Taylor Hicks Goes Independent

Taylor Hicks is finding out what it it like to be a bluesman. Corporate music companies who have squandered and destroyed the music business and radio ( I mean when is the last time you have seen music on MTV, or VH1, Could you name anyone in the current top 40??) now are seeing musicians going independent. Of course, us in the blues business have been doing this for years. Hicks has talent so he should be alright for awhile, but like most soul and blues artists it is tough sledding out there. (BTW, I have only sold 1 Cd since releasing my independent CD a couple of months ago, so it is very tough out there!!!)

Here is a press release with details of Taylor Hicks new CD.

"LOS ANGELES, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- He's "Takin' It to the Streets" on "American Idol" -- now Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks will be takin' it more directly to the people. Celebrating his birthday today, Hicks has tapped the independent artist services company Artist To Market (A2M) to release his much-buzzed-about new album, due in stores on February 10, 2009. The platinum-selling singer-songwriter will be releasing the new title with complete control of direction and ownership of his masters on his solely owned and operated, Modern Whomp Records label. Hicks is currently in the studio with producer Simon Climie (Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Faith Hill).

"In this digital age, when artists can connect more directly with audiences, this is a partnership that makes a lot of sense," says Hicks. "I'm very much enjoying being in the studio with Simon working on the new album and look forward to releasing it through A2M early next year."

"We at A2M are very excited to be working with the team at Modern Whomp Records on this release," said Paul Ignasinski, General Manager of A2M. "As the industry continues to evolve, it's exciting to see significant artists approach the marketplace in a new way, and truly take control over their own destiny. This is exactly why A2M was built in the first place -- to provide a service platform for these artists to prosper on their own terms."

During the last two years, Taylor Hicks has seen his self-titled Arista debut album certified platinum, performed with the likes of Willie Nelson, Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers and Jackson Browne, toured through Asia, penned the brisk-selling Random House memoir Heart Full of Soul, spent time in NY this past summer for his three-month Broadway debut as "Teen Angel" in Grease, and will take Grease on a national tour beginning December 1.

In August Hicks' Modern Whomp Records released Early Works (a reissue compilation of his two independent albums, In Your Time and Under the Radar) through the Welk Music Group. Hicks is also planning the release of Whomp at the Warfield, a DVD showcasing a live performance by Hicks and his band at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco.

About Artist To Market Distribution:

Launched in 2005, Artist To Market Distribution (A2M) is an independent music distributor and artist services company designed to work directly with artists, labels, and content owners to streamline the supply chain, provide flexible service solutions, and deliver new product to the marketplace at a lower cost. Over the past two years A2M has partnered with a diverse group of platinum and multi-platinum artists including Dolly Parton, Tracy Lawrence, Tommy Lee, John Michael Montgomery, Sinead O'Connor, Unwritten Law, and Tracy Byrd, in addition to critically-acclaimed newcomers, The Cool Kids. More information can be found at http://www.artist2market.com".

Blues Historian Review: Taylor Hicks, Whomp At The Warfield

I received this DVD from some fine folks at one of Taylor Hicks fan clubs. I suppose a review is not really necessary since his fans will love the DVD no matter what I say. However, I can safely say for those of you who haven't listened to this guy yet, that this DVD is for you. Taylor Hicks is the real deal. I have said this many times, but it is true the man can sing the blues, soul, R&B and rock and roll. Whomp At The Warfield is mostly a soul filled romp recorded live at The Warfield in San Francisco back in 2007. The band in incredibly tight and Hicks has both the band and the fans pumped up from start to finish.

I must admit I am fascinated with Hicksmania. Perhaps in a differnet time and place before the music business imploded from its own excess he would have been the next incarnation of Elvis, but today in a music scene that is so large, over played, and mega corrupt, Hicks seems to fly beneath the radar. It is both fortunate and unfortunate. In one sense his fan base is tremendous and very faithful. In many ways he and his fans remind me of the relationship between Tom Jones and his fans. Jones never got his due, was regarded as a pop singer, and his legendary fans have followed him forever. Both Jones, and Hicks can sing anything, blues, soul, R&B, Pop, Country, and folk. However, the blues purist would not think about either one as a blues performer, but when I hear them sing I think otherwise.

The other thing that strikes me when I watch the video is that Taylor reminds me a lot of the good qualities of Elvis. It is more than the accent, because both have the Mississippi drawl, but it is their obvious love of the music, and culture of African Americans. Also Taylor doesn't have all the trappings that came with Elvis's fame. Perhaps in the long run it is a good thing that the music industry doesn't control artists like in the old days because that's what ruined Elvis.

This is a great DVD. lots of energy, and great music. Buy it today you can't go wrong.

Taylor HIcks: Sweet Home Chicago

I am pretty sure this is from the same show with Keb Mo that I posted over a year ago. However, this is a pretty grooving song that I figure a different angle and COLOR means I can post it again!

Thanks to all of the Taylor Hicks fans, their blogs, forums and websites, for helping me with my CD. You can check out my interview some photos, and some of my songs here

http://www.thetaylorhickscommunity.com/

I know I have said this before, but it merits repeating. You guys do a great job promoting and getting the word out on Taylor Hicks. If all blues performers had fans like you we would be in a lot better shape then we are now. It is darn tough out there on the road right now for 95% of the blues band that are traveling around this great country. However, fans like you make it worth every minute of blood, sweat, and tears that we all go through. I am glad that you have not only promoted Taylor Hicks, but also a lot of other great blues, soul, and R&B artists. Thanks for the hard work, and thanks for keeping the blues alive.




Sweet Home Chicago_Chicago HOB from dg90001 on Vimeo.

Taylor Hicks: Woman's Gotta Have It

video credit
The Taylor Hicks Community
PayTheDevil661


A very nice exclusive video to blues historian. Taylor Hicks performing Woman's Gotta Have It. Live! Thanks to my secret pals at the Taylor Hicks community for sending me the movie file. Enjoy!!!!!

Taylor Hicks: New York State Of Mind

Taylor Hicks doing an incredible acoustic version of a classic Billy Joel song. It is kinda of a jazzy, blues song, and Hicks has some pipes. Also for those not into Hicks, he just signed a recording contract with Vangard records, and has Delbert McClinton on at least one of those tracks. I keep telling you that Taylor Hicks is the real deal. He certainly surprised me the first time I heard him away from American Idol. If anything that was perhaps the worst that could have happened to his career. I believe many people don't take him seriously and they are making a mistake. Give him a listen just once and trust me you will like it:-)

Blues Historian Year In Review 2007

Well, a new year has begun and it is time for the traditional year in review. It has been an interesting year for me. I didn't start the blog until late April, and to be honest I was taken by surprise at how popular the blog became from day one. I guess I never planned for this to become such a hub for blues information, but that is exactly what happened. My plan was for this blog to be a resource for my students at Buena Vista University who are taking my blues history class. However, the blog took a life of its own, and now it has become a nightly release for me. I guess the blues can chase the blues away, and I really feel that this blog has really helped me get through a tough year. writing about the blues, which I love, has also helped me to meet a lot of great people over the last year. From artists, agents, record label owners, and lots, and lots of fans of the blues. I always enjoy getting emails or comment from people about the blog, and I try to post anything sent my way.

The end of the year totals for the blog really blew me away. From the last week of April to the end of the year we had 17,055 hits, 25,602 page views, and excluding my hometown from the hits list, New York, Chicago, and LA had the most hits for the year! Worldwide After the US Canada, and England, came Spain, France, Germany, and Brazil. I espeically want to thank Marcus in Brazil, and Blouboss in France who have helped to promote my blog in their countries!

For the month of December we finally broke and stayed about the 3,000 hit mark, and finished the year with a rolling 30 day average of 3192 hits, which equals out to over 100 hits a day! The most popular page is still the front page, but of the top ten pages Taylor Hicks has five of them. I owe a lot to the Taylor Hicks fan clubs who have really promoted this blog on their message boards. Taylor has without a doubt the most loyal fans of any blues/soul/R&B artists today. I really think that other blues artists need to look at what he is doing on the net, because the internet is the future of the blues Click HERE for Taylor Hicks posts. Another popular page has been anything done by the late Steve Goodman, especially anything about the Cubs. Go Cubs Go easily made the top 10 this year on the blog Click HERE for Steve Goodman Posts. Perhaps the surprise of the year was the interest in Frank Sugar Chile Robinson, the 8 year old blues prodigy from the 1940s. Frank resurfaced this year to play a few festivals. I hope that he continues to play so that more people can hear him Click HERE for Frank Sugerchile Robinson posts.

The Internet radio station is rolling along. December was the best month yet. November had sagged a lot so I was going to end the station, but since December was so good I will keep it going. However, when you do listen be sure to vote, or rank the songs, I am planning on adding some songs, and I want to get rid of the unpopular songs so help out if you can.

2007 brought the deaths of many beloved blues performers, some way too soon. Here is a list of those who left us since May 1st. If I missed anyone let me know and I will add them to the list.

Ike Turner, Cotton Candy, Jerry Ricks, Oscar Peterson, Wilson Turbinton, John Turner, Oliver Morgan, Richard Bell, Carey Bell, Gary Smith, Gary Primich, Edward Berner, Sonny Day, Jimmy Nelson, Bill Perry, and Joe Duskin. To read more about them Click HERE.

My plans for next year is to keep on providing news, and videos of the blues. I also hope to add a little more history of the blues as well. I am also looking to relocate. being stuck here in the middle of nowhere has some major disadvantages. I have received a lot of great invites to festivals, award shows, and gigs, but it is tough to get away from here sometimes. I am looking at the coasts, and certainly Chicago. I used to live in Kansas City, and I could return that way if the right job was there. I am an historian, and I am certified to teach K-12 Art, and 7-12 US and World history. I have a masters in history so I can also teach college level history. So if any of my readers find something that I could do to get me back to the big city, I would greatly appreciate it!

Taylor Hicks: Living For The City

I haven't heard much from Taylor Hicks, or his fans. I need some new links kids:-) I don't have this one so here you go! Taylor Hicks singing some Stevie Wonder. Enjoy!

Taylor Hicks: Early Works

Taylor Hicks is releasing some of his old songs from Pre Idol days, when he was playing the Chitlin Circuit. Apparently this is a fan video and not an official release so the video maybe gone in a day or two, but if the blues fans were half as organized and hard working as Taylor Hicks fans then we wouldn't be discussing the death of the blues! People we need to learn something from these folks!!!!

Taylor Hicks: Hallelujah I Just Lover Her So

Live concert footage of Taylor Hicks performing at the Jacksonville Florida Christmas tree lighting.

Taylor Hicks - Hallelujah, I Just Love Her So - Jacksonville Tree Lighting Concert from anothertayfan on Vimeo.

Taylor Hicks: Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad

Here is one for the Taylor Hicks fans. Enjoy:-)

"Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad" Taylor Hicks and Friends from Jenni Jac on Vimeo.

Taylor Hicks: Don't Let Me Down

Taylor Hicks doing John Lennon's Don't Let Me Down. Back when John was with a little band from Liverpool.

Taylor Hicks @ Smiths Olde Bar "Don't Let Me Down" from bonnie cheung on Vimeo.

Blues Historian ONE YEAR OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is the offical 1st birthday of the Blues Historian Blog! I started this adventure on April 2 of last year. I have posted 1,438 posts in that year! I wish I had put up a counter on day one, but I actually waited a month. However, with that in mind here was are my yearly stats!

27,774 Hits
40,143 page views
The front page has been hit over 16,000 times, and the most popular page over the year was the Taylor Hicks/Keb Mo Sweet Home Chicago video with 401 views. Taylor Hicks dominated the top 20, but Muddy Waters family guy cartoon, Steve Goodman's Go Cubs Go, and Bonnie Raitt artist of the week also made the top of the list. Once again a big thanks to all the Taylor Hicks message boards that have linked my site, and also a big shout out to Bluestown who has sent over 3000 people this way.

This has been a great year, and as I have posted before I never intended for this blog to be anything but a teaching tool for my students, but it took off, and has become my little promotional place for the blues. I hope the next year continues the growth of the blog, and I hope to see some of you at a few festivals this year:-)

Thanks for stopping by

Tom Gary

Taylor Hicks: Blues

A short clip of Taylor Hicks jamming da blues.



Another short clip of Taylor Hicks singing Big Boss Man. To bad there isn't a longer version of this one.

Taylor Hicks: White Christmas

Taylor Hicks singing White Christmas from the AOL Sessions.

ATTENTION ALL BLUES AND SOUL FANS!! If you have been skipping the Taylor Hicks videos because he won American Idol, and you haven't listened to any of his stuff. LISTEN TO THIS VIDEO. It starts out as a soul song, but then half way through the band turns it into the blues. I wouldn't be posting this guys stuff if I didn't think it belonged here!! To be honest at this point and time I wouldn't place him in the top pantheon of bluesmen, at least not yet:-) but the guy has chops on the harp, and can sing. Do yourself a favor and Check it out!

Taylor Hicks On Asian Idol

Just thought you might like some funky soul music from Taylor Hicks from Asian Idol. there seems to be a sync problem with the video but it is still worth watching.

Taylor Hicks on Asian Idol
Uploaded by starmometerdotcom

Taylor Hicks, Keb Mo, and Shemika Copeland: Slow Blues

Wow!!!! This is a cool video and shows how Taylor is part of the blues scene. Shemika Copeland and Keb Mo joining Taylor Hicks on stage. Pretty cool! The quality is a little bouncy, but it is worth the watch. Also some of the comments on Youtube about the video are pretty funny. It is obvious that the people with the negative comments about Hicks, have no clue what the blues are, or why Shemika Copeland came on stage to sing with Taylor. First he invited her up, and second, she came up. That says a lot, because if she didn't respect his talent she wouldn't have come up on stage. Also, we don't compete, or as they said in the old days "cut heads" not as blues players. We support one another, because we realize just how few of us our out there playing the music. Furthermore, the beauty of the blues is how we can improvise with each other. Once you have learned all the forms of blues, and have learned how to solo, then you can sit in with any band. However, to paraphrase Muddy, it takes seconds to learn, but a lifetime to master:-)

Enjoy this video, because someone caught a magic moment in Chicago, and it is really what the blues is all about. People coming together, and working together, to make beautiful music!

Taylor Hicks LIVE!!!!

Its been awhile since I have posted some Taylor Hicks!   Hey Soul Patrol hows it's going!  I am always grateful when Taylor plays the blues.  Things are tough right now and even on the local level it is hard to convince bar owners to hire blues bands.  With people like Taylor out there playing the blues gives me hope.  If Taylor is in your area you need to see him.  The man is a true hero of soul and blues. Thanks for keeping the blues alive!!!!

BluzKat Harmonica Jam Workshop and Taylor Hicks Exhibit

Just recieved this email from Jamie at BluzKat

Not sure if you are aware of this, but BluzKat will be holding "BluzKat's Harmonica Jam Workshop" to be held on May 10th from 10:00-12:00 at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame located in Tuscumbia, AL.

This workshop has 52 children already registared and will be learning to play "When The Saints Go Marching In" with several lead harmonica instructors from the Birmingham area. After the workshop, everyone in the museum will be invited into the banquet hall to see the kids perform their song along with the instructors in a jam session.

This project is part of the celebration of music and the inspiration of what Taylor has brought to us and to the children. BluzKat will also be celebrating his first birthday on that day and they will be cake and refreshments for all who attend.

There is also an official unveiling of Taylor Hicks's American Idol exhibit which takes place on the same day from 10:00-10:30 am.

Taylor has inspired our feline BluzKat to being an Ambassador of good music to kids of all ages.

You can visit our website at: www.bluzkat.com for more information about our event and our mission.

Thanks,

Jamie

Taylor Hicks: Dust My Broom

Taylor Hicks performing a classic Robert Johnson tune. BTW, Taylor is the little brown blip in the bottom middle of the screen:-)

Taylor Hicks_Dust My Broom_Biloxi MS_9-11-09 from Janibeth on Vimeo.

Taylor Hicks: Wedding Day Blues

Another fan video of Taylor Hicks performing in about every small to large bar and stage across this great land. Now Hicks is really a bluesman:-)

Wedding Day Blues from edjorg on Vimeo.