The Gay Head cliffs in Martha's Vineyard consist almost entirely of clay.

Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter.^[1] Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.

Formation[link]

Deforestation for clay extraction in Rio de Janeiro city - Brazil. The picture is of Morro da Covanca - Jacarepaguá.

Clay minerals are typically formed over long periods of time by the gradual chemical weathering of rocks, usually silicate-bearing, by low concentrations of carbonic acid and other diluted solvents. These solvents, usually acidic, migrate through the weathering rock after leaching through upper weathered layers. In addition to the weathering process, some clay minerals are formed by hydrothermal activity. Clay deposits may be formed in place as residual deposits in soil, but thick deposits usually are formed as the result of a secondary sedimentary deposition process after they have been eroded and transported from their original location of formation. Clay deposits are typically associated with very low energy depositional environments such as large lakes and marine basins.

Primary clays, also known as kaolins, are located at the site of formation. Secondary clay deposits have been moved by erosion and water from their primary location.^[2]

Definition[link]

electron microscope photograph of smectite clay - magnification 23,500

Clays are distinguished from other fine-grained soils by differences in size and mineralogy. Silts, which are fine-grained soils that do not include clay minerals, tend to have larger particle sizes than clays, but there is some overlap in both particle size and other physical properties, and there are many naturally occurring deposits which include silts and also clay. The distinction between silt and clay varies by discipline. Geologists and soil scientists usually consider the separation to occur at a particle size of 2 µm (clays being finer than silts), sedimentologists often use 4-5 μm, and colloid chemists use 1 μm.^[1] Geotechnical engineers distinguish between silts and clays based on the plasticity properties of the soil, as measured by the soils' Atterberg Limits. ISO 14688 grades clay particles as being smaller than 2 μm and silts larger.

Quaternary clay in Estonia.

Grouping[link]

Depending on the academic source, there are three or four main groups of clays: kaolinite, montmorillonite-smectite, illite, and chlorite. Chlorites are not always considered a clay, sometimes being classified as a separate group within the phyllosilicates. There are approximately 30 different types of "pure" clays in these categories, but most "natural" clays are mixtures of these different types, along with other weathered minerals.

Varve (or varved clay) is clay with visible annual layers, formed by seasonal differences in erosion and organic content. This type of deposit is common in former glacial lakes. When glacial lakes are formed there is very little movement of the water that makes the lake, and these eroded soils settle on the lake bed. This allows such an even distribution on the different layers of clay.^[2]

Quick clay is a unique type of marine clay indigenous to the glaciated terrains of Norway, Canada, Northern Ireland, and Sweden. It is a highly sensitive clay, prone to liquefaction, which has been involved in several deadly landslides.

Historical and modern uses[link]

Clay layers in a construction site. Dry clay is normally much more stable than sand with regard to excavations.

Clays exhibit plasticity when mixed with water in certain proportions. When dry, clay becomes firm and when fired in a kiln, permanent physical and chemical changes occur. These reactions, among other changes, cause the clay to be converted into a ceramic material. Because of these properties, clay is used for making pottery items, both utilitarian and decorative. Different types of clay, when used with different minerals and firing conditions, are used to produce earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain. Prehistoric humans discovered the useful properties of clay, and one of the earliest artifacts ever uncovered is a drinking vessel made of sun-dried clay.^{[citation needed]} Depending on the content of the soil, clay can appear in various colors, from a dull gray to a deep orange-red.

Clay tablets were used as the first known writing medium, inscribed with cuneiform script through the use of a blunt reed called a stylus.

Clays sintered in fire were the first form of ceramic. Bricks, cooking pots, art objects, dishware, and even musical instruments such as the ocarina can all be shaped from clay before being fired. Clay is also used in many industrial processes, such as paper making, cement production, and chemical filtering. Clay is also often used in the manufacture of pipes for smoking tobacco. Until the late 20th century bentonite clay was widely used as a mold binder in the manufacture of sand castings.

Clay, being relatively impermeable to water, is also used where natural seals are needed, such as in the cores of dams, or as a barrier in landfills against toxic seepage (lining the landfill, preferably in combination with geotextiles).^[3]

Recent^[when?] studies have investigated clay's absorption capacities in various applications, such as the removal of heavy metals from waste water and air purification.

Medical and agricultural uses[link]

Recent research indicates that various animals visit clay licks periodically to eat from them, apparently because either the clay contains one or more antidotes for the various poisons in plants and seeds the animals eat, or because the clay coats the animals' guts to protect them from those substances.^{[citation needed]}

A traditional use of clay as medicine goes back to prehistoric times. An example is Armenian bole, which is used to soothe an upset stomach, similar to the way parrots (and later, humans) in South America originally used it.^[4] Kaolin clay and attapulgite have been used as anti-diarrheal medicines.

Clay as a building material[link]

Clay is one of the oldest building materials on Earth, among other ancient, naturally-occurring geologic materials such as stone and organic materials like wood. Between one-half and two-thirds of the world's population, in traditional societies as well as developed countries, still live or work in a building made with clay as an essential part of its load-bearing structure. Also a primary ingredient in many natural building techniques, clay is used to create adobe, cob, cordwood, and rammed earth structures and building elements such as wattle and daub, clay plaster, clay render case, clay floors and clay paints.

See also[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Clay

Footnotes[link]

References[link]

• Guggenheim, Stephen; Martin, R. T. (1995), "Definition of clay and clay mineral: Journal report of the AIPEA nomenclature and CMS nomenclature committees", Clays and Clay Minerals 43 (2): 255–256, DOI:10.1346/CCMN.1995.0430213, http://www.clays.org/journal/archive/volume%2043/43-2-255.pdf 
• Clay mineral nomenclature American Mineralogist.

• Ehlers, Ernest G. and Blatt, Harvey (1982). 'Petrology, Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic' San Francisco: W.H. Freeman and Company. ISBN 0-7167-1279-2.

• Hillier S. (2003) Clay Mineralogy. pp 139–142 In: Middleton G.V., Church M.J., Coniglio M., Hardie L.A. and Longstaffe F.J.(Editors) Encyclopedia of sediments and sedimentary rocks. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.

External links[link]

Look up clay in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Clay

• Building the Phyllosilicates University of New Hampshire
• The Clay Minerals Group of the Mineralogical Society
• Clay Whistles
• Information about clays used in the UK pottery industry
• The Clay Minerals Society
• Plasticity of clay
• Organic Matter in Clays

Flying Lotus
Background information
Also known as	Flying Lotus FlyLo Juno Leed
Born	(1983-10-07) October 7, 1983 (age 28)
Origin	Los Angeles, California United States
Genres	Electronic, experimental
Occupations	Musician Record Producer Filmmaker Record Label Owner
Instruments	Computer, Turntables, Sampler, Drum Machine, Synthesizer, Keyboards, Multi-instrumentalist
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Warp, Brainfeeder, Plug Research
Associated acts	Thundercat FLYamSAM Alice Coltrane Ravi Coltrane Thom Yorke Laura Darlington Gonjasufi
Website	flying-lotus.com, brainfeedersite.com
Notable instruments
Reason Ableton Live

Flying Lotus (born Steven Ellison) is an experimental multi-genre music producer from Winnetka, California. His debut album, 1983, was released on Plug Research Records in 2006.^[1] He produced much of the bumper music on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim programming block,^[2] for which he is uncredited, and he also contributed remixes for fellow Plug Research artists including Mia Doi Todd. He is often referred to as FlyLo by fans and critics. His grandmother was songwriter Marilyn McLeod. He is the great-nephew of the late Alice Coltrane, whose husband was John Coltrane. He is also the cousin of musician Ravi Coltrane.^[3]

Music career[link]

In 2007, he announced that he signed with Warp Records.^[4] Following his Warp debut, the six-track Reset EP, he quickly became one of the label’s cornerstone artists and released his second album, titled Los Angeles, on June 10, 2008. In 2008, Flying Lotus also remixed "Reckoner" from Radiohead's album In Rainbows.^[5] His third album, Cosmogramma, was released on May 3, 2010, in the UK and May 4, 2010, in the US.^[6] In January 2011, Cosmogramma won in the Dance/Electronica Album category in the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards.^[7]

Recently, Flying Lotus collaborated with the Ann Arbor Film Festival in the performance of a live scoring of the 1962 avant-garde film Heaven and Earth Magic.^[8] In a post-viewing interview with the audience, Flying Lotus said that he was unsure whether or not a recording of the performance (or a recreation of it) would be publicly released, but he would be enthusiastic toward similar projects in the future. He was chosen by Battles to perform at the ATP Nightmare Before Christmas festival that it co-curates in December 2011 in Minehead, England.^[9]

In January 2011, Flying Lotus won the 10th Annual Independent Music Awards for his video "MmmHmm" in the Short-Form Video category.^[10] Flying Lotus will be collaborating with R&B singer Erykah Badu on new material for her next album.^[11] In August 2011, Flying Lotus announced a multimedia project with filmmaker Miwa Matreyek, which is to be titled The Mapping of Countries Yet to Come.^[12] It is currently rumored that Flying Lotus plans to remix one of Radiohead's songs from The King of Limbs.^[13]

Discography[link]

Demos[link]

• 2005: July Heat

Note: Various unofficial Flying Lotus demos leaked by fans are sometimes mistaken as official Flying Lotus releases, such as "Raw Cartoons."^[14]

Albums[link]

EPs and Misc[link]

12-inch singles[link]

• 2006: Pink Sun EP (12", EP) My Room Is White (Flying Lotus Remix) - Plug Research
• 2008: Cool Out (12") Lost (Flying Lotus Remix) - Hyperdub
• 2008: Dive EP (12", EP) Blank Blue (Flying Lotus Remix) - Ubiquity Records
• 2008: Get Dirty EP (12", EP) Game Over (Flying Lotus Remix) - Ghostly International
• 2008: Natural Selection (Flying Lotus' Cleanse Mix) / Vancouver (2562's Puur Natuur Dub) (12")
• 2008: Woebegone (CD, Single, Promo) Woebegone (Flying Lotus Remix) - Ninja Tune

Production[link]

• 2008: José James - Park Bench People (on the track "Visions of Violet")
• 2009: Declaime - Whole Wide World
• 2010: José James - Blackmagic
• 2010: Gonjasufi - A Sufi and a Killer (on the track "Ancestors")
• 2010: Mike Bigga - Adult Swim Singles Program (on the track "Swimming")
• 2011: Thundercat - The Golden Age of Apocalypse
• 2011: Blu - 'NoYork! (on the tracks "Doin’ Nothin", "Everything Ok" and "Doin’ Something"
• 2012: "Lately" and "Lamented" on the Hodgy Beats Untitled EP

Collaborations[link]

• 2008: One for Pep Pep (Remix) (Tim and Eric Awesome Record, Great Songs)
• 2008: Testament (w/ Gonjasufi)
• 2009: Bootleg Beats (w/ Samiyam)^[17]
• 2010: ...And The World Laughs With You^[18][19] (w/ Thom Yorke)
• 2011: Kryon (w/ Kode9 & the Spaceape)^[20]
• 2011: Group Tea (w/ Matthewdavid)^[21]
• 2011: Lost (w/ King Midas Sound) ^[22]
• 2011: Live (w/ Hodgy Beats & Mike G of OFWGKTA)

Mixes[link]

• 2011: Lover's Melt (Stones Throw Podcast)
• 2011: Lover's Melt Pt. 2 (Brainfeeder Podcast)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Website
• Brainfeeder
• Official Online Game
• Warp Records
• Plug Research
• RBMA Radio On Demand - Sonar Sessions 2007 - Flying Lotus (Warp/Plug Research, Los Angeles)
• Sept 2007 Interview with L.A. Record
• Interview (2007)
• Los Angeles Review (2008)
• New Yorker profile by Sasha Frere-Jones
• Flying Lotus “BRAINFEEDER RADIO” Part 2 at Dublab

Josh Kelley
Kelley performing in 2007
Background information
Birth name	Joshua Bishop Kelley
Born	(1980-01-30) January 30, 1980 (age 32)
Origin	Evans, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Pop rock, blues rock, country
Occupations	Singer-songwriter, musician
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, keyboards
Years active	2001–present
Labels	DNK Records, Hollywood Records, Threshold, MCA Nashville
Associated acts	Lady Antebellum
Website	JoshKelley.com

Joshua Bishop "Josh" Kelley^[1] (born January 30, 1980) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Kelley has recorded for Hollywood Records, Threshold Records and DNK Records as a pop rock artist, and has had four hit singles on the Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks chart. His songs "Amazing" and "Only You" made top ten on that chart.

In 2010, Kelley signed to MCA Nashville and began a country music career.^[2] His debut single on the format, "Georgia Clay", became a Top 20 hit on the Hot Country Songs charts. Kelley is the brother of Lady Antebellum member Charles Kelley. Kelley is married to actress Katherine Heigl.

Early life[link]

Kelley was born in Augusta, Georgia, the son of Gayle and Dr. John W. Kelley, a cardiologist.^[3] Kelley began his musical career at the age of 11. His younger brother, Charles Kelley, is also a musician and singer in the country trio Lady Antebellum.^[4] Kelley started at 11 with his guitar. While he was a teenager, he and his brother Charles formed a band called Inside Blue. By the time he was 14, the band released a CD with five songs in it, which led to a meeting with James Brown. Kelley played the guitar in the high school jazz band alongside his brother Charles (drums) and Dave Haywood (guitar) from Lady Antebellum.

Kelley attended the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, and is a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

Music career[link]

Kelley released his independent album, Changing Faces, in 2001 and signed with Hollywood Records in 2002. Working with John Alagia as his producer, Kelley released the album, For the Ride Home, on June 3, 2003. The album featured his hit song "Amazing," which most people know him by. He also made an appearance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2003.

Even though Kelley has stated that the lyrics from his song "Angeles" were fabricated, he moved to Los Angeles from Georgia and recorded the majority of his second album, Almost Honest, in the studio of his home. Almost Honest was released on August 23, 2005, and featured the hit single, "Only You."

After asking to be released from his contract with Hollywood Records, Kelley released his third album, Just Say The Word under his own label named Threshold. The digital version of the album was released through iTunes on June 6, 2006, while the physical album was released in stores in the United States on July 25, 2006. "The Pop Game" was the first single from his self-produced album and was accompanied by a cartoon video.

Kelley's next album, Special Company, was released in the United States on January 14, 2008. His label, Threshold, was renamed DNK Records so as to avoid confusion with another record label by the same name. Kelley also released a digital album that summer titled Backwoods on July 7. Later that year, Kelley released his latest album, To Remember, on September 23 exclusively through Target stores. The title track was also included on the AT&T Team USA Soundtrack.

Kelley has toured with many artists including Rod Stewart, Third Eye Blind, Toby Lightman, Counting Crows, and Ryan Cabrera.

Kelley remains a supporter of file sharing applications for independent artists who have a difficult time receiving an audience. In fact, Kelley was "found" after targeting Eric Clinger at Hollywood Records with private spam, "If you like James Taylor, Try Josh Kelley," messages using the Napster program.

In November 2009, Kelley signed with MCA Nashville and began recording his first country album in 2010.^[5] The album's first single, "Georgia Clay", was released to country radio in August 2010. The single became a Top 20 hit on the Hot Country Songs chart. The album, also titled Georgia Clay, was released in March 2011.

Personal life[link]

Kelley majored in Art at the University of Mississippi and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He is an avid golfer and attended college on a golf scholarship.

Kelley met actress Katherine Heigl in spring 2005 when she appeared in his music video Only You. One year later in June 2006 they became engaged.^[6] For Heigl he wrote the song Hey Katie. The Heigl-Kelley wedding took place at the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City, Utah. Heigl's Grey's Anatomy co-stars T.R. Knight, Sandra Oh, Ellen Pompeo and Justin Chambers attended the ceremony, as well as Grey's Anatomy spinoff series Private Practice star Kate Walsh. The ceremony was officiated by Unitarian minister Tom Goldsmith. Heigl walked down the aisle to an acoustic song written by Kelley and performed by a cello and guitar players. The couple wrote their own vows. The bridesmaids wore red. During a taping of Live With Regis and Kelly, Heigl stated that she and Kelley chose not to live together before they were married, saying, "I think I just wanted to save something for the actual marriage... I wanted there to be something to make the actual marriage different than the dating or the courtship."^[7]

On September 9, 2009, Heigl's representative said the couple had started the process of adopting a baby girl from South Korea.^[8] Later that month, the couple adopted a special needs baby girl they named Nancy Leigh (after Heigl's mother and sister, respectively), nicknamed Naleigh. Heigl's sister is Korean-born and was adopted before Heigl was born.^[9] The baby had had a congenital heart defect repaired with open heart surgery before she had left Korea.^[10] Kelley and Heigl adopted a second daughter, Adalaide Marie Hope, in April 2012.^[11][12]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Extended plays[link]

Singles[link]

Other contributions[link]

Music videos[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• The Official Josh Kelley Street Team
• Official Josh Kelley Store
• Aug. 2006 New York TV interview
• Josh Kelley at the Internet Movie Database
• Josh Kelley collection at the Internet Archive's live music archive
• "The Prince & Me" movie
• / Billboard Song Chart History

Clay Walker
Clay Walker performing in Dallas, Texas
Background information
Birth name	Ernest Clayton Walker Jr.[1][2]
Born	(1969-08-19) August 19, 1969 (age 42)
Origin	Vidor, Texas, U.S.[3]
Genres	Country
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Giant, Warner Bros., RCA, Asylum-Curb
Associated acts	Doug Johnson Keith Stegall James Stroud Chely Wright
Website	http://www.claywalker.com

Ernest Clayton "Clay" Walker, Jr. (born August 19, 1969) is an American country music artist. He made his debut in 1993 with the single "What's It to You," which reached Number One on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts, as did its follow-up, 1994's "Live Until I Die." Both singles were included on Walker's self-titled debut album, also released in 1993 via Giant Records. He stayed with the label until its 2001 closure, later recording for Warner Bros. Records and RCA Records before joining his current label, Asylum-Curb Records, in 2007.

Walker has released a total of 11 albums, including a greatest hits package and an album of Christmas music. His first four studio albums all achieved platinum certification in the United States, and his greatest hits collection and fifth studio album were each certified gold. In addition, he has charted 30 singles on the country charts, including four more Number One hits for a total of six: "Dreaming with My Eyes Open," "If I Could Make a Living," "This Woman and This Man" and "Rumor Has It." His most recent album, She Won't Be Lonely Long, was released in mid-2010.

Biography[link]

Ernest Clayton Walker Jr. was born on August 19, 1969 in Beaumont, Texas to Ernest and Danna Walker.^[4] The oldest of five children, Walker lived in Vidor with his father, who gave him a guitar when he was nine years old.^[3] Walker began entering talent competitions at age fifteen. After leaving his shift as nighttime desk clerk at a Super 8 Motel in his teenage years, Walker stopped at a local radio station to deliver a tape of a song that he had written. Although the morning disc jockey told him that the station's policies prohibited playing self-submitted tapes, he played Walker's song and said that it was "too good to pass up."^[5]

After graduating from Vidor High School in 1987,^[6] Walker began working at a Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company plant.^[4] At age nineteen, he also began touring as a musician in the state of Texas, playing at various local clubs and eventually finding work as the house singer at a bar in Beaumont called the Neon Armadillo.^[3] In November 1992,^[4] Walker was discovered by James Stroud, a record producer who was also the president of Warner Music Group subsidiary Giant Records.^[3] Walker signed to Giant late in the year.

Musical career[link]

Walker released his self-titled debut album in 1993 under Stroud's production. Its first single was "What's It to You;" written by Robert Ellis Orrall and Curtis Wright, this song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts and number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[1] Its followup "Live Until I Die" (which Walker wrote), was released late in the year and became his second consecutive No. 1 in early 1994.^[3] After those two singles came the number 11 "Where Do I Fit in the Picture", which was originally the B-side of "What's It to You."^[1] The album accounted for a third No. 1 hit in "Dreaming with My Eyes Open", a song that was also featured on the soundtrack to the 1994 film The Thing Called Love.^[7] An additional cut from the album, "White Palace," charted at number 67 on the country charts without being released as a single.^[1]

Clay Walker was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of one million copies.^[8] It peaked at number 8 on Top Country Albums, number 2 on Top Heatseekers and number 52 on the Billboard 200.^[9] Larry Powell of Allmusic gave the album a four-and-a-half star rating, saying that Walker had a "high-energy" voice reminiscent of Conway Twitty.^[10] Walker also received two award nominations in 1994: Star of Tomorrow award from TNN/Music City News and Top New Male Vocalist from the Academy of Country Music.^[11]

[edit] 1994–96: If I Could Make a Living and Hypnotize the Moon

If I Could Make a Living was the title of Walker's second album, released in 1994.^[3] It produced two more No. 1 singles in the title track (co-written by Alan Jackson, Keith Stegall and Roger Murrah^[12]) and 1995's "This Woman and This Man." This latter song spent two weeks at No. 1, accounting for his first multi-week No. 1 hit.^[1] After these two singles came the number 16 "My Heart Will Never Know".^[1] If I Could Make a Living went platinum in May 1995,^[8] reaching number 2 on the country albums charts.^[9] Gordon Ely of the Richmond Times-Dispatch gave a favorable review, saying that "Walker has broken loose from Nashville's most recent crop of carefully crafted cowboys."^[13] Walker also began touring in 1995 as a headlining act, in support of this album.^[14]

Late in 1995, Walker released his third studio album, titled Hypnotize the Moon. Although none of its singles reached No. 1, Hypnotize the Moon produced two consecutive number 2 hits in "Who Needs You Baby" (which Walker co-wrote) and the title track, followed by the number 5 "Only on Days That End in 'Y'" and number 18 "Bury the Shovel".^[1] Hypnotize the Moon was certified platinum in 1996, making for Walker's third consecutive platinum album.^[8] This album received a four-star rating from Stephen Thomas Erlewine, who said that it was his "most assured, cohesive album to date" and that he gave a "consistently excellent performance."^[15] Alanna Nash of Entertainment Weekly thought that Walker did not show a distinct musical personality, but considered the song selection strong and gave it a "B+."^[16] Richard McVey II of Country Standard Time considered it a "throwback" in sound to Walker's debut,^[17] while USA Today said that it lacked the "verve" of that album.^[18]

[edit] 1996–97: Rumor Has It

Having just completed the tracks for his fourth album in 1996, Walker was playing basketball with a friend, when he began to experience numbness, facial spasms, and double vision.^[19] Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that he had multiple sclerosis (MS). Walker subsequently began changing his diet and treating the disease with a daily injection of Copaxone, sending his MS into an arrested state.^[19]

Also in early 1996, Nu Millennia Media released Self Portrait, which included five of Walker's songs in an interactive CD-ROM format and 30 minutes of video footage.^[20][21] He then released his fourth album, 1997's Rumor Has It, which he co-produced with Stroud.^[11] Its title track, the first single, became his sixth and final No. 1 single that year.^[1] Other singles from the album included the number 18 "One, Two, I Love You" and the Top 5 hits "Watch This" and "Then What?" at number 4 and number 2, respectively.^[1] The latter also reached number 65 on the Hot 100, making for his first entry on that chart since "What's It to You."^[1] As with his three previous studio albums, Rumor Has It was certified platinum.^[8] Larry Stephens of Country Standard Time gave this album a mostly-negative review, calling the songs "cookie-cutter" outside "I Need a Margarita".^[22] Thom Owens of Allmusic also thought that it was formulaic, but said that Walker was "able to make even mediocre material sound good", rating it three stars out of five.^[23]

[edit] 1998–2000: Greatest Hits and Live, Laugh, Love

Clay Walker at Toadlick 2012

In April 1998, Walker charted with a live rendition of Earl Thomas Conley's 1983 single "Holding Her and Loving You". This rendition spent nine weeks on the charts and peaked at number 68.^[1] One month later, he debuted his sixteenth single, "Ordinary People". Peaking at number 35, this was one of two new songs included on his Greatest Hits album. That album's other new track, "You're Beginning to Get to Me", made its debut in August 1998. It peaked at number 2 on the country charts and number 39 on the Hot 100 in January 1999,^[1] the same month in which Greatest Hits was certified gold.^[8] Also in 1998, Walker performed a sold-out show at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.^[11]

Doug Johnson, who succeeded Stroud as Giant Records' president, produced Walker's 1999 album Live, Laugh, Love.^[24] Regarding its production and promotion, the label's senior director of marketing Connie Baer said that she wanted to raise Walker's profile as an artist, as both she and Johnson thought that he did not have the same level of recognition as other artists with similar album sales and chart success.^[24] This album was led off by the number 16 country and number 74 pop hit "She's Always Right", which was co-written by Lonestar's then-lead singer Richie McDonald.^[25] After this song came the title track at number 11 country and number 65 pop.^[1] "The Chain of Love", written by Rory Lee Feek and Jonnie Barnett, was the album's third and most successful single, reaching number 3 on the country charts and number 40 on the Hot 100.^[1] Both it and "Once in a Lifetime Love," the fourth single, first charted from unsolicited airplay received while "Live, Laugh, Love" was climbing the charts.^[1][24] "Once in a Lifetime Love", upon its release, became his lowest-peaking single release, reaching number 50.^[1] The album also included a studio version of the Earl Thomas Conley cover.^[26]

Erlewine gave the album three stars on Allmusic, where he wrote that it "never really distinguishes itself from its predecessors" but "has its moments."^[27] Brian Wahlert of Country Standard Time also thought that the album was inconsistent, saying that "She's Always Right," "The Chain of Love" and the Conley cover were its strongest tracks, but that the rest "treads no new ground."^[28] Deborah Evans Price of Billboard was more favorable, saying that it showed the energy of his live shows, and that he "cut loose" with soul singing on "This Time Love."^[26]

In late 2000, Walker recorded two tracks on Believe: A Christmas Collection, a multi-artist Christmas music album released by Giant.^[29] These two tracks — a cover version of Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas" and the original song "Cowboy Christmas" — both made appearances on the country charts, reaching number 51 and number 70, respectively.^[1]

[edit] 2001–02: Say No More and Christmas

Walker released his twenty-third single, "Say No More," for Giant in early 2001. It was the first single release from his sixth studio album, also titled Say No More. "Say No More" peaked at number 33 on the country charts, and the album's only other single, the Jerry Kilgore co-write "If You Ever Feel Like Lovin' Me Again", reached number 27.^[1] This latter song was promoted by Giant's parent company, Warner Bros. Records Nashville, as Giant had closed in late 2001.^[1] Walker co-produced the album with veteran producers Byron Gallimore and Blake Mevis, and session guitarist Brent Mason.^[30] The album also included a song that Walker wrote in high school, and a cover of Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba."^[31] Maria Konicki Dinoia of Allmusic rated it three stars, with her review saying that "the sensitivity on this album is so expressive that it makes you want to run right out and hug the one you love."^[30] Country Standard Time critic Mike Clark considered it a transition to a more country pop-oriented sound, describing the album as being "full of bad lyrics and overwrought production clichés."^[31]

In 2002, Walker wrote and recorded a song for the National Football League's newest expansion team at the time, the Houston Texans. Titled "Football Time in Houston," the song was used as the team's official fight song during its inaugural season.^[32] In an interview with CMT, he said that he donated the song to the city of Houston,^[33] and that he sings "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the team's opening game every season.^[33]

Although he had left Warner Bros. for RCA Records' Nashville division in May 2002,^[34] Warner Bros. released a Christmas music album entitled Christmas in September of the same year.^[35] It included a cover of José Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad," which Walker took to number 49 on the country charts in January 2003.^[1]

[edit] 2003–04: A Few Questions

Walker's first single release for RCA, "A Few Questions", debuted in April 2003. The song spent twenty-seven weeks on the country charts and peaked at number 9, making for his first top ten entry since "The Chain of Love" three years previous.^[36] This was the first single from his only RCA album, also titled A Few Questions. Its second single, the Chely Wright co-write "I Can't Sleep,"^[37] also peaked at number 9 in early 2004.^[1] The third and final single was the number 31 "Jesus Was a Country Boy",^[1] which Walker wrote with Rivers Rutherford. A Few Questions accounted for his second-highest peak on the country albums charts, reaching number 3.^[9]

Erlewine rated this album two-and-a-half stars out of five on Allmusic. He considered the album more country pop-oriented than Walker's work for Giant, saying that this change in sound made it not "feel like a Clay Walker album."^[38] Dan McIntosh gave a mostly-negative review for Country Standard Time, where he wrote that "even his passionate singing cannot rise above this album's predictable lyrics and lame arrangements."^[39]

[edit] 2005–08: Fall

Walker was signed his third record deal in July 2005, this time with the Asylum-Curb division of Curb Records.^[40] His first single for the label, "'Fore She Was Mama," reached a peak of number 21 in March 2007.^[1] It was included on his album Fall, which was produced by Keith Stegall.^[41] The album's title cut, "Fall," was written by Clay Mills along with former Mercury Records artist Shane Minor and former Exile member Sonny LeMaire.^[42] Fo It was the second single release from Fall, going to number 5 on the country charts and number 55 on the Hot 100.^[1] The album's third and final single was "She Likes It in the Morning", with a number 43 country peak.^[1] Fall also included a duet with Freddy Fender, the first duet of Walker's career, on a cover of Fender's debut single "Before the Next Teardrop Falls."^[43] Walker and Fender recorded this duet in early 2006; Fender died of lung cancer in October of the same year.^[44]

Erlewine gave a three-and-a-half star rating, saying that Stegall's production gave it a more traditional sound in comparison to A Few Questions, and that, despite having some "sappy" songs, it was his "most enjoyable collection in some time."^[41] The 9513 reviewer Brady Vercher rated it three stars out of five, praising Walker's vocal performance but saying that the song selection "seemed to be lacking in everything but fluff."^[43] Country Standard Time reviewer Jeffrey B. Remz wrote that Walker showed "a very pleasant country voice with a good sense of emotion" and that the production was more country-sounding than most mainstream acts, but said that it had several "generic" songs.^[45]

[edit] 2009–present: She Won't Be Lonely Long

Walker's second album for Asylum-Curb was first announced in June 2009.^[46] Its first single, "She Won't Be Lonely Long," was given an official release date of December 2009,^[47] although it had already entered the country charts in late November.^[48] In advance of his ninth album, Walker released an extended play titled She Won't Be Lonely Long.^[49] The album, also titled She Won't Be Lonely Long, was released on June 8, 2010. It includes a cover of Alabama's 1980 single "Feels So Right" with a backing vocal from Alabama's lead singer, Randy Owen.^[46] Allmusic reviewer Thom Jurek praised the album for its "straight-up, mainstream contemporary country" sound but said that it did not reflect a change in sound from Fall.^[50]

"She Won't Be Lonely Long" peaked at number 4 on the country charts in mid-2010. The album's second single, "Where Do I Go from You", was released to radio on August 2, 2010, with "Like We Never Said Goodbye" following in late 2011.

Musical image and influences[link]

In 1994, Bob Cannon of Entertainment Weekly wrote that Walker's image of a "Resistol hat, sturdy cowpoke face, and very tight jeans" seemed to be from a "Country Music Handbook for Success," but also said that he "ignores the danger of being dismissed as just another hunk in a hat."^[4] Walker has been compared to Mark Chesnutt and Tracy Byrd, both of whom are also Beaumont, Texas natives who began their careers shortly before Walker did.^[14] Of the comparison among the three, Rick Koster wrote in the book Texas Music that Walker's success came more quickly than that of Chesnutt or Byrd.^[14] Kurt Wolff and Orla Duane, authors of Country Music: The Rough Guide, said that he "had loads of youthful energy, a golden Texas twang, and, of course, plenty of boyish good looks."^[51] They also called his music "relatively tame" but said that "his Texas bar-room roots remain clearly visible in his voice and songs."^[51] Regarding Walker's onstage persona, former Warner Bros. executive Bill Mayne told Billboard magazine in 1997 that Walker has "maintained a low profile" but that he "really touches people and connects."^[52]

Walker described his voice to CMT as "raspy [and] rugged."^[37] He cites George Jones (also a Beaumont native) as a primary influence, as well as James Taylor and Bob Seger; he has also said that, because he grew up in a largely African-American neighborhood, his singing style was influenced by rhythm and blues music.^[53] In addition, he said that after his diagnosis, he realized that "you need to love your family" and said that, because he considered his songs positive in nature, he felt that he could connect to younger listeners.^[52]

Personal life[link]

Before the release of his first single, Walker married a rodeo queen named Lori Jayne Lampson.^[54] They had two daughters: MaClay DaLayne, born on January 14, 1996,^[37][54] and Skylor ClayAnne, born on May 14, 1999.^[55] The couple divorced in 2003.^[44] He married model Jessica Craig on September 28, 2007^[56] and had two more children with her: a son named William Clayton, born August 5, 2008 and a daughter named Mary Elizabeth, born December 27, 2009.^[57][58]

Walker has participated in several forms of charity to help raise awareness of MS following his diagnosis in 1996, including his own non-profit charity, Band Against MS, which he founded in 2003.^[59] In 2008, he received a Humanitarian Award for his charitable efforts in relations to MS^[60] and participated in a charity golf tournament benefiting his organization.^[61]

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

• Clay Walker (1993)
• If I Could Make a Living (1994)
• Hypnotize the Moon (1995)
• Rumor Has It (1997)
• Greatest Hits (1998)
• Live, Laugh, Love (1999)
• Say No More (2001)
• Christmas (2002)
• A Few Questions (2003)
• Fall (2007)
• She Won't Be Lonely Long (2010)

Number-one singles[link]

• "What's It to You" (1993)
• "Live Until I Die" (1993–1994)
• "Dreaming with My Eyes Open" (1994)
• "If I Could Make a Living" (1994)
• "This Woman and This Man" (1995)
• "Rumor Has It" (1997)

Awards[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Clay Walker Official Website
• Band Against MS

Clay Aiken
Clay Aiken during the Jukebox Tour in Merrillville, IN, August 23, 2005
Background information
Birth name	Clayton Holmes Grissom[1]
Born	(1978-11-30) November 30, 1978 (age 33) Raleigh, North Carolina, United States
Genres	Pop, pop rock
Occupations	Singer, actor
Years active	2003–present
Labels	RCA (2003–2008) Decca (2009–present)
Website	clayaiken.com

Clayton Holmes "Clay" Aiken (born November 30, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and author who began his rise to fame on the second season of the television program American Idol in 2003. RCA Records offered him a recording contract, and his multi-platinum debut album Measure of a Man was released in October 2003. He released four more albums on the RCA label: Merry Christmas with Love (2004), A Thousand Different Ways (2006), and the Christmas EP, All is Well (2006).^[2][3] His fourth studio album (the first album of original material since 2003's Measure of a Man), On My Way Here was released on May 6, 2008.^[4]

After the release of On My Way Here, Aiken left RCA and later signed with Decca Records. His first album with Decca, Tried and True, was released June 1, 2010 and his second Steadfast, was released March 26, 2012.^[5][6]

In the years following his American Idol appearance, Aiken has launched ten tours, authored a New York Times best-selling book Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life with Allison Glock, and was the executive producer for a 2004 televised Christmas special, A Clay Aiken Christmas and his televised live concert special in 2010 on PBS Tried & True Live!. He has been a frequent talk show guest, particularly on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live. He appeared as a guest star on Scrubs, Drop Dead Diva, 30 Rock and participated in comedy skits on numerous other shows.

Aiken created the National Inclusion Project (formerly the Bubel/Aiken Foundation) in 2003, accepted a UNICEF ambassadorship in 2004, and in 2006 was appointed for a two-year term to the Presidential Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.^[7][8][9]

Aiken made his Broadway debut playing the role of Sir Robin in Monty Python's Spamalot in January 2008.^[10] His run ended in May but he rejoined the cast as Sir Robin in September and remained through January 4, 2009.^[11]

Early life[link]

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.^[12] After high school, he sang lead with a local band, Just By Chance, cohosting and performing with the band at "Just by Chance and Friends" shows in Dunn, North Carolina.^[13] He was also MC and performer at the Johnston Community College Country Showcase in Smithfield, and at the North Carolina Music Connection and Hometown Music Connection shows in Garner, and Benson. He performed the national anthem numerous times for the Raleigh IceCaps and the Carolina Hurricanes hockey teams,^[12] and performed it at the 2011 NHL All-Star Game at the RBC Center in Raleigh.

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 (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).^[14][15] Estranged from his birth father Vernon Grissom and with his mother's and grandfather Alvis Aiken's permission, at the age of 19 he legally changed his surname from Grissom to his mother Faye's maiden name, Aiken.^[1]

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 2003.^[16]

Personal life[link]

On August 8, 2008, Aiken announced, on his personal blog, the birth of his son in North Carolina: "My dear friend, Jaymes, and I are so excited to announce the birth of Parker Foster Aiken."^[17] The child's mother, Jaymes Foster, is the sister of record producer David Foster and the executive producer of Aiken's last three albums on the RCA label. "The little man is healthy, happy, and as loud as his daddy," Aiken wrote. "Mama Jaymes is doing quite well also."^[18] Aiken said in his book, Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life, that "It's a Southern tradition to be given your first name from your grandmama's maiden name."^[19] Aiken's middle name came from his paternal grandmother's maiden name; using instead the married surnames of their mothers, he and Foster followed that tradition in choosing their son's name.

After several years of public speculation, Aiken disclosed that he is gay in a September 2008 interview with People magazine.^[20] In April 2009, Aiken was honored by the Family Equality Council advocacy group at its annual benefit dinner in New York City.^[21]

On November 18, 2010, Aiken went to Washington, D.C. on behalf of GLSEN at a Capitol Hill briefing talking about anti-gay bullying.^[22]

Aiken has talked about having had a little liposuction under his chin while undergoing treatment for temporomandibular joint disorder.^[23]

[edit] American Idol

Aiken had filled out an application to participate in the reality show Amazing Race when a friend of his insisted that he try out for American Idol instead.^[24] Television viewers first glimpsed Aiken 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 a typical pop 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.^[25] He replaced his glasses with contact lenses and agreed to let the show's stylists change his hair style.^[26] 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 May 21, 2003, Aiken came in a close second to Ruben Studdard, who won the contest by 134,000 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.^[27] 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.^[28] 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 featured Aiken on the cover of its 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."^[29] In subsequent interviews he 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."^[30]

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."^[31][32] The second season of the American Idol Rewind series (2007) was narrated by Aiken.^[33]

Clay is reportedly one of the top 10 earners of Idol, earning an estimated $1.5 million last year.^[34]

Music[link]

[edit] 2003-2004: Measure of a Man

On October 14, 2003, Aiken released his first solo album, Measure of a Man, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was, with 613,000 copies sold in its first week, the highest-selling debut for a solo artist in 10 years, and to date the highest debut of any Idol.^[35] The album received RIAA Double Platinum certification on November 17, 2003 (a Double Platinum plaque was presented to Aiken by Clive Davis on October 22, 2003, during Good Morning America). The album spawned both the hit single "Invisible" and his first hit song, "This Is the Night" (both co-written by British songwriter Chris Braide). Later that year, Aiken won the Fan's Choice Award at the American Music Awards ceremony, and his CD single "This Is the Night/Bridge Over Troubled Water" won the Billboard award for the Best-Selling Single of 2003.

[edit] 2004-2006: Merry Christmas With Love

On November 16, 2004, Aiken released a holiday album titled Merry Christmas with Love, which set a new record for fastest-selling holiday album in the Soundscan era (since 1991).^[36] The album debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and tied Céline Dion's record for the highest debut by a holiday album in the history of Billboard magazine. Merry Christmas with Love sold over 1,000,000 copies retail in six weeks and was the best-selling holiday album of 2004, receiving RIAA Platinum certification on Jan. 6, 2005.

[edit] 2006-2008: A Thousand Different Ways and All Is Well

Aiken's second studio album, A Thousand Different Ways, was released September 19, 2006.^[37] He worked on the album under the guidance of Canadian producer and A&R executive Jaymes Foster.^[38] The album contains ten cover songs and four new songs, one of which Aiken co-wrote. Clive Davis is credited with the cover concept.^[39] One additional song, "Lover All Alone", written by Aiken and David Foster, is included with the album on iTunes. Debuting at number two on the Billboard chart, A Thousand Different Ways made Aiken the fourth artist ever to have his first three albums debut in the Top 5 and scan over 200,000 in the first week.^[40]

Aiken's second Christmas album, All Is Well (an EP of four Christmas songs), was released exclusively to Walmart on November 28, 2006, and was released to iTunes as a digital download in December 2007.^[41]

[edit] 2008-2009: On My Way Here

Aiken stated in an April 2007 interview with People that he was planning a new album, and during his May 2007 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, he mentioned that he was in Los Angeles interviewing producers for the new album.^[42] Aiken found a song, "On My Way Here", written by OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder, that struck a chord with him and became the inspiration for the album's theme in addition to the album title. For a cohesive sound, Aiken chose Mark 'Kipper' Eldridge to produce the entire album. On My Way Here was released May 6, 2008, on the RCA label.^[43]

According to an article posted on Billboard, Aiken and RCA parted ways shortly after his On My Way Here album was released. Aiken's rep confirmed to People magazine that Aiken left RCA.^[44][45] Stated in the cited People article, "The buzz about Aiken's exit was fueled earlier this week when his picture disappeared online and Billboard, citing unnamed sources, reported Friday that Aiken, 30, had been dropped by the label. According to Billboard, Aiken’s 2008 album “On My Way Here” sold just 159,000 copies in the U.S., compared to his 2003 debut album, “Measure of a Man,” which sold 2.78 million copies".

A fifth album, The Very Best of Clay Aiken, was released at the end of March 2009 on Sony's Legacy Recordings Playlist Series.^[46] This album was a compilation of songs that had been included on the previous albums released by RCA. First week sales of 3000 copies placed Playlist: The Very Best of Clay Aiken at number 173 on the Billboard 200 chart and at number ten on the Top Internet Albums chart.^[47]

[edit] 2009-2011: Tried and True

On August 10, 2009, it was announced on Aiken's official website that he had signed with Decca Records and he would have new music out by early 2010.^[48] Performing the songs from his new album, Tried and True, Aiken held a one night only concert at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh, North Carolina on March 12, 2010. The concert, filmed for PBS broadcast, included guest appearances by Ruben Studdard and Linda Eder.^[6][49] Eder joined Aiken on stage for their duet of "Crying", which they recorded for his album. The album was released on June 1, 2010 and features songs popular in the 1950s and 1960s, including two Aiken covered during his run on American Idol, "Mack the Knife" and "Unchained Melody".^[5] In conjunction with the PBS special a companion DVD, Tried & True Live!, was released on July 27, 2010. A tour to promote the album is planned for early 2011.

[edit] 2011-present: Steadfast

On December 20, 2011, Aiken released a new single, "Bring Back My Love" under the Decca Label. The single is his first original song since the release of his album On My Way Here in 2008. On March 27, 2012 Aiken released Steadfast, a new album of previous recordings and songs only sung in concerts. The album debuted at #120 on the Billboard 200 chart with sales of 4,000.^{[citation needed]}

Television[link]

Aiken has made many television appearances.^[50]

On Labor Day 2003, Aiken sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water" at the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and received a standing ovation from the audience. Lewis compared Aiken with Frank Sinatra and marveled at the dedication of Aiken's fan base:

"We have someone here today from the smash hit show American Idol. We're thrilled to have him joining us today, because when it was made known that he would appear on this Telethon, the emails and the fan clubs that this young man has have sent us $30,000.00 just at the fact that he was here. And I can honestly say I have never, in all of my life, seen a theatrical groundswell that this kid has motivated, that it makes us all come right back to the bobby sox and Frank. And isn't it nice to live through that magnificence again? Here is Clay Aiken."^[51]

That same year, Aiken sang The Star-Spangled Banner on the opening night of the 2003 World Series and appeared in numerous television specials during the winter of 2003, including Disney's Christmas Day Parade and the Nick At Nite Holiday Special, where he sang the "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" with Bing Crosby via special effects.

Aiken starred in and executive produced his first TV special (December 2004), titled A Clay Aiken Christmas, with special guests Barry Manilow, Yolanda Adams, and Megan Mullally; the special was released on DVD later that month. On July 4, 2004, Aiken was one of the performers in the A Capitol Fourth concert in Washington, D.C. and performed in the Good Morning America Summer Concert Series in 2004 and 2005. He also sang "Isn't She Lovely" on the popular television show Scrubs.

Aiken was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live in 2004 and participated in several skits. He has appeared multiple times on The Tonight Show, interviewing with Jay Leno as a guest in addition to singing, and has become a regular guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The Kimmel appearances often feature skits: in one, Jimmy Kimmel's then girlfriend Sarah Silverman confessed to an affair with Aiken, and in another, Aiken expressed his distaste for Kimmel's jokes about him by beating him up. In May 2007, he spent the first half of his interview on horseback while talking about his recent UNICEF trip to Afghanistan. A few weeks later he appeared as a spokesperson for "Guillermo's Mustache" in Kimmel's fictional DVD informercial shown on the Dancing With the Stars finale. Aiken made his acting debut on Ed in early 2004, playing himself, and in 2005, he was interviewed by Erica Kane on All My Children. He played the role of cafeteria worker Kenny on the Scrubs episode "My Life in Four Cameras". In December 2006, he made an appearance as himself on Days of our Lives.

After hosting and performing in the American Idol Christmas special in 2003, Aiken has had several subsequent hosting jobs. He was a special correspondent for The Insider for the 2005 Emmy Awards, and on the sets of the sitcom Reba with Reba McEntire and Dancing With the Stars. He co-hosted The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet in 2006, and on November 17, 2006, filled in for Regis Philbin as guest host on Live with Regis and Kelly. During an interview, Aiken covered Kelly Ripa's mouth with his hand.^[52] The incident drew considerable media reaction after Ripa complained at length about the incident on her show the following Monday.^[53] Aiken made fun of the controversy on the 2006 American Music Awards the next night with Tori Spelling.^[54] On The Tyra Banks Show in 2006, filmed before the Ripa incident, Aiken mentioned wanting to have his own talk show someday, and Banks switched seats with him and let him interview her for one segment of the show. Aiken was a guest judge on the April 8, 2009 segment of Banks show America's Next Top Model; in what the show refers to as a teach, he worked with the remaining 8 contestants on their acting skills prior to the judging.

In November 2007, Aiken was a contestant on a celebrity edition of the game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?.^[55] Playing for his charity, the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, he chose to drop out after the ninth question with $300,000, despite having a copy and a save at his disposal. If he had played the tenth question, he would have won $500,000; Aiken and the 5th grader playing with him both had the correct answer.

In May 2009, Aiken made a guest appearance on 30 Rock in the season 3 episode 'Kidney Now!'. It was revealed in this episode that he is the cousin of the show's character Kenneth.^[56]

In August, 2010, Aiken guest starred in an hour long episode of Disney Channel's Phineas and Ferb, called "Summer Belongs to You". Aiken sang an inspirational duet with Chaka Khan, to encourage those who did not believe that Phineas and Ferb could accomplish their goal of circling the globe faster than the sun, thus creating the longest summer day of all time.^[57]

On January 30, 2011, Aiken sang the United States' national anthem at the 2011 NHL All-Star game held in the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, home of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Recently, Aiken guest starred on the comedy drama series Drop Dead Diva.

Aiken was a contestant in the fifth season of The Celebrity Apprentice, losing in the finals to Arsenio Hall.

Broadway[link]

On January 18, 2008, Aiken made his Broadway debut when he joined the cast of Monty Python's Spamalot for a four-month run, ending on May 4, 2008. He played Sir Robin, in the Tony Award-winning musical directed by Mike Nichols. In addition to Sir Robin, Aiken played the 1st Guard and the Brother Maynard roles.^[58] On August 12, 2008, it was announced that Aiken would resume his role as Sir Robin beginning on September 19 and ending on January 4, 2009.^[11] On December 23, 2008, Aiken had his caricature unveiled at world famous Sardi's restaurant.^[59]

Tours[link]

From February through April 2004, Aiken and Kelly Clarkson embarked on the "Independent Tour" as co-headliners.^[60] Following this tour, he was scheduled for a few summer solo tour dates, but demand ultimately led to the booking of 50 dates across the United States, resulting in what many fans called the "Not-a-Tour". Disney (Buena Vista) was the exclusive sponsor of this unnamed summer tour, promoting their Aladdin Special Edition 2-Disc DVD with a preview of Aiken's rendition of "Proud of Your Boy", a song originally intended for the first release of the film but cut when the Aladdin storyline changed during production. A music video featuring Aiken is on the Aladdin Special Edition DVD.^[61] On this tour, he also performed a duet, "Without You," which was released on Kimberley Locke's 2004 debut album One Love.

In November 2004, Aiken launched his third tour of the year, which revolved around a Christmas theme. "The Joyful Noise Tour", sponsored by Ronald McDonald House Charities, featured a conductor and a 30-piece orchestra.^[62] In some cities, Aiken was supported by the local philharmonic or symphony, such as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Local choirs from high schools and elementary schools also participated at each concert.^[63]

During the summer of 2005, Aiken, with a seven-piece band and three back-up singers, toured with the "Jukebox Tour", performing songs of the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, as well as a few favorites from Measure of a Man. He also performed a few new songs being considered for his next album.^[64]

In early November 2005, Aiken launched his second Christmas tour. The 2005 Joyful Noise tour featured a series of vignettes, written by Aiken,^[65] which told the story of an older woman who had lost the Christmas spirit and a young boy who helps her find it again. A cast of actors, dancers and back-up singers traveled with the tour, and members of local theater groups were added in each venue for smaller, non-speaking roles and crowd scenes. The tour opened in Vancouver, British Columbia, on November 2, and ended in Clearwater, Florida on December 30. According to Pollstar, Aiken's first five tours grossed $28 million.^[66][67]

In December 2006, Aiken began his third Christmas tour, comprising performances in 18 Midwest and East Coast cities. Aiken was supported by local orchestras, which also opened the concerts with a program of seasonal music.^[68]

A 23-date tour in support of his third album, A Thousand Different Ways, began on July 4, 2007, and ended in Orlando, Florida, on August 19. On this tour Aiken hired local symphonies to back him, along with tour regulars Jesse Vargas, pianist, conductor and arranger; Sean McDaniel, drummer; and Quiana Parler and Angela Fisher, backup singers. Three days into the tour, Aiken and a woman were involved in an in-flight altercation in which she allegedly shoved him. As a result of the scuffle, Aiken and the woman were later questioned by the FBI.^[69] Aiken told ET that he had been sleeping when the incident occurred.^[70]

His fourth annual Christmas tour, "Christmas in the Heartland," began on November 26, 2007, in Wichita, Kansas.^[71] That 21-date tour ended on December 22, 2007, in Merrillville, Indiana.

He has ended all of his Christmas tours with his signature Christmas song, "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day."

Aiken and Ruben Studdard brought their “Timeless” tour to cities in the US and Canada beginning in Asheville, North Carolina, on July 23, 2010, and ending in Biloxi, Mississippi, on August 14.^[49][72][73] Instead of a concert focusing on each singers recordings, Aiken and Studdard opted for a variety show format covering medleys of songs from the 1960s to the 1990s with a few solos and interspersed with comedy bits.^[74]

Aiken announced on July 30, 2010, that he will be touring in February and March 2011 in conjunction with PBS to support his album Tried and True and accompanying live DVD Clay Aiken: Tried and True - Live.^[75][76]

Faith and philosophy[link]

In 2004 Aiken made the New York Times Best Seller List, debuting at number two, with his memoir titled Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life, written with Allison Glock, and published by Random House. Barely mentioning American Idol, in the book he instead turned his focus to the people who had the most influence in his life — his mother, grandparents, siblings, teachers, and friends — and to the importance of religion in his life.

While not self-identified as a Christian music artist, Aiken was featured in Christian Music Planet as an "American Idol Christian" in 2004, and in a cover story, "Clay Aiken's Balancing Act", in the January/February 2005 issue.^[77][78] His pre-Idol demo albums included several selections of contemporary Christian music (or CCM) and gospel songs. A performance of the Commodores' "Jesus is Love" at the American Music Awards in 2003 earned Aiken and Ruben Studdard a standing ovation. Aiken has sung a few CCM songs at his pop concerts, and has made Christmas albums, Christmas television specials and performances, and Christmas tours essential elements of his career.

He described himself in Learning to Sing as a proud Southern Baptist who had journeyed away from those roots in his late teens in search of a religion with more liberal social policies, and then returned to that church because of family and social ties although he remains at odds with the church on some issues.^[79] When asked in a PBS Kids interview to name his idols, he responded, "When people ask me what three people I’d like to have dinner with, living or dead, I say Jesus Christ, Mr. Rogers, and Jimmy Carter."^[80]

Aiken makes it clear that he is aware not everyone shares his religious beliefs and it is not his intention to press these beliefs on others. When he worked as a camp counselor at the YMCA, he challenged other camp faculty by insisting that singing "overtly Christian songs" was inappropriate, as some of the kids were Jewish. "I stood firm... no child is going to have a spiritual crisis on my watch."^[81] His public philosophy, geared towards inclusion and service to others, reflects his stance that decisions about religion should be made at home.^[82][83]

Activism[link]

Aiken has donated his time and his voice to multiple benefit events and concerts, including the 2004 Rosalynn Carter Benefit, the America's Promise Benefit, and Heather Headley's Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS benefit, "Home," where he sang a duet with Headley.^[84] He was one of the celebrity readers for the Arthur Celebrity Audiobook (Stories for Heroes Series), which benefits the Bubel/Aiken Foundation (now the National Inclusion Project) and other charities, and served as spokesperson for the series. He was also a spokesperson for the 2004 Toys for Tots drive, and acted as an ambassador for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Aiken worked with the Make a Wish Foundation to make one little boy's dream of singing on stage with Clay Aiken come true.^[85]

In September 2006, Aiken was appointed to the Presidential Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities by President George W. Bush. Appointees serve a two-year term; Aiken was sworn in September 14, 2006, by HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Wade F. Horn, Ph.D.^[9] In April 2008, Aiken told People Magazine that he was too busy to do as much as he would like, but "If there's something I can do remotely, I would've been happy to do it."^[86]

While appearing in Spamalot, Aiken used his free time and celebrity to help raise funds for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) during their fund drives and auctions.^[87][88] In 2010, Aiken spoke out for gay rights at the Human Rights Campaign dinner in North Carolina.^[89] He also joined other celebrities in filming an educational video for Cyndi Lauper's web based Give a Damn campaign, a project of her True Colors Fund. In addition to UNICEF and his National Inclusion Project he is promoting GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network as one of his causes on his official website.^[90][91]

National Inclusion Project (formerly BAF)[link]

Aiken has been a dedicated advocate for education and for children's causes. His interest in autism issues led him, along with Diane Bubel (whose son Michael is diagnosed with autism and was tutored by Aiken), to found the National Inclusion Project (formerly the Bubel/Aiken Foundation), which supports the integration of children with disabilities into the life environment of their non-disabled peers.^[92] The Foundation runs summer camps which reflect its mission,and also presents Able to Serve awards to support the volunteer efforts of children with physical and mental disabilities.^[93][94] In July 2005, Raleigh's WRAL-TV reported on an internet campaign mounted by critics questioning how Aiken's foundation used its money. WRAL news hired an independent accountant who reported that program services totaled $920,000 in 2004—around 85 cents on every dollar donated—which is considered a solid percentage compared to other charities.^[95] CNN picked up the story, and Aiken appeared on Showbiz Tonight to provide details about the Foundation's programs.^[96] In late 2004, the Foundation was awarded a $500,000 grant by the US government to develop a K–12 model for inclusion in community service projects to be used in schools across the country. In addition, State Farm granted $1.5 million dollars to the Foundation to help develop a primary education curriculum focused on teaching social and life skills through service to children of all levels of ability.^[97]

On August 5, 2009, in an open letter from the founders, Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel stated "As we realized the impact the Foundation has already made, it became apparent that even bigger accomplishments could be on the horizon. To that end, we along with the rest of the Board decided that a new name for the Foundation would establish long-term credibility and stability. We sought a name that would signify the Foundation’s position as a national leader on inclusion as well as recognize the Foundation’s start and the efforts of its faithful supporters. After much thought and deliberation, we are proud to introduce the organization we co-founded as the National Inclusion Project."^[7]

UNICEF[link]

In November 2004, Aiken was appointed a U.S. Fund for UNICEF National Ambassador, with a mission to help ensure that children everywhere are afforded a primary education.^[8] After the tsunami at the end of 2004, he participated in the NBC4 telethon, which raised over $10 million, and recorded public service announcements in support of South Asian tsunami relief. He later recorded a video, featuring the song "Give a Little Bit", to be used as a public service announcement to raise money for tsunami victims. He was the 2005 spokesperson for the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF drive.^[98]

In March 2005, UNICEF sent Aiken to the tsunami-stricken Banda Aceh area to raise awareness of the need to restore education quickly to the children who survived this disaster.^[99] UNICEF sent Aiken on another mission in May 2005, to northern Uganda, to witness the plight of children called "night commuters", who flee the villages each night to sleep in streets and shelters in hopes of avoiding being kidnapped by the Lord's Resistance Army. He was sent to Kabul and Bamyan, in Afghanistan in April 2007, where he was able to spend time with children in their classrooms; he also visited a health center for women and children where he administered oral polio vaccinations to babies. He observed that Afghani children, after being forbidden for so many years by the Taliban regime to attend school, are eager to return to school now that they are once again allowed to receive an education.^[100] Aiken spent his 2007 Christmas in Mexico with the children affected by the floods in the states of Chiapas and Tabasco.^[101][102] In late June and early July 2008, UNICEF sent Aiken to Somalia and Kenya.^[103][104]

Fans[link]

Aiken was voted the Favorite Reality Star of 2003 by TV Guide readers and “the most-loved reality star of all time” in a TV Guide poll conducted in the summer of 2005.^[105] In February 2006, People magazine readers voted Aiken their "Favorite American Idol".^[106]

While the origin of the term "Claymates" is unknown, Aiken trademarked the term.^[107] While in Los Angeles in September 2006 for a CD signing and appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Aiken talked with Jann Carl of Entertainment Tonight about the names various sub-groups have given themselves: "Claysians" (Asian fans), "Claynadians" (Canadian fans), "Clayropeans" (European fans) and "Claydawgs" (male fans). She then teased him about having his own "Clay Nation".^[108] At the CD signing, two young fans asked Clay to autograph their shoulderblades and then went to the local tattoo parlor to make them permanent; later that day on Jimmy Kimmel Live they were brought on stage to show the tattoos. Although some of his fans have been criticized at times by the media as being obsessive,^[109] he defends the group as a whole. When Kimmel said to Aiken that his fans were "crazy", Aiken stated that they were merely "enthusiastic". In 2003, in anticipation of the release of Measure of a Man, fans all over the country decided to get together and hold parties to celebrate the release of the CD and purchase copies at midnight. In 2006, for the release of A Thousand Different Ways, release parties were held in more than 80 cities in the United States, Canada, and Singapore.^{[110][111][112]}

Discography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

Professional[link]

American Music Awards

• 2003: Won - Fan's Choice Award
• 2003: Nominated - Favorite Male Artist - Pop or Rock

Billboard Awards

• 2003: Won - Best Selling Single of 2003 - "Bridge Over Troubled Water/This Is The Night"
• 2004: Won - Best Selling Christmas Album - Merry Christmas with Love
• 2004: Won - Best Selling Christian Album - Merry Christmas with Love
• 2005: Won - Best Selling Christian Album - Merry Christmas with Love

New Music Weekly Awards

• 2004: Won - Top 40 Male Artist of the Year

American Christian Music Awards

• 2005: Won - Outstanding Yule CD - Merry Christmas with Love

Achievement[link]

• 2005 Robert M. Barg Memorial Achievement Award^[113]
• 2006 UNC Charlotte Alumni Association Outstanding Young Alumnus Award^[114]
• 2007 National Center for Learning Disabilities' Children's Advocacy Award^[115]
• 2009 The Family Circle Award from the Family Equality Council^[116]

[edit] American Idol season 2 performances and results

Note 1: No one was eliminated that week due to the disqualification of Corey Clark.

See also[link]

• List of number-one hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
• List of UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors
• List of Decca Records artists

References[link]