Taylor Hicks Biography

Taylor Hicks was born on October 6, 1976 in Birmingham, Alabama. His parents divorced by the time he was 8, and his hair began going gray by age 15. After stealing an Otis Redding record from a friend, Hicks discovered a deep appreciation for soul music. Around this time, Hicks began playing the guitar and harmonica.

Taylor Recorded and released his debut album In Your Time in 1997. Hicks stepped up his workhorse touring schedule, and began gaining local notoriety. Taylor had a steady stream of shows at college bars, weddings, and basically any other place where people would listen. The hard work started paying off, as he found himself playing at gigs like state senators' daughters weddings, Talladega Nascar Speedway, and the Playboy Mansion; as well as sharing the stage with the likes of James Brown, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, Drive-By Truckers, Robert Randolph, and Keb Mo. In 2005 Hicks released Under the Radar, to moderate local success, but as the name stated, it mainly flew under the radar.

Taylor's journey with American Idol began with hurricane Katrina shut down the Memphis auditions. He raced to Las Vegas to audition there, and made it to Hollywood. Hicks would sail through the competition and become the latest American Idol.

Taylor is the oldest person to win the contest, as well as the only male to win the final against a female. The South continues to be well represented in American Idol, as Taylor is the fifth southerner to win, and the second Birmingham native to take the title. He is also the only man to win and never be in the bottom 2 or 3 in any week.

Taylor will take the stage as American Idol for the first time on July 1st at BYU in Utah. The 60-date Summer Idols tour will be Hicks' first major cross-country tour, and all the while he will be preparing his highly-anticipated debut album.

Soul Patrollers rejoyce! Because of you, Taylor is our American Idol. If you need tickets to any of his appearances check out the selection of American Idols Live tickets.