Easton Press Clay Aiken books
Clay Aiken biography
Clay Aiken was born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. As a young boy, Aiken sang in the Raleigh Boychoir and as a teenager, he sang in school choirs, church choir, musicals and local theatre productions. After high school he sang lead with a local band, Just By Chance,[8] and cohosted and performed with the band at "Just by Chance and Friends" shows in Dunn, NC. He was also emcee and performer at the Johnston Community College Country Showcase in Smithfield, NC, and at the North Carolina Music Connection and Hometown Music Connection shows in Garner and Benson, NC. He performed the national anthem numerous times for the Raleigh Ice Caps and the Carolina Hurricanes. Three demo albums of Aiken's vocals were created before American Idol with the aid of studio time given as a birthday gift by his mother: a cassette called Look What Love Has Done (by Clayton Grissom), a cassette and CD entitled Redefined[10] (by Clayton Aiken), and a CD that combined some songs from each of the previous demos: "Look What Love Has Done, Vol 2" (by Clay Aiken).Aiken attended Raleigh's Leesville Road High School and took courses at Campbell University before enrolling at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He found his interest in special education while directing YMCA children's camps as a teenager, and at age 19 he served as a substitute teacher for a classroom of students with autism at Brentwood Elementary School in Raleigh. While attending college in Charlotte he took a part-time job as an assistant to a boy with autism, and it was this child's mother, Diane Bubel, who urged him to audition for American Idol. Although his American Idol activities temporarily delayed his academic pursuits, Aiken completed his course work while on tour and graduated with a bachelor's degree in special education in December of 2003.
American Idol
Television viewers' first glimpse of Aiken came during the audition episodes at the beginning of American Idol's second season. The show's judges first saw Aiken as a nerdy type unlikely to be any kind of idol, but after hearing him sing Heatwave's "Always and Forever" decided to advance him to the next round. The clip of the judges' surprise during this audition performance was replayed many times over the course of the competition.
Aiken made it to the round-of-32 before being cut from the show, but he was invited to return for the "Wild Card" round; his performance of Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" sent him on to the final 12 as the viewer's choice. While noted for his performance of ballads, such as Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire", his upbeat performances, including The Foundations' "Build Me Up Buttercup", were also appreciated. Aiken received enough votes every week to keep him out of the bottom three. Part of his appeal was his "geek to chic" transformation in appearance. "I looked like Opie," Aiken said to People magazine regarding his appearance at his American Idol audition in 2002. He replaced his glasses with contact lenses and agreed to let the show's stylists change his hair style.[14] With longer, flat ironed, spiky hair and a penchant for wearing striped shirts, Aiken had established a trademark look by the final American Idol season 2 show.
On 21 May 2003, Aiken came in a close second to Studdard, who won the contest by 130,000 votes out of more than 24,000,000 votes cast. The result was controversial, as some hypothesized that Idol's voting system was incapable of handling the number of attempted calls. In an interview prior to the start of the fifth season of American Idol, Executive Producer Nigel Lythgoe revealed for the first time that Aiken had led the fan voting every week from the Wild Card week to the finale, when the possibly-random voting result gave Studdard the win. Though officially Aiken was the show's "first runner-up," he has since gone on to be the second season's best-selling star.
Rolling Stone magazine featured Aiken on the cover of their July 2003 issue. In the cover article Aiken said, "One thing I've found of people in the public eye, either you're a womanizer or you've got to be gay. Since I'm neither one of those, people are completely concerned about me." In subsequent interviews he has expressed frustration over continued questions about his sexual orientation, telling People magazine in 2006, "It doesn't matter what I say. People are going to believe what they want."
Aiken made a surprise appearance on the final show of American Idol season 5, when failed auditioner Michael Sandecki returned to the show to receive a "Golden Idol" award for Best Impersonator for his Clay Aiken-like appearance. Aiken appeared without introduction in a well-tailored designer suit and longer, darker hair with bangs, looking so different that many did not recognize him until he began to sing "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me."
Aiken provided the narration for the second season of the American Idol Rewind series.
Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life
Learning to Sing is a soul-stirring memoir authored by Clay Aiken, the beloved American singer, actor, and philanthropist. Published in 2004, Learning to Sing offers readers an intimate glimpse into Aiken's remarkable journey from a small-town upbringing to international stardom. With candor and humility, Aiken recounts the challenges and triumphs he encountered along the way, from overcoming childhood bullying and self-doubt to navigating the whirlwind of fame and fortune. At the heart of Aiken's narrative is his deep love for music and its transformative power to uplift and inspire. From his early days singing in church choirs to his breakthrough on "American Idol" and beyond, Aiken reflects on the profound impact that music has had on his life, shaping his identity, values, and sense of purpose.
Learning to Sing is more than just a memoir—it is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of perseverance in the face of adversity. Aiken's journey serves as a poignant reminder that, no matter the obstacles we face, we all have the ability to find our voice and make a meaningful impact in the world. Since its publication, Learning to Sing has resonated with readers around the globe, inspiring countless individuals to embrace their passions, pursue their dreams, and find joy in the music of their own lives. Clay Aiken's legacy endures not only as a talented performer but also as a compassionate advocate for positive change, reminding us all to listen closely for the melodies that guide us on our own personal journeys.
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