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Orchestra to back Idol's Aiken
BBC News: UK Edition


Quote:American Idol singer Clay Aiken is to embark on a tour of the US with the backing of a full orchestra.

Aiken, who is the biggest-selling graduate of the reality show to date, will play several dates in December.

The orchestral tour will support the release of his second album, following his debut, Measure Of A Man, which has sold 2.6 million copies in the US.

Aiken narrowly missed out to Ruben Studdard in the final showdown of American Idol's second series.

Aiken will be playing New York's Madison Square Gardens on 9 December as part of the five-week tour.

Both the singer's second album and the Joyful Noise concerts will feature a collection of tunes for the festive season.

Memoirs

The 25-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina, is also releasing his memoirs next month.

Despite losing out to arch-rival Studdard in the final of the talent show, Aiken went on to make bigger record sales.

The pair released their debut singles in the same week, and it was Aiken who reached the number one spot.

An outfit Aiken wore for an edition of American Idol is on permanent display at the history museum in his home town.