To see the full calendar, go to CDD's page at Google Calendar:
A full list of upcoming events is also available at the CDD Claytracker.
Note: CDD does not necessarily endorse or subscribe to the editorial opinions of these websites/blogs.
Clay blogged last night after the first concert in Wichita. Official fanclub members can read the blog here.
For non-members, Clay wrote about the tour, saying he chose to vary things up between stories, songs and medley because variety is the "spice of life." He also says he is very excited about starting Spamalot in January, but will definitely enjoy the next several weeks with Quiana, Angela, Jesse, Sean, Jamie, Mary and Jerome.
A new photo of Clay attending a Georgraphy teachers' conferences at Yale University earlier this month is up at Yale's website and at the Geography Action! blog.
Connecticut Geographic Alliance Welcomes Indonesian Ambassador and Clay Aiken
On November 1st, 2007, PIER at Yale and the Connecticut Geographic Alliance sponsored a Geography Action! Kick-off event providing professional development and resources for Connecticut teachers to host their own Geography Action! Asia Geo-Games event in area schools. The highlights of the event included the special guest speakers Clay Aiken and H.E. Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat, Ambassador of Indonesia.
Clay Aiken, UNICEF Ambassador for children and education, and multi-platinum recording artist, has worked with UNICEF since 2004 and visited Banda Aceh, Indonesia, during the aftermath of the December tsunami. Recently, he traveled with Mary Propes, his high school history teacher, to Afghanistan to examine the schools and education of children in the war-torn region. Mr. Aiken, a former special education teacher in North Carolina, felt that this year’s Geography Action! focus on Asia was timely. “Nine in ten recent high school graduates cannot find Afghanistan on a map of Asia, and fewer than half (48%) know that Sri Lanka, the site of the devastating 2004 tsunami, is in Asia,“ Mr. Aiken reported. He and Mary Propes spoke about their experiences in Afghanistan with the audience of Connecticut teachers, and addressed the need for cultural and geographic literacy in our schools.
The Wichita Eagle has filed their review of Clay's tour opening Wichita, KS concert. The review was based mostly on interviews of fans who were at the show.
Fans swarm to Aiken's holiday show
What could make 42-year-old Jacki Koah fly from Portland, Ore., to Wichita with no family or friends around for miles?
Clay Aiken, of course.
"I wanted to do the first two shows but in the summer I did nine shows," she said with a twinkle in her eye. "I've done four meet-and-greets and he knows me by name. I'm Jacki from Oregon."
The proof of her acquaintance with Aiken is on her left shoulder.
"He signed my shoulder and I had it tattooed," she said. "The man can sing the telephone book to me and I would be happy."
Koah and her daughter attended the packed Aiken concert Monday night at Central Christian Church on Rock Road.
Monday night members of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra played lightly in the background as people found their seats. Suddenly the lights dimmed and the entire auditorium was black, except for lights from the musicians onstage. The orchestra stopped playing and the crowd fell silent. A door could be heard closing as footsteps came closer to the stage. Aiken, dressed in a black suit with a long jacket and sporting his mop-top hair, stepped onstage.
The crowd cheered as he started to sing. His first song was a melody that included the songs "Rejoice", "Away in a Manger" and "Silent Night."
"It's good to be here," Aiken said to the crowd.
"We like to include the community as much as we can because the holidays are about being together," he said of the orchestra,. He only rehearsed with them on Monday afternoon. "We are so appreciative to them for coming this afternoon to look at the sheet music for the first time."
Four holiday stories written by Wichitans were chosen to be read at the concert. The stories were accompanied by the orchestra. They were meant to be inspirational and to get the audience into the Christmas spirit.
"I think you'll be moved by the stories you'll hear tonight," Aiken said. "This entire concert is a Christmas card from you to you."
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).
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
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.
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.
The Christmas In The Heartland Tour setlist is now available, after tonight's concert in Wichita. Needless to say, if you don't want to be spoiled, don't read any further. Thanks to the CB's Joy2Talk2U for compiling this list for us!
SET LIST: (Wichita)
1. Emmanuel
2. Medley - Away In The Manger, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night
3. Mary Do You Know
4. Banter
5. Merry Christmas With Love
6. Story from Fan
7. Medley - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Sleigh Bells, Jingle Bells, Winter Wonderland
8. Christmas Waltz
9. Story from Fan
10. Angela.... Who Would Imagine A King
11. Welcome to Our World
Intermission
12. O Holy Night
13. Hark The Herald Angels Sing / O Come All Ye Faithful
14. Story by Fan
15. Medley - I'll Be Home For Christmas, The Christmas Song, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
16. Story by Fan
17. Quiana - Where Are You Christmas?
18. My Grown Up Christmas List
19. Don't Save It All For Christmas Day
Encore...... ALL IS WELL
Cell Phone Picture Taken of Clay at Wichita, Kansas Christmas Concert, Monday, 11/26I talked to CP a bit ago and she said Clay was at the venue by about 2.
Two big jumbotrons, 1 on each side and are flashing no videos or cameras but didn't take any from anyone. Not full yet...Balcony isn't really a balcony. About 1/8 men in the audience to women right now. Buses were there at 2:00 when they got there. Beautiful church.
Orchestra all in black, looks like tuxes with no tie. Orchestra is now all in place and it's filling up.
This person is in 6th row. Mary was out a bit ago talking to the pastor. They did tell people earlier that there could be cameras and video so they aren't sure what's going on with that. Someone had a M & G today but she hasn't seen her since. Had a great pre-party with 84+ people. The guy at the door said there were about 700 tickets left, most off to the side. All ages are there; 1/4 men to 3/4 women it appears. KSChristian4Clay is the one who is talking now.
I heard that Clay said in the Meet & Greet that there would be no banter in the show. That the readings were enough.
A faint violin is playing... Playing very soft Christmas music....
Here he comes, dressed in black! O, Come O, Come Emmanuel!!! Loud and clear!!! He is grabbing notes straight from heaven and sounds glorious!!!
Long black coat, black shirt, black tie. Hair is gorgeous. His voice is beautiful.
AWAY IN A MANGER...ONE OF THE GIRLS IS SINGING... OH LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM....THIS IS A MEDLEY...CLAY SINGING NOW.. CLAY NOW SILENT NIGHT.
Girls are dressed in ballroom type dresses, full skirts, black and look absolutely beautiful!
MDYK now!
Thunderous applause and cheers! Good evening Wichita!!! Good to be here!
Talking about Jesse starting with them 4 years ago. Included local HS & elementary shows with them, then added community theaters the next year, last year had local symphony orchestras.
Realizes Christmas has a different meaning for everyone. Four stories tonight to remind us how different Christmas is for everyone. (Note from CDD: This would be the 4 stories that the fans wrote and sent in.)
He intro'd Merry Christmas with Love. Sounds like the stories are going to be interwoven with this song if I understood correctly.
MCWL......this song is for you.
HE IS CHANGING UP MCWL A LITTLE....AS USUAL, HE SOUNDS GORGEOUS!
SOUNDS LIKE A LADY READING A STORY. CAN'T HEAR WHAT SHE IS SAYING, BUT SHE SOUNDS GOOD! PIANO SOFTLY IN THE BACKGROUND. First reader reading her story now.
Clay went right into It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
ANOTHER MEDLEY I THINK....NOW JINGLE BELLS - AFTER SLEIGH RIDE...
Jingle Bells now. A rockin' version!!!
Back to MWTOTY and then we're off walking in a Winter Wonderland!!!
This is another medley! Just finished Sleigh Ride. Now to Jingle Bells. Dashing through the snow....laughing all the way.....oh what fun it is to ride and sing....it's the most wonderful time it's the most wonderful time it's the most wonderful time.....what a beautiful sight walking in a winter wonderland..... OH I'm loving this!!!!!!!!!!!
The plans that we make walking in a winter wonderland...walking in a winter wonderlaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand
Sounds like another story reader. Piano softly in the background.
The gist of her story is that her son died in Dec. due to a carwreck. She threw out her Christmas tree, and all her Christmas stuff and shut down. She was bitter and angry. The next Christmas her son's friend told her that he would have wanted her to celebrate. So, she went to her closet to pull out her Christmas stuff, but realized that she had thrown it all away. All she could find was a little Nativity set and a plastic icicle. She went to her family Christmas celebrations, but was numb inside. On Christmas day she found herself alone and sad. Then she picked up the Nativity figures and looked at them. She began to realize that Mary had also lost her son. Did she also marvel in watching her son grow? Did she sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" to him? Did she know she would lose him at an early age also? Then she realized that millions of people the world over had suffered loss of loved ones as well and she was not alone. She cried for Mary and her loss of Jesus. She cried for those who had lost loved ones. Then she felt enveloped in Love and Peace, and realized that due to the faith of a mother, and her love of Jesus, the Lamb of God, that she would make it. This is a rough paraphrase from her story. I'm so proud of her for reading it as her loss happened in '03.
INTERMISSION
Church is about 75% full. He looks beyond gorgeous. Looks slender, had lost weight. No sign of tummy...Acoustics good but speakers are in the ceiling. They are videotaping it (don't know if she means the church or Clack goddesses)
Angela sang the solo and Clay had a huge smile on his face and never took his eyes off of her.
The first lady's story was about having surgery to lose weight and a funny bit about taking 30 minutes to eat one Frito!
Everyone talking is so excited about the show and how wonderful Clay sounds.
They all look very classy and very professional. No joking back and forth. He chuckled when the girl talked about the Frito. A girl in the 2nd row just came and got her camera so she could take better pictures. People are taking pictures and video. There will be Clack!!! The lights are blinking to get people back in their seats. Orchestra is very good and they are filing back in now.
All ages are there. She said he just strode out on that stage so straight and tall and confident. He has AIW hair!!! EEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Buses are parked right out in front of the door and have security tape roping them off. Clay did the M&G before the show. Jerome is all decked out and looks very handsome. Shawn is there, too. Clay has a standing mic and there has been some mic action. Readers have been in different places. Clay is like an angel soaring over them. He's on a platform above the piano level. The girls are down on the piano level. (two levels) Audience is responding really well. Security is in place, the camera man is back in place. Lights are going down now.
OH HOLY NIGHT
I know the angels are listening to Clay singing this one!!! It is powerful and beautiful beyond words!!!
Oh Holy Night was magificient. Now he's going into Hark the Herald Angels.
Wind said at intermission that it is a very respectful crowd a little reserved but she said it is hard to clap because he goes right into the next song.
Going right into O Come All Ye Faithful
Another reader telling about someone going to Afghanistan. Her story was about her son going overseas and how she left all the Christmas lights up all over the outside of the house until he came home. More to it than that, but it was a great story.
He always helped her with the christmas lights .. but was in Afghanistan ... so she left them up and turned them on every night until he made it home safe about 4 months after Christmas.
I'll Be Home For Christmas!!!! I know a lot of people got their wish with this song!!! Now into Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire.
The piano plays lightly in the background while the story is being read. Can't make out what this one is about.
Where Are You Christmas by Quianna. While Quiana was singing he dropped his hand and clapped his leg and was grinning from ear to ear.
MY GROWN UP CHRISTMAS LIST...
LOVELY.. WITH PIANO, SOFTLY, TENDERLY... AHHH!!
NOBODY sings this song like Clay! Such emotion, he has me in tears with this one. No more lives torn apart and wars would never start....amen.
DOING SOME INTROS NOW..
Clay is talking to the audience and they're laughing. Asking for a round of applause for the orchestra I think and the other performers, I'm sure. He's got the crowd cheering. Mentioned the stories. Not just an opportunity to do a show that we love to do every year but to be with you and share your stories [I'm paraphrasing, you know motor mouth!] He's read about 1,500 of the stories. Tell people around them how much you love them. You know what's coming next!!! Challenge for 2008...
Don't Save It All For Christmas Day!!!
MY GOSH - HE IS BELTING THIS SONG OUT....
WOWOWOWOWOW!!!!
The note went on forever and the crowd jumped to their feet!!!
HE JUST BROUGHT DOWN THE HOUSE......
Cheers and screams are just deafining!!! People are still on their feet. He's coming BACK!!!
ANOTHER SONG... ????
ALL IS WELL! YES!!!
Clay is in perfect voice tonight!!! Born is now Emmanuel....born is our Lord and Savior!!! The reason for the season.
Again, cheers and screams from the adoring crowd!!! Thank you so much Clay!!!
CERTER SAID HE HAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VOICE IN THE WHOLE WHOLE WORLD....
I AGREE!!
The readers did get to meet Clay. He had the stories typed up on card stock and he signed them. He told them each why he picked their stories. They didn't think that Clay was there for the rehearsal but she saw him. He had a shirt or something that said Canada on it. She just got word Sunday that she would be reading it. Clay told her that no matter how slow she talked it wouldn't be too slow. She talks FAST!!! Long coat is from JNT'05! His hair was feathered and he's got the old cheekbones back. Has lost weight.
It's being reported that LaruaQ and SLC got the whole concert! (Per CDD - on video) Let's hope that's true!!! I'm off to bed. See ya here tomorrow night!
Clay fans are donating books to Kalamazoo, MI schools in celebration of Clay's birthday. Clay will be in town at Miller Auditorium on his birthday, November 30. Details are up at the Kalamazoo Communities in Schools Foundation website -
Books to honor Clay Aiken's Birthday
Clay Aiken, the runner-up for the 2003 American Idol, is coming to Miller Auditorium to present a Clay Aiken Christmas with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. The concert is scheduled for Friday, November 30 – Clay Aiken’s 29th birthday.
To honor his birthday, fans are donating children’s books to Kalamazoo Communities In Schools. This gift combines Clay’s commitment to children with the resources of KCIS and its strong involvement in the Kalamazoo Public Schools. Clay graduated with a degree in special education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and has created the Bubel/Aiken Foundation –“which supports the integration of children with disabilities into the life environment of their non-disabled peers.”
For those interested in donating books to celebrate Clay Aiken’s birthday, please link to the Kalamazoo Public Library’s website at www.kpl.gov. Click on Services and then look at the books listed under Children’s or the books listed under Buzzworthy in the Teen section. Any of these books would be appropriate and be welcomed by the school children.
Books collected will help support KCIS’s literacy events in the schools, such as “Bagels and Books” and “Cider and Stories.” If you would like to learn more, please give us a call at (269) 337-1601.
OLMass brought another "Inspiraiken Christmas" to us today, this time to the tunes of "Mary, Did You Know":
Faye, Now, Did You Know?
Faye, now, did you know that your baby boy
will one day be on "Idol?"
Faye, now, did you know that your baby boy
will win but not the title?
Did you know, that your baby boy
will make the music new?
This child that you delivered will sing a song for you.
Faye, now, did you know that your baby boy
will grow into a fine man?
Faye, now, did you know that your baby boy
will help a child with his hand?
Did you know, that your baby boy, with every wink and nod,
When he sees a troubled baby, will do the work of G-d?
Faye, now, did you know?
When Clayton sings
His music brings
A joyful noise to all.
We all leap
Up to our feet
As we applaud the man.
Faye, now, did you know that your baby boy
will be a big sensation?
Faye, now, did you know that Claymania
will one day sweep the nation?
Did you know, that your baby boy
with heaven's perfect voice,
The sleeping child you're holding
is the people's choice?
This is a scan from Sunday's Kalamazoo Gazette ... wow! The full article can be read at the Kalamazoo Gazette website:These days, there's one pop performer trimming the proverbial tree with his own holiday song stylings: 2003 ``American Idol'' runner-up Clay Aiken.
Aiken, accompanied by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, will wrap his voice around seasonal tunes new and old when ``Christmas With Clay Aiken'' hits Miller Auditorium on Friday.
According to North Carolina native Aiken, there is a conscious attempt to deliver a fresh experience each tour.
``It differs a little bit every year,'' said Aiken, who called from his cell phone on his way to a doctor's appointment. ``For example, the first tour we used children from local orchestras, elementary schools, high schools,'' he said. ``We have a tradition of involving people from the communities we visit in the show. This year, we're allowing fans who've submitted their own Christmas memories through our Web site to tell those holiday stories along with the music. It's going to be kind of like a big Christmas card.''
To most of us, Clay Aiken is that nice young man who placed second in the 2003 season of ``American Idol.''
But it seems Aiken has a cult following among middle-aged women, creating an unexpected boon for Miller Auditorium and the Kalamazoo Public Schools.
Aiken will be in town Friday for a holiday concert with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra at Miller Auditorium -- an event occurring on Aiken's 29th birthday.
To the delighted astonishment of Miller officials, they've sold tickets in 26 states for the concert, drawing hundreds of women from fan clubs with names such as Claynation and Claymates. About 50 Aiken fans were so determined to get front-and-center seats that they bought season subscriptions to Miller, costing those patrons an extra $100 each. (The fans donated tickets for the other events back to Miller, which is distributing them to area service clubs.)
American Idol heartthrob Clay Aiken will perform at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepise Dec. 8, with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic. Reserved seating tickets cost $56.50 for gold circle admission, $47 and $41.
Clay Aiken
Rendezvous: 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan; $68-$83; 312-559-1212, ticketmaster.com
Pulse: You know you are the stuff when a whole nation lends its support before you even have a hit. Aiken, the co-"American Idol" winner with Ruben Studdard, has a consortium of young and old voting him to stardom.
If you check any Clay Aiken message board, you know there is an excitement brewing.
Everyone is counting the days until Monday, the 26th. the first day of Clay's Christmas tour for 2007.
According to a thread at The Clayboard, Clay was seen in Wichita and a fan sat by Angela on the airplane. Here are those reports:
From Marilyn at the CV
Talking to KSChristian4Clay and she iand Puddinsjoy are in Wichita. She was just at the church and someone dropped off Clay, Jerome and Mary. Clay was wearing jeans, a primary color striped shirt and his bucket hat. Meesa said he looked really skinny.
Also from happyclayday at the CV :
clayperfect just called me from work. A friend of hers going to Wichita for the concert was on a flight today and sat with Angela. She said Angela is very excited. Angela told her that Clay is happy and excited and she also said to bring plenty of kleenex - they will be needed for these stories.
More news posted by Hcorbett10 at The Clayboard:I have a bit of 'soft news' about the songs-in-the-works to share w/ you all that may help put a bit more excitement into your evening....if you are already excited enough. Jesse has been kept busy since the SRHP tour by Clay. He has 6 songs he has to orchestrate by the end of November for Clay. Angela, Quiana are both getting a song, & Clay is adding 2 songs. Jesse could not tell me off the top of his head what those songs are, but did say (after a bit of thinking) that these are new material that wasn't in the Xmas tours before, mostly standards. Plus, there will be medleys. Clay sure do love them medleys.
There will be 2 buses. The dogs are coming on tour - so the group will be split btwn the 2 buses.
More from CH:
We actually saw he and Jerome walking out of his hotel to the bus (we're staying at the same place), which then drove to the church and we assume dropped them off there. We did see Mary sitting out front of the church, but didn't see Clay. We went to supper and on our way back to the hotel a couple hours later, noticed that the bus was still parked at the church's main entrance, so wonder if they might have attended evening services, as well as rehearsing some. Wearing bucket hat and horizontal, inch-wide-striped, primary-colored shirt I haven't seen before (very tight-fitting), faded blue jeans & sneaks. What little we saw looked very good! It was great to see him, if only a glimpse! He was slim, but in a very good way *g*.
From SmartyPantsSuz at CV via lindylo at CH:
When we got back from church today, both busses were in our parking lot. I've never stayed in his hotel before so I was a wee bit excited, however, shortly after we got there, one of the busses pulled up by the other one. Clay got off one bus and walked to the other one. He had on jeans and a hoodie under a jacket. No bucket hat at this point. The hair didn't look too long--a liitle longer than the collar, but did look lighter than it did in Vegas. That was across the parking lot, though, so I could be wrong. He came back to his bus and it drove across the street to another hotel. So close, and yet so far! ... we walked back toward the hotel. As we approached, we saw Clay's bus drive up. We didn't want to intrude, so we circled the field in front of the hotel and came back around. We saw Jerome and someone get out of the bus and take the dogs over to the field. I couldn't tell who it was, but as we got closer (not really close) Jerome and the person started walking to the side of the building where it was lighter. At that point I could tell it was Clay. He still had the stripped top and bucket hat on. We gave them ample time to get to the side of the building without getting too close, but as we passed the bus, Jamie walked in front of us and into the hotel. So - Clay is safely tucked away for the night, resting up for the start of the tour tomorrow. The bus is back in our parking lot...
Clay's Christmas In The Heartland Tour begins on Monday, November 26. Of course we are all looking forward to either being there in person or seeing the clack that comes from all the concerts.
But before that show, let's remember back to Clay's second Joyful Noise Tour. The year was 2005, and the tour was going to include not just Christmas songs but also a Christmas play that Clay himself had written. I think by the time the first performance was over, we had all fallen in love with the play as well as the message the play conveyed..a widow who lived alone had lost the spirit of Christmas and a young boy helped bring the spirit of giving and love that goes with Christmas back into her home. Clay's songs told the story right along with the script. The message was beautiful, touching, and applicable for pretty much all of us.
To help remind us of Christmas 2005, here are some pictures from the tour. Maybe it will inspire you to reach out and make a difference in someone's life this Christmas. And remember...don't save it all for Christmas day!
With the Christmas tour starting tomorrow, a number of media outlets are running concert preview articles. Don't forget, all the latest tour news, recaps, photos and more will be posted on our Christmas tour blog.
"All is well," he says by telephone from somewhere in Los Angeles. "Before I start a tour, I like to make sure everything is working."
It's not a bad idea, considering how busy the 2003 "American Idol" runner-up has been lately.
Aiken recently appeared on the Fox game show "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" He taped the "Capitol One Holiday Celebration on Ice" with Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen (which will air Christmas Day on NBC). And he will make his Broadway debut Jan. 18 in Monty Python's "Spamalot."
Aiken says that part of the reason he took on the role was because he was already planning to be in New York working on his new, yet-to-be-titled CD.
"There's really not much to tell," he says of the project. "We just started working on it. We're finding songs for the new album right now and we just hired a producer."
In the meantime, Aiken has plenty of projects to keep his obsessive fans -- known as Claymates -- buzzing.
One of the reasons Aiken says he continues to do an annual holiday tour is to celebrate those who support him -- even if their loyalty is, at times, baffling even to him.
"If I knew (what it was), I'd be making a serum," Aiken says, laughing. "They are a really close-knit group. I think they came together because they were fans of the show or the music or whatever, but they stayed together, not because of me, but because of themselves. ... (The tour) has become our own Christmas tradition."
In the past five years, he has released four albums and is embarking on his eighth tour, which makes a stop at the F. M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre at 7 p.m. Dec. 4. Last year, his appearance at the venue was sold out.
His day job is to sell as many albums as possible – and he has sold millions – but he doesn’t stop there. He is a philanthropist who has raised millions of dollars for various causes, begun the Bubel/Aiken Foundation and traveled with UNICEF.
“I could go out and just sing,” he said, adding, volunteering “is what I do with my downtime. … When you go out there (on stage), there’s only so much of that you can take with you.”
But what he gives to his fans, affectionately called “Claymates,” is so much more. Aiken went through life as an underdog, a nerdy guy with a charisma hidden behind his glasses. He swapped those for contacts and let the “American Idol” producers change his hair.
These days, there's one pop performer trimming the proverbial tree with his own holiday song stylings: 2003 ``American Idol'' runner-up Clay Aiken.
Aiken, accompanied by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, will wrap his voice around seasonal tunes new and old when ``Christmas With Clay Aiken'' hits Miller Auditorium on Friday.
``It differs a little bit every year,'' said Aiken, who called from his cell phone on his way to a doctor's appointment. ``For example, the first tour we used children from local orchestras, elementary schools, high schools,'' he said. ``We have a tradition of involving people from the communities we visit in the show. This year, we're allowing fans who've submitted their own Christmas memories through our Web site to tell those holiday stories along with the music. It's going to be kind of like a big Christmas card.''
Aiken's ``Merry Christmas With Love,'' a mix of classics and originals, debuted atop Billboard Magazine's Holiday Album Chart when it was released three years ago. In fact, the album enjoyed the biggest debut week sales for a Christmas album since SoundScan began tabulating sales in 1991. In addition, it debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 -- one of the highest-ever debuts for a holiday album on the pop music charts.
``I hadn't planned to do one (a Christmas album) so early to start with. I wanted to get out two pop albums first,'' he said. ``After doing it, the Christmas touring has easily become one of my favorite times of the year.
1 "Merry Christmas With Love" - Clay Aiken. North Carolina's "American Idol" superstar dishes the holiday delights, including "O Holy Night" and "Winter Wonderland."
Did you know: His concert this past summer at Biltmore Estate was a quick sell-out, pulling more than 3,000 fans.
MASON CITY — “Wrapping for Inclusion,” a national fund-raiser for The Bubel/Aiken Foundation (TBAF), will be held at Southbridge Mall this holiday season.
Wrapping for Inclusion is an awareness campaign in which volunteers wrap gifts in exchange for donations at local businesses.
The goal nationwide is to raise $100,000 to pay for 10 Let’s All Play camps.
The group will be at the mall Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 and 24.
Volunteers are still needed and can contact Joy Brown at 641-423-3872.
TBAF donations are used to bridge the gap between people with disabilities and the world around them, said its Web site, http://bubelaiken.org/.
The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, established in 2003, was co-founded by Diane Bubel and “American Idol” runner-up Clay Aiken, to benefit children with developmental disabilities. Bubel’s son Mike is autistic.
Sparks comes to her maiden recording as perhaps the only top idol winner unarmed by a signature style. Past winners - or near winners - have each had a particular forte, or at least an allegiance to a style, that gave them something akin to character. See: Kelly Clarkson's faux rock, Taylor Hicks' pseudo-soul, Bo Bice's Hollywood Southern rock, Fantasia's backwoods R&B, Carrie Underwood's big-voiced country and Clay Aiken's Broadway schmaltz.
Lisa Richardson of Los Gatos, who laid out a blue tarp to display holiday garlands, a Clay Aiken CD and a book on salad making, said she has driven her family's unwanted castoffs to the flea market every few months for five years. While she could more easily sell her schlock on e-Bay, she said she would miss the cycle-of life philosophy that defines the flea market.
Nov. 30: Actor Efrem Zimbalist Jr. is 90. Actor Robert Guillaume is 80. TV personality and producer Dick Clark is 78. Director Ridley Scott is 70. Singer-actor Mandy Patinkin is 55. Singer Billy Idol is 52. Actor-director Ben Stiller is 42. Singer Clay Aiken is 29.
