silver-haired singer from Birmingham, Ala., remains upbeat and is following in the footsteps of Season 3 winner Fantasia Barrino ("The Color Purple") by making his Broadway debut in "Grease."

Taylor called from Manhattan on Monday afternoon to talk about his latest gig, which kicked off last Friday.

"It's definitely country come to town," he said of his presence in the Big Apple. "The traffic, all the people and the fast pace that New York is an adjustment. But I love it and I'm starting to become more comfortable with my role in the show."

The role is that of Teen Angel, played by Frankie Avalon in the 1978 movie version, and Taylor gets a nice, big solo in the production.

"The music is classic and the part is a perfect fit," he said. "I couldn't turn down the opportunity to perform on Broadway for the first time."

But don't expect an imitation of Avalon or anyone else. Like everything else he does, the 31-year-old performer said his number has been "Taylorized."

"The great thing about this role is I was able to be Taylor at the same time as Teen Angel," he said. "It allows me to get my feet wet a little bit before I really dive into acting."

He will be living in New York until at least Sept. 6, when his run in the show is due to end. But he will be multitasking all summer: writing songs for a new album planned for later this year and an appearance on "A Capitol Fourth," which airs live on July 4 (on PBS).
Taylor will join such stars as Huey Lewis and Jerry Lee Lewis on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol and he will be performing "This Land is Your Land" as well as songs "Dancing in the Dark" and "Heaven Knows."

"The numbers will be Taylorized," he promised. "You just gotta put as much soul as you can into it."

So what did he think of this season's "Idol" competition and the champion, David Cook?

"I think he's got a great shot to be successful in the pop-rock genre," he said. "He's an accomplished instrumentalist and it was nice to see that on the show this year. I wasn't allowed to play harmonica or guitar."

Taylor's self-titled first album after winning "Idol" reached platinum status but was still considered a disappointment and he parted ways with his record company earlier this year.
I wondered if he felt more pressure to succeed as a former "Idol" champ?

"What's the measuring stick for an `Idol' winner? Is it sales? Everyone has their own opinion," he said. "I'm not worried about it at all. I'm just excited to be an entertainer.

"It is a wild ride (winning `Idol') and it still is. You have to just understand that you've been working as an entertainer for years and want to keep working and you have to re-invent yourself. Some of these things that I'm doing now, it's going to allow me to do that."

Whatever the sales of the upcoming album, Taylor is confident the effort will be better music than his first.

"This time around, I've just had the time to be able to write music," he said. "You're really under the gun to create an album in a short period of time post-`Idol.' With this next album, I'm going to be able to breathe."