New Photo of Clay With David Foster In Vancouver

Here's a new photo of Clay with David Foster in Vancouver late last month during Clay's trip across Canada.

Tidbits 6/12

• Toronto Star - article about Clay's recent trip to Canada, where he and David Foster discovered a rare talent at a Vancouver restaurant -

  If Andrea Greenway had won a reality TV show, her whirlwind week might have made sense.
  
  As it is, the 26-year-old Vancouver waitress and student had a week straight out of weirdsville, courtesy of 14-time Grammy-winning producer David Foster. She was squired from city to city, staying at luxury hotels, all expenses paid, occasionally performing. It began when the classically trained singer sang for Foster, whose table she served at a Vancouver restaurant. Even before she'd sung for the L.A.-based mega-producer – seated with American Idol alumnus Clay Aiken – she'd caught his attention.
  

• Southern Girl on why she started blogging -

  Okay, y'all are gonna think this is strange, but Clay Aiken got me started. No, really. See, last year was a particularly bad time for scum-sucking bottom-feeders who had so little to do in their lives that they were able to spend a freakish amount of time blogging gossip, disgusting lies, and even thinly veiled threats about Clay Aiken, who happens to have a stunning voice, a wicked sense of humor, a heart for humanitarian work, a charismatic personality (on and off stage), and looks really good in a pair of jeans. Clearly you can see why someone like that would deserve scorn and slander, right?
  
  No, me either. And neither did other fans, and it bothered us that when one searched for Clay's name on Google or elsewhere, these horrible blogs were the first ones to pop up, so quite a few of us decided if we couldn't beat 'em, we'd join them, only we'd be armed with the truth and positive posts about Clay's successes, his performances, and his amazing work for children with disabilities (especially autism).
  
  While most of the other fans limited their blogs to just Clay Aiken, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write about other things in addition to him -- life in the South, food, my weight loss journey, all manner of pop culture, and my faith. So I dove right into Blogger and haven't looked back. :)
  

Clay Going to Paris & Loses Passport (Again)?

A Canadian tabloid appearing in the Calgary Sun says Clay lost his passport during last week's visit to Canada. If true, this would not be the first time Clay has lost his passport while outside the country. He lost it the first time during his 2004 vacation to Great Britain and Ireland.

There's also a little bit about Clay flying off to Paris. At this point, we don't know why Clay is jetting off to Paris, but we will keep you updated if new information comes in.

On his way from Vancouver to Calgary for a private function involving David Foster and some local celebrity friends, Mr. Aiken lost his passport.

Tidbits 6/5

Another Clay mention in the Canadian press. This is from yesterday's National Post.

• A few more mentions of Clay's visit to Canada last week & this past weekend:
• CBC - "Greenway was working at il Giardino, an upscale Vancouver restaurant, Thursday night when famed music producer David Foster and American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken walked in."
• Vancouver Sun - "In between, Greenway performed at a David Foster Foundation event in Calgary with American Idol graduate Clay Aiken, and sang Saturday night at a Toronto Royal Ontario Museum benefit, her boss Il Giardino manager Bobby Copiak said."
• Small Clay mention in Nick Magazine, a poster at RHT reports -

  I don't have it in front of me, and I know it's a children's magazine but hey, kids grow up.
  
  There are 4 idol (non-winner) pictures that you have to match up. Clay's match up blurb is People magazine's most loved idol ever and another survey about him being the best idol ever. Very nice to see him ANYWHERE!

• Clay down to #9 this week at the Lycos50 from last week's #7.
  
• 411Mania - not all American Idols go on to successful careers -

  Outside of Clarkson and Underwood, you have the few "fringe" successes such as Clay Aiken, Fantasia, or that Sanjaya freak who either have an odd cult following or just sacrifice any credibility they could have ever had in the name of a few more minutes of press. Sparks has the phenom factor about her in that she's 17, but I can't see that lasting long enough to guarantee a lasting career.

• CHUD - AI5 runner-up Katharine McPhee enters the world of acting - "After having lost American Idol, Clay Aiken style (I lost, but I'm loved!), Katherine McPhee is doing what any Southern California resident aspires to - acting. "
• Asbury Park Press - 2007 Toms Riverfest canceled. Clay opened his Jukebox Tour 2005 at this festival - "Over the past two summers, Toms River Fest featured such artists as Hilary Duff, LeAnn Rimes, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Meat Loaf and Maroon 5."

• Nothing here today.
  

Reported Glimpses of Clay at Toronto Museum Concert

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According to a post from The Clayboard, Jennifer at LBFCA was at the Toronto concert Saturday night and got several glimpses of Clay. Here is that report from Jennifer:

posted at LBFCA by Jennifer
I just wanted to let you know that yes, indeed, he was there. But as Mr. Fosters guest. Not as a participating artist. We went to T.O. to catch a glimpse of a couple of other artists that we like and were quite satisfied with the view. It was a "first come first serve" type of show and you ended up where you were squished in. There were mostly 'adults' in the crowd as this was the opening of, what I would call an artistic museum, that has such things as an African display and History from around the world. The building itself is absolutely incredible. Anyway we were treated with several glimpses of the man himself standing in the wings. Laughing and joking with Mr. Foster and several other "important" musical types. Casually yet very classy looking in a black dress shirt (open at the neck) *sigh* and black slacks. YUM! Oh, and for those of you that are wondering .. the hair was flat and nicely styled. He ran his fingers through it several times. I guess I was supposed to be watching and listening to who was on the stage in front of me but Im not sure I could even tell you who was there during the times Mr. Beautiful was visible. Anywho .. he was relaxed and happy and obviously in a good mood. He had those around him laughing at all times. Hope this helps! *wink*

Great report! Thanks Jennifer. We'll be on the lookout for any more news that may become available, including pictures from last night!

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Update 4:26 PM: a report in Canadian media from the National Post confirms that Clay was indeed at the concert Saturday night as a guest. He apparently met up with Mark Shekter, a songwriter/producer who produced the concert.

what was stranger still was the appearance of the most spiritual and fabulous of American Idols, Clay Aiken.

If you blinked, you woulda missed him, but he was, indeed, there for a few split-secs!

Aiken, my spies report, flew in to Toronto on Saturday morning with uberproducer David Foster, after having conquered Vancouver during a singsong coinciding there with the West Coast's visit of The Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Idol checked out the staging, watched the rehearsals with Foster and at the same time fit in a meeting with Mark Shekter, who was exec-producing the concert at the ROM on Saturday night.

"He also talked to Jann Arden," my source reports, adding that he ran for the airport just as soon as he could that afternoon.

And so?

So, partly this is possibly the only opportunity for me to mention the serieux architect Daniel Libeskind and the hair-challenged choirboy Aiken in the same sentence. And partly, maybe, to make the case that there could not be a more appropriate pop star to stand in as metaphor for the new museum wing.

The not-ordinary Michael Lee-Chin addition -- which has been called "daring" but also, in recent days, been compared to Dante's Inferno -- is like, Clay, an acquired taste. Quite clearly. Like Clay, it's also been likened to kitsch, but like him, too, it's at least got people talking.

CTV also ran a story today about Clay in Calgary:

Within 12 hours of her impromptu performance, Greenway was in Calgary performing with Beverley Mahood and former American Idol finalist Clay Aiken -- who was with Foster at the restaurant the night before -- at a David Foster Foundation event on Friday.

New Photo From Calgary Herald - Clay in Calgary

Click to enlarge.

The Calgary Herald published new photos today of Clay's 1 day visit to Calgary, AB, Canada this past Friday. Clay performed at a backyard party held at the home of Brett Wilson. Wilson is co-chair for the 2007 David Foster Foundation gala which will be in Calgary this year.

Many thanks to the CB's zippy888 for the scan.

Tidbits 6/3

• South Florida Sun-Sentinel on AI6 top 3 contestant Melinda Doolittle -

  She'll do fine, just as other also-rans such as Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry have. I would rather have any of their careers than those of Idols Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino or Taylor Hicks.
  

• A few mentions of the summer tour:
• WFAA-TV:

  If you've been thinking it's time to take your many talents out of the closet and trot them onstage, you could have that opportunity at Frisco Freedom Fest on July 4. Of course, you'll have to be willing to do this for free, but you could say you (sorta) shared a stage with Clay Aiken, who'll perform as part of the evening's festivities.

• Fosters.com
• Grand Rapids Press - "American Idol star Clay Aiken on July 23 and Sheryl Crow on Aug. 1."

• Carolina On My Mind comments on the Claynadian frenzy that has overtaken the Clay nation the past few days. The photo to the right (taken by the CB's RedBay) was from last night's opening of the new Royal Ontario Museum where Clay was rumored to be performing. In there end, there was no Clay.
  

  In response to a trail of hints and rumors that Clay Aiken would possibly be a surprise guest performer with David Foster Saturday night, fans descended in droves from various parts of Canada to attend the Royal Ontario Museum's "A World of Possibilities" concert in Toronto.
  
  Alas, there was no Clay on the program. However, this impromptu response to the possibility will go down in CA fandom history right alongside such wishful/waiting/watching occasions as the multiple page refreshes of the "Raleigh Dotcert," the correspondent's dinner during which fans were glued to C-Span for hours hoping for a glimpse of the back of the singer's head, and the SpongeBob marathon viewing for intermittent sightings.
  

Reports from Toronto

Below are reports from the Royal Ontario Musuem in downtown Toronto where Clay is rumored to be making an appearance sometime after 9:30 PM EDT tonight.

THIS POST WILL REMAIN UPDATED THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT AS THIS STORY DEVELOPS.

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7:32 PM - BellaToronto @ CB -

possible Clay sighting at the ROM Crystal Pavilion free concert in Toronto - my friend from the CB, RedBay is line to get in with around 20-30 people in front of her and TorontoGirl05 and Inaraen, two young geniuses with cameras ready to roll. They're on the lookout for luckiest1 and cindilu2, who were driving into town.

I'm on standby for calls and sighting news!

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8:27 PM - BellaToronto @ CB -

Another call from RedBay - they talked to some technie staff and the piano for David Foster has been set up. The concert area is actually three stages and it's on the right side.

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10:07 PM - no Clay yet... will he show up is now the big question. CP24-TV in Toronto reports the crowd is around the 40,000 to 50,000 range.

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11:24 PM - it's a wrap... no Clay tonight :(

Clay Photo In Today's Vancouver Sun

Clay posed with Premier of British Columbia Gordon Campbell when he performed for him and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday. This article was published in the Vancouver Sun today. Thanks to the CB's hippoga for the scan.

Note: CDD will be continuously updated tonight in case the rumored Clay appearance at the downtown Toronto concert tonight (starts at 9:30 PM EDT) is indeed true. Several Clayboard members will be going and phoning into a "ROM-cert".

Toronto Claymates - Update On Possible Clay Appearance In Toronto

There is SPECULATION that Clay will be appearing at the Royal Ontario Museum's free concert tonight at 9:30 PM on Bloor St. between Avenue Rd. and Bedford Rd. The concert celebrates the opening of the ROM's new "Michael Lee-Chin Crystal".

There is no confirmation that Clay will be there, but there is now strong evidence that Clay is indeed in Toronto tonight. David Foster, who is travelling with Clay in Canada, is a scheduled performer at tonight's event.

If any Claynadian Claymate is available in Toronto tonight, we strongly urge you to go to this concert tonight for a POSSIBLE Clay sighting.

This is from the ROM's website. The program for tonight's concert can be found here (PDF).

Free concert celebrates Architectural Opening of ROM’s Michael Lee-Chin Crystal on June 2nd at 9:30pm

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) hosts A World of Possibilities,, a free outdoor concert on the ROM’s new Bloor Street Plaza on Saturday, June 2, 2007 to celebrate the Architectural Opening & Building Dedication of the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. Presented by CIBC, the Inaugural Season Sponsor, the 75-minute concert features three stages of theatrical performances by an outstanding line-up of Canadian and international artists, complemented by spectacular visual effects projected on the dramatic exterior façade of the Lee-Chin Crystal. The concert starts at 9:30 pm. The public is admitted on a first-come, first-served basis, with access beginning at 8 pm. Bloor St. W. will be closed between Avenue Rd. and Bedford Rd. for this event, but audience space directly in front of the stages is limited

Clay Visits Calgary, Toronto According to Canadian Media Reports

Clay on the front page of the Calgary Herald today. Thanks to the CB's aikenfan6 for the scan!

A Vancouver Sun article seem to suggest that Clay was in Calgary, Canada yesterday and will be in Toronto, Canada today to perform at several engagements with David Foster. No more details at the moment, but we will get them to you if/when the become available. Clay performed for California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell in Vancouver on Thursday.

CLAY AIKEN, the American Idol super-graduate, stole the show by singing at Arnold Schwarzenegger's appearance at the Stanley Park Pavilion Thursday. With Premier Gordon Campbell humming along, the California governor preached the green-way mantra other politicos have suddenly taken to heart. But a far older theme -- a star is born --played later when Aiken dined with homegrown music-biz biggie David Foster at Umberto Menghi's Il Giardino restaurant.

It involved a Greenway, too.

That was server Andrea Greenway, who, at Menghi's request, ripped off an operatic aria while setting Foster and Aiken's chow on the table.

Foster's response: "A car will pick you up at eight in the morning. Bring two changes of clothes and your passport. You'll sing with Clay in Calgary Friday. We'll be in Toronto Saturday."

That would be for tonight's benefit concert for the Royal Ontario Museum. By Friday, though, Foster had booked her to sing with pianist Lang Lang in Las Vegas Sunday, and to go into a Los Angeles studio with him (Foster) Monday. Ecstatic at Greenway's break, Il Giardino general manager Bobby Copiak still said: "Now I'm hooped for a server this weekend."

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Update 8:31 AM: The Calgary Herald has confirmed that Clay was indeed in Calgary yesterday for a special concert with David Foster:

As for that famed runner-up from American Idol, Clay Aiken? Well, a playful Foster dances around the rumour that Aiken will be performing at the Calgary concert, but he did manage to bring the pop star into town Friday to perform at a private backyard party for the foundation.

Why wasn't Aiken at the Friday afternoon press conference, held downtown at the new Wild Ginger restaurant? "Clay likes to sleep late," explains a dapper Foster, posing for pictures at his keyboard as the conference wraps up.

"But he's a wonderful friend of the Foundation and he loves Canada. . . . He's just here to help."

Clay in Vancouver: The Spikes Are BACK!!!!

CTV News in Vancouver, BC has broadcast a new video of Clay appearing at a special gala last night in Vancouver, BC, Canada. In attendence were dignitaries including B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who wrapped up his 3 day official visit to Canada in the city.

Clay performed "Solitaire" held at Vancouver's big Stanley Park, situated across downtown.

A video clip of the CTV News report is available at SendSpace... many thanks to the CB's gerwhisp. You can also watch it here:


BUT THE BIG NEWS TODAY IS THAT...
THE SPIKES ARE BACK!
YES... I NEVER THOUGHT A DAY WOULD COME WHEN WE'D SEE THE SPIKES AGAIN!

Few more photos from United Press International:

Clay In Vancouver

Update 6/1: this has been confirmed by CTV News in Vancouver, BC. Clay's back in Vancouver WITH SPIKY HAIR!!! EEEE... full CDD report here.

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We have unconfirmed reports that Clay is performing at a gala tonight in Vancouver, Canada. The gala is being attended by the premier of British Columbia Gordon Campbell and visiting California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Here's the report from one of the message boards:

I just heard on the news that Clay was/is in Vancouver!
Governor Arnold is in Vancouver and he hosted a reception for our Premier, with David Foster and Clay Aiken performing!!!
Kill me now! So near and yet so far! I'm not equiped to supply any clack but maybe gerwhisp will pick something off the news. I'll see what I can find out about it.

If this is true, this would be Clay's third visit to the Canadian city. He last visited Vancouver to perform at David Foster's charity gala in September 2006. Before that, Clay opened his JNT2005 tour in Vancouver,