Tidbits 4/29

• Top40-Charts.com - MDYK writer wins award for inspirational album -

  Mark Lowry has enjoyed a multi-layered career filled with sold-out concert tours and gold and platinum-selling albums and videos. His lyrics include the phenomenal Christmas classic, "Mary Did You Know?" - recorded by Michael English, Wynonna, Kenny Rogers, Clay Aiken, Reba McEntire, Natalie Cole, Brian Littrell, Donny Osmond and over 50 other international artists.
  

• Warwick Beacon - article about the Bay View Players which have performed with Clay in concert -

  Over 25 years the Bay View Players have taken their shows to the Providence Performing Arts Center, the American School in Paris and the former Warwick Musical Theatre. The students have performed with Judy Collins and Clay Aiken and went to Italy in 1992 to perform in Florence and in Rome in a special performance for Pope John Paul II.

• The Detroit News - American Idol 7 heading towards an all-male finale: David vs. David -

  You've heard of David and Goliath. But are you ready for David and David?
  
  This year's "American Idol" is shaping up to be a contest between Davids Archuleta and Cook, which would be the first finale pitting two males against each other since the Ruben Studdard vs. Clay Aiken showdown from the show's second season.

• antiMusic - "Celebrate Mothers Day this year by sending your Mom a hello from Clay Aiken. That's available - here"

• Nothing here yet
  

Tidbits 2/28

• TV Envy - the best don't always win on American Idol -

  Last year’s winner Jordin Sparks has had dismal record sales, though she beat out twenty-three other fantastic singers just to seal the deal. Listen, Clay Aiken didn’t even win his season - remember? The best don’t always win.

• Hampton Roads - American Idol ...

  Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken and "Flea Market Fantasia" are the exception. They are talented. They have interesting stories. Everyone else -- competing for our attention in an increasingly small and faster world -- is frankly working, at best, for a shot at being B-list.
  

• Lycos50 PR - Clay #3 on this week's Lycos50
• BreatheCast - article about Mark Lowry who wrote "Mary, Did You Know" -

  Mark Lowry has enjoyed a multi-layered career filled with sold-out concert tours and gold and platinum-selling albums and videos. His lyrics include the phenomenal Christmas classic, "Mary Did You Know?" - recorded by Michael English, Wynonna, Kenny Rogers, Clay Aiken, Reba McEntire, Natalie Cole, Brian Littrell, Donny Osmond and over 50 other international artists.

• Nothing here yet
  

Skating to Clay's MDYK at Toyota Sports Center

Skaters recently skated to Clay's "Mary, Did You Know" at a Christmas skating show at the Toyota Sports Center in El Segundo, CA. Here is the clip via YouTube:

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
  

Tidbits 11/27

• Canada.com - Christmas in the capitol -

  At the Warner Theatre, American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken is scheduled to serenade fans in early December, followed by the Washington Ballet's own offering of the Nutcracker. (Warner Theater: 513 13th Street, N.W.; 1-202-783-4000; warnertheater.com).

• CBS Chicago - Indiana musician reunited with treasured violin, to play at upcoming Clay Aiken concert - "Orbovich will play Wednesday in South Bend for the Clay Aiken concert. He also plays with several area symphony orchestras. "
• Terra Music Brazil - this is all Portugese, but it mentions "Invisible" ... can any of our Portuguese-speaking visitors enlighten us as to what this is in English?

  A revista Blender divulgou uma lista das 50 piores músicas de todos os tempos. De Madonna a Lionel Richie, passando por Beach Boys e Celine Dion, a lista traz nomes bastante famosos do pop e do rock.
  
  11. Invisible, Clay Aiken

• Bella Online names MCWL one of the best Christmas CD's -

  Merry Christmas With Love by Clay Aiken - ONE OF MY VERY FAVORITES. A great mix of tunes – I love “Mary, Did You Know”, “Don’t Save It All for Christmas Day” and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” *You guessed it. That Washington, DC Christmas show is Clay Aiken’s Heartland Christmas Tour.

• Greenville Sun - "Mary, Did You Know" recorded by many top artists -

  Among the songs that he performed was his famous hit, "Mary Did You Know?" It is a song that he co-wrote in 1984 with Buddy Greene.
  
  The beautiful, touching ballad has become a modern Christmas standard and has been recorded by more than 30 artists, including Michael English, Wynonna Judd, Natalie Cole, Clay Aiken, Kathy Mattea and Kenny Rogers.
  

• There Was A Man - "All Is Well" available on iTunes beginning December 4.
• Something That Really Happened - Clay kicks off Christmas tour 2007. A look back at previous tours.
  

Idol Stalker Poll - "Mary Did You Know" Face Off - Clay Aiken vs. Kalan Porter

Clay is up against Canadian Idol 2 winner Kalan Porter at Idol Stalker's "Mary Did You Know" showdown. Claymates - Vote for Clay!

As a Clay and Kalan fan, I must say both versions are unique and great in their own ways!