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A full list of upcoming events is also available at the CDD Claytracker.
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From the CB:
There was a story on the expose that ABC will do on AI, & they talk about the Paula, Corey affair & other things. Then they say that the voting might be rigged & mention that there was a lot of evidence of phone tampering in the Clay/ Ruben contest. This was the commentators words, not ABC, so I'm not sure if that will be included in the expose.
Oprah promotion makes Lincoln stop
By The Lincoln Journal Star
Oprah's Wildest Dreams bus made a stop Monday morning in Lincoln.
It wasn't Oprah Winfrey on the bus, but Clay Aiken, a 2003 American Idol runnerup, said Harpo Productions spokeswoman Carly Ubersox.
And the stop at Lincoln East High School was to make a dream come true for Britney and Bethany Wekesser, senior twins.
Ubersox would disclose no more about the visit Monday, but said the show will air some time in May.
Our very own CN has been nominated as a new fanclub board mod! Congrats!
From CN:
Yes, that is me. I had actually *thought* my SN was taken because I only registered halfway under ClayNation the day the club launched and then I had to close out the screen because I didn't have my CC handy! Then when I started over, it said that my SN was already taken. I thought that someone had taken it while I was getting my CC!!! . But I contacted support there and they fixed it for me. You can contact me by email if you need to, it is listed on my profile as well.The invitation to join the Fan club message board staff came as a really huge surprise for me, and to be honest, I had reservations. Serious reservations! But I thought about it and said, there's got to be a reason for this, and said yes, I will give it a shot.We're all new there, learning the ropes, but the three other co-mods there are really wonderful ladies and I'm grateful for this opportunity to work with them and help out any way I can.As for the concern about time commitment, we're all just figuring out how much time commitment is needed and what the pace is like. I suppose we'd add new staff if it is needed, but that is all up to the Fan Club administration.Thanks for all the support and confidence. It means more than you know! Love, CN
American Idol’s Clay Aiken Added to
Champlain Valley Fair’s 2005 Concert Series
Reserved seats for pop singer go on sale April 28 at Flynn Ticket Outlets
Clay Aiken, “American Idol” star and “Prince of Positive Pop” music, will perform at the 2005 Champlain Valley Fair on the Coca Cola Grandstand stage Monday, Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
Since appearing on "Idol," the Charlotte, N.C., native has been capturing hearts worldwide with his wonderful voice and boy-next-door looks. The "Idol" runner-up's debut album, "Measure of a Man," was released in fall 2003 and quickly climbed to the top of the Billboard Top 200 charts. His 2004 album "Merry Christmas with Love," also did very well with sales, and he is returning to the studio in May to begin work on his next album.
The Aug. 29 concert, presented by WCAX-TV, is part of the 2005 Champlain Valley Fair Concert Series. Tickets go on sale for “An Evening with Clay Aiken,” at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 28 at all Flynn Ticket Outlets. Tickets are $37.50 and $33.50 plus applicable service charges. They are available by calling (802) 863-5966 or online at www.flynntix.org.
Aiken joins country superstars Alan Jackson (Aug. 27) and Tim McGraw (Sept. 4) on the Fair’s top-name concert entertainment schedule.
The Clayboard Summer Tour Member Pass Contest has received 15 entries so far. GO.
BACKING AN IDOL
DR. MICHAEL M. KROP SENIOR'S LIGHTNING SINGERS GOT TO SHARE THE SPOTLIGHT WITH FORMER AMERICAN IDOL STAR AND MULTIPLATINUM ARTIST CLAY AIKEN
BY BEN TORTER
btorter@herald.com
Every performer dreams of that lucky break that catapults them into the big time.
That spotlight shone Saturday night for the Lightning Singers of the Dr. Michael M. Krop High School Magnet program when they performed with famed, multiplatinum American Idol recording artist Clay Aiken.
The vocal music students said the experience was nothing short of inspirational.
The high school chorus belted out with smiling confidence every note of Paul Simon's Bridge Over Troubled Water in front of a packed ballroom at the Florida Voices for Change gala at the Broward County Convention Center.
''I think Clay is so nice and I can't believe we actually had the opportunity to sing with him,'' 17-year-old Krop senior Jennifer Milton said. ``I'll never forget it.''
The $200-a-ticket gala was organized by Today's Caregiver magazine and benefited Aiken's Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which provides grants, services and inclusive programs to children with special needs.
The event was emceed by Deco Drive anchor Louis Aguirre and facilitated by dignitaries like Miss Florida Jenna Edwards, Miami-Dade Commissioner Sally Heyman, State Rep. Susan Goldstein and Broward County Commissioner Lois Wexler.
Dr. Michael M. Krop High School Music Director Lawrence Davidson was nonchalantly confident when he explained how his chorus secured the gig.
''One of the parents was in a conversation with people from the Aiken Foundation, and she suggested us and we were invited,'' Davidson said.
That was right before spring break, which gave them only about three weeks to prepare. ''That's the entertainment world,'' Davidson said. ``Sometimes you have very short notice.''
The kids rehearsed with Aiken for the first time the afternoon of the show.
''It was unworldly,'' 18-year-old Krop senior Natalie Schapiro said. ``It was so cool.''
She said Aiken's personality made the experience all the better.
''I was pleasantly surprised with Clay Aiken,'' said Schapiro, who has been accepted to Florida State University's School of Music to study opera. ``There are 30 of us and he shook all our hands. That's how I want to act when I'm famous.''
Simply being a member of the Lightning Singers didn't earn a spot on stage with Aiken. He could only take 30. The Lightning Singers are 90 students large, so Davidson held an audition.
They were judged on pitch, accuracy, dynamics, tone quality and memorization. Given the talent pool, the choice was difficult. The Lightning Singers all recently received straight superior (the best) ratings at the Florida District Music Assessments.
The teenagers lounged around backstage before the show. Some slept, others played cards and still others sat on the floor in their tuxedos chatting about school and what it will be like when they're famous.
If any were nervous, they wouldn't admit it.
''If you love what you do, there's no fear,'' 18-year-old Krop senior Christopher Clark said.
They held up that fierce attitude onstage before a crowd of serious Aiken fans.
''Claymates'' is a term coined to describe diehard Aiken fans.
One of them, Donna Cusolito, flew in from Plaistow, N.H., to see her 20th Aiken performance. She once sent Aiken's dog a hat.
''The kids were great,'' Cusolito said. ``You could tell Clay and the kids really connected.''
After the show, Aiken, a former special education teacher and mentor, led the students through a couple of more verses of Bridge Over Troubled Water.
It was that one-on-one rapport they developed with the pop star that seamed to have the greatest affect on the high school students.
''He's not like regular pop stars,'' 16-year-old Krop sophomore Ron Barhai said. ``He treats us like regular people, like adults.''
For others, like 18-year-old senior Gaby Jacobo, who has been accepted into the Berklee College of Music in Boston, the admiration was more technical.
''He knows the fundamentals of music, and that's so important that he doesn't just yell into a mic,'' Jacobo said. ``It was exhilarating.''
From the CB:
A post from fifty at CV that puts a very interesting spin on the Simon Renshaw deal. Mostly educated speculation, but still very interesting:
Quote:
I am way behind but wanted to post this little tidbit...
I have posted in the past that my daughter's future husband is in the entertainment business and books international concerts....
well,
I emailed him today and asked him about the Firm situation. Here is my email to him and his response....
What do you think about
Strategic Artist Management
Simon Renshaw
Simon is breaking away from the Firm company
and is taking Dixie Chicks, Anarsarcia, and Clay Aiken to mention a few...
his response...
Quote:
Hi! Yes, I read it on the industry dailies this morning. The Firm may be in trouble financially as they've laid off a bunch of people recently. Interesting to note that Robert Sillerman is on a new buying spree of management companies and is in the process of a merger with Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment and also getting ready for an IPO. Personally, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if they made a takeover bid on The Firm. That was exactly his MO when he was building SFX Entertainment which he ended up selling to Clear Channel. Thats how Clear Channel got into the concert business.
Perhaps, Simon Renshaw did not want to be in a position where his one of his main clients would be back in the hands of Simon Fuller through a series of takeovers. It wasn't a pretty divorce to begin with by all accounts. The only way to protect that was to leave. Just a theory though...
I thought this was very interesting
The day after effect. Dr. Phil praised LTS yesterday during Clay's appearance on the show and it has soared on Amazon.com up to 188!
Apparently Clay has gotten himself a new management, according to HitsDailyDouble:
SIMON SAYS: Insiders relate that manager Simon Renshaw has sent out an e-mail announcing the formation of a new management company called Strategic Artist Management. Artists Renshaw will manage under his new shingle include Clay Aiken, Anastacia, the Dixie Chicks and Miranda Lambert. (4/18p)
From Yahoo Music:
Clay Aiken
As the top-selling Idol, Clay's proof that nice guys finish second. He's a winner in our book!
From the CB, a transcript from WRAL's news:
Volanda C. (anchor): Spotlight Raleigh's own American Idol runner-up is on tomorrow's episode of Dr. Phil. (shows Clay sitting on couch beside another adult and appears to be 2 teenagers across from them with Dr. Phil seated in center back in his own seat).
V: Aiken will talk about his experiences with bullies as a child. It's a subject he addresses in his new book Learning to Sing.
Cuts to actual interview
Dr. Phil: You say in your book "When I was young, I was teased by other kids like it was their job".
(Shows the pic of Clay from LTS where he's in backseat of car)
Clay: (laughs that giggle of his) I think it was ...at...sometimes they would've been rich if they had gotten paid for it!
(Shows young pic of him with his head between limbs of tree)Cuts back to Clay and he sees these pics on screen and says
CA: Look at that dork on camera...(he gigles and says) there's another one right there (when they show second pic)
Cuts back to him with a beautiful smile and he giggles that cliggle!
CA: Both times (referring to dork shown both times). But... umm...you know it's about trying...about being comfortable with who you are and once I found out...figured out...WHO CARES what people think about me(was kinda demonstrative and looking at the kids across from him).
I know my parents love me. I know I have friends who love me. I love MYSELF...you know. I think once you have that and you carry it with you...people...everybody else wants to know what he's got that I don't have because everybody is insecure. They are picking on me because they didn't have anything about them that they could be prouse of so they decided they'd make themselves feel better.
Dr. Phil starts to comment again and WRAL cuts away and anchor Volanda Calloway says "you can see the rest of the interview tomorrow at 9am on WRAL".
Title: Mary Did You Know
Performers: Clay Aiken
Contributor: Buddy Greene (Lyrics by)
Mark Lowry (Lyrics by)
Publication Date: September 2005
Publisher: Brighter Minds Children's Publishing
Country of Publication: United States
Market: United States
ISBN: 1-57791-176-8
Item Status: Active Record
Binding Format: Board Books
Edition: Gift, illustrated
Pages: 24
Price: $9.99(USD) Retail (Publisher)
Language: English
Age Range: 3 to UP
Audience: Juvenile
Bowker Subjects: CHILDREN'S SONGS
General Subjects (BISAC): JUVENILE NONFICTION / Music / Songbooks
MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Children's
General Subjects (BIC): SONGBOOKS
VOCAL MUSIC
Children's Subjects: SONGS
Physical Dimensions (W x L x H): 6 x 8 in.
1.49 lbs.
