Tidbits 12/13

LBFCA - Clay Aiken is the "Jingle Jazz Man!"
Check out the Broads' hilarious adaptation of Clay's Jazzy Christmas medley

• On NBC's Today Show - Heartsaiken4ca posted the following Clay mention at The Clayboard:

  My friend called tonight to tell me she saw a young boy, about 6 or 8, sing on the Today Show today. They compared him to Frank Sinatra and Clay Aiken and even showed a side-by-side picture of Clay and Frank.

• Reality TV World - disappointing sales figures for Blake Lewis -

  Clay Aiken's October 2003 debut "Measure of a Man" remains the highest-selling Idol runner-up debut. It moved 613,000 copies and dropped at No. 1 on The Billboard 200.
  

• USA Today - new Christmas classics include "Mary, Did You Know" -

  Nashville songwriter Buddy Greene says his 1992 Christmas song, Mary, Did You Know?, which he wrote with Mark Lowry, accounts for "the vast majority" of his songwriting income.
  
  Greene recently searched for the song on iTunes and found approximately 150 versions, including covers by Kenny Rogers, Natalie Cole, Reba McEntire and Clay Aiken. "At that point, I figured I'd better quit counting my blessings."
  

• New York Post - American Idol CD sales down, down... way down:

  Hicks, winner of "Idol" season 5, sold 298,000 copies of his debut in its opening week, but just under 700,000 copies in total, according to Nielsen SoundScan. McPhee, the runner-up, sold 116,000 copies of her debut album in its first week and just 362,000 copies overall.
  
  That's a far cry from the debut of original "Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson, who has sold over 3 million copies, or the 2005 debut of season four champ Carrie Underwood, whose "Some Hearts," has sold close to 6 million copies. And, season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken has sold 3 million copies of his debut.
  

• Washington Post - Clay Aiken to join cast of "Spamalot" -

  Former "American Idol" star Clay Aiken joins the Broadway cast next month, and limited premium seats at the National are priced at more than $175. (When did that Broadway habit migrate our way?) That's the Rialto, and it hardly kills the savvy joy of "Spamalot."

• E! Online - another Spamalot mention ...

  At the same time, I was told Ms. Ramirez had expressed some reservations about American Idol wannabe and Broadway virgin Clay Aiken joining the cast in January as Sir Robin. Aiken’s gig runs from Jan. 18 to May 4. The role was originated by David Hyde Pierce.

• Daily Press on Chicken Soup for the American Idol Lover's Soul -

  "Chicken Soup for the 'American Idol' Soul" (HCI, $14.95). This installment of the popular series also features stories from "American Idol" producers and fans as well as other contestants, including Carrie Underwood, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken.

• Scranton Times Tribune - local musician passes away ... "He started the Lee Vincent Orchestra in 1946, and still helped book musicians for performers until his death. Members of his band played alongside Clay Aiken on Dec. 4."
• Wilkes Barres Times Leader ... another article about Lee Vincent's passing -

  Most recently, Thomas talked with Vincent because the Lee Vincent Orchestra backed Clay Aiken during his performance at the Kirby Center on Dec. 4.
  

• Christmas tour mentions:
• Southtown Star
• Akron Beacon Journal

• Nothing here today