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.
Brief Clay mention at TVGuide.com
THE MUPPETS GET REAL: ABC has ordered script outlines for America's Next Muppet, a reality-TV parody in which viewers get the chance to pick Kermit and Miss Piggy's next colleague, Variety reports. The series would borrow from such shows as American Idol and America's Next Top Model as judges consider several new characters to become a Muppet star. I already have Clay Aiken in the office pool.
Editor's note: The Independent Tour kicked off in Feb. 2004 at the Charlotte Coliseum. The venue is now closing.
Abridged version appears below.
It's closing time for Charlotte Coliseum
TOM SORENSEN
IN MY OPINION
He was here when the Charlotte Hornets came and left and when the Charlotte Bobcats arrived. He was here for Frank Sinatra, and Frank Brickowski, for MC Hammer and Clay Aiken, for Mother Teresa and George Shinn.
Clay said The Insider's slogan on yesterday's edition of the show. The slogan is "Get Ready", so basically Clay on for a few seconds and said "Get Ready".
RealNetwork's PR about its new music service praises Clay as a 'platimum superstar".
RealNetworks to Webcast Special Santana Concert, Live from NYC, on November
1st, Same Day New Album, All That I Am, Hits Stores
Audio Selections From Live Concert to Benefit Santana's Milagro Foundation
NEW YORK, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RealNetworks(R) (Nasdaq: RNWK)
and Arista Records today announced they are teaming up to give rock fans
worldwide exclusive pre-release access starting this week to Carlos Santana's
hotly anticipated new album, All That I Am, and an opportunity to see a
webcast of a live performance by Santana and special guests at New York City's
famed Hammerstein Ballroom on Tuesday, November 1st.
About Arista Records/RCA Music Group:
The RCA Music Group, which includes J Records, RCA Records and Arista
Records, is a BMG-owned label group. The J Records roster is home to platinum
superstars Alicia Keys, Rod Stewart, Annie Lennox, Luther Vandross, Ruben
Studdard, Maroon5, Gavin DeGraw, Cassidy and Mario among others. RCA Records
is home to superstar artists Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews Band, Foo
Fighters, The Strokes, Velvet Revolver, Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson, Heather
Headley and more. The Arista Records family includes all-time superstars Sarah
McLachlan, Santana, Dido, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Babyface and Kenny
G.
Today's Christian magazine has asked Clay's Daily Double to spread word about the November/December 2005 issue of their magazine which will have a feature article about Clay. Clay is also going to be looking hawt on the cover (left). Limited quantities are being reserved for Clayfans, we are told and can be obtained by e-mailing tceditor@Todays-Christian.com.
Update: Cover added, order online here.
When Clay's Merry Christmas With Love disk is #614 at Amazon.com! Congrats Clay!
New items have been added since we last told you about the 2005 Bubel Aiken Foundation auction on Saturday. New items include:
And many more! Click here to see the auction.
Those of you signed up with the Bubel Aiken Foundation should have received this email from the foundation regarding the 2nd Annual Wrapping For Inclusion project.
The Bubel/Aiken Foundation is proud to announce a holiday awareness campaign and fundraiser, Wrapping for Inclusion. From November 20-December 24, volunteers of The Bubel/Aiken Foundation will set up gift-wrapping booths at stores and malls across the country and wrap gifts in exchange for donations. The donations will support the mission statement of the foundation, serving the vision of inclusion opportunities for children of all abilities.
Monies raised will help fund projects of The Bubel/Aiken Foundation including its YMCA initiative. The past two summers, camps for children with and without disabilities, were instituted by the Foundation in collaboration with YMCAs in Kansas City, Missouri and in the North Carolina cities of Concord and Raleigh.
We have secured locations to wrap in many states and cities across the country and we are seeking more wrappers! We are looking for volunteers of all ages and abilities. You can give as much or as little time as you would like! Everyone is welcome and encouraged to participate in any way possible!
Why not:
-Get a team of teachers, students, and parents together and make it a community service project.
-Post a notice in your church newsletter or bulletin and form a team to give back for the holiday season.
-Volunteer for a day with your family to celebrate the spirit of giving.
-Gather a group of students from your school and pair with students from a special needs school to promote inclusion and make some new friends.
-Ask charitable organizations in your community to make a donation of their time and help wrap for an evening.
-Have a friendly competition between two groups, grades, classes, organizations, etc. and see who can log the most wrapping hours.
-Ask your local Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop to get involved.
-Come one, come all and join in the fun! Every person no matter what your age or ability is encouraged to be a part of this great event! You decide how much time you can give and when you would like to wrap.
We are also seeking donations of wrapping supplies: seasonal or plain-colored wrapping paper, bows, ribbons, tape, scissors or monetary donations to purchase these supplies.
To volunteer for this great project, to donate supplies, or for more information, please e-mail Trudy Littleton, at tlittleton@kc.rr.com. For additional foundation information, email contactus@thebubelaikenfoundation.org.
About the Bubel-Aiken Foundation
The Bubel/Aiken Foundation provides services and financial assistance to promote the full integration of children with disabilities into the life environment of those without. The Foundation strives to create awareness about the diversity of individuals with disabilities and the possibilities that inclusion can bring. To learn more about The Bubel/Aiken Foundation or ways to get involved visit their Web site at www.bubelaikenfoundation.org.
We reported last week about the upcoming interview with KTLA TV Los Angeles (also available to some satellite subscribers in the US & Canada). We now know that the interview will occur at 8:40 AM PDT this Thursday Oct., 27.
Update from Clayarmour of the CH:
My husband who works for an NBC O&O says that the KTLA show (WB network) is
the highest rated morning show in the country
Note: "O&O" means an
NBC "owned and operated" station - one of NBC's own stations. I believe that Sam
Ruben's entertainment interviews may be syndicated to some stations around the
country, but I am not sure (has anyone else seen them outside of L.A.?). If he
interviews Clay in a separate segment, that could be the case. However, if Clay
comes into the studio and sits at the news desk with the other anchors (as the
guests sometimes do), then that segment would not be syndicated. But those
segments are usually a lot more fun!
I also understand from some of the
Canadians that some of the superstation packages get KTLA out of Los Angeles, so
Canadians, be sure to check!
They just announced on KTLA-TV, CHANNEL 5 in Los Angeles that Clay will be there
next week for an interview (note: found out it's Thursday, October
27th). This is Channel 5, the morning show from 7 to 9 a.m. Sam Ruben
is the entertainment reporter.
That name "Clay Aiken" just jumped off
the screen when Sam announced it. Sam's a fun interviewer and a nice guy. This
is an independent station, not a network one.
I found out the exact date
by calling over to KTLA. I barely got out the question before she answered me,
so I said, "I guess you've had calls?" and she laughed and said, "Yes. Have a
great day." She definitely wanted to get off the phone. Soon they'll have an
answering machine set up to take all calls.
We have some new pictures from last month's Emmy awards, where Clay was a celebrity correspondent for the TV show, The Insider. Like the socks? Click to enlarge. HQ's are available here. 
An interesting article from Ominbus Online about music preferences.
Your music preference does not make you better than me
By Jesica Jacobs
Published: Friday, October 21, 2005
Like most things, music is subjective. We all like different things. Knowing this, I have come to the realization that many people, including myself, need to shut up and be a little more understanding. What pleases my ear may damage yours. What you find enjoyable may make me want to hurl. But we need to understand the important thing: if the music inspires then it is doing its job. It is not so difficult to say, "not my style but I don't begrudge you the right to indulge."
I have a beautiful and wonderful friend who loves Clay Aiken. Often I have snubbed my nose at such a prospect, but he inspires her and I need to appreciate and be thankful for this. I have a couple very close friends that are addicted to the country music. Whatever. It is fine if it makes them want to be a better person.
Being a musician myself, I want the music I choose to make me want to make music of my own. I know you do not know who Architecture in Helsinki is and I understand that you probably do not care about The Decemberists, The Avalanches, or Aloha, but respect that I do.
If your music does not inspire you or make you feel things you rarely feel, I suggest trying some new music. Other than that, I think you and I both need to keep our mouths shut about what other people listen to. Not to say that when you find a band or artist that really makes you wild you should not share them, just do not look down on someone for what they already enjoy.
So, no more saying "if you do not own and love (insert album name here) then you are not a true musician and you do not know what music is." It does not mean that you have to like listening to Clay, just shut up when someone else appreciates him. And do not worry, I will take my own advice.
Clay will be appearing on the Mannheim Steamroller's 12 Christmas special. The Mannheim Steamrollers have been doing Christmas tours and specials for over 30 years. We're not sure whether this is a radio or TV broadcast, but stay tuned to CDD for more details as they become available.
Other artists slated to appear on the special are Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Barbara Streisand, Faith Hill, Josh Groban and fellow Idol, Kelly Clarkson.
From the CD's JesBen
For those of you that are familiar with holiday music, Mannheim Steamroller is one of the most well known holiday acts around the world. They are doing a 12 hour holiday show on Christmas Day which, in addition to Mariah, Clay, R. Kelly, Josh Groban, and Celine, will also feature Kelly!
A new article by Dianne Austin was published today by our affiliate, ClayReport. An abridged version appears below. To read the full article, click on the article title.
An Evening with Clay's Friends
And then there was Nick Leisey. I asked him where Clay was and he said. "Oh, he's home." I assumed that "home" was the newest L.A. quarters Clay must have acquired while spending so much time here lately.
"But look around at this place and the crowd", I said. "Do you really think he'd get mobbed here? He could pull his hat way down, wear the clothes he usually wears, and if he stood over there by the wall, don't you think he could get away with it?" I admit, I was pressing him about this.
"It isn't that," he said. "He just doesn't like it--he rather stay in."
The 2005 eBay auction for the Bubel Aiken Foundation starts today! 
Among the items up on the auction:
For a complete listing of items in the auction (more being put up, we are told), click here.
More info was posted at the foundation's website:October 21, 2005
eBay Auction to Benefit The Bubel/Aiken Foundation
An eBay auction to benefit the ongoing work of the Bubel/Aiken Foundation will commence on October 22, 2005. Each item will be listed for a 10 day auction period. Additional items will be added during the following 2 days. Some of the items to be auctioned will include:
*Sheet music for The Way, Invisible and Bridge Over Troubled Water, autographed by Clay Aiken
*The #8 football jersey (and football) worn by Clay Aiken on "60 Seconds with Jimmy Kimmel on Monday Night Football", autographed by Clay.
*Actual posters used during the filming of the "Kenny" episode of Scrubs, autographed by Clay Aiken.
*Autographed copies of "Merry Christmas With Love", Clay Aiken
These are just a few of the items to be listed. To view these items once the auction has begun, log onto eBay.com and type Clay Aiken BAF Fundraiser in the search line. 100% of the proceeds will go to the work of TBAF, benefiting those with special needs and their typical peers.
The CB's Khrystah found this new pic from last year's MCWL album photoshoot.
Frances Wilson, of the Bubel Aiken Foundation has said Clay and the foundation has been honoured with a 2005 Make A Wish Foundation Award! Congrats Clay and the BAF!
From the BAF's Frances Wilson:
I want to share some wonderful news with you. Clay recently received a
beautiful award from the Make A Wish Foundation. It reads:
Thank you for
helping to "Share the Power of a Wish."
Engraving on plaque:
Make A
Wish Foundation
2005 Chris Greicius Award
Favorite Wish Maker
Presented with Sincere Appreciation to
Clay Aiken
Please
feel free to post this message on other Clay friendly boards.
Thanks
Frances Wilson
The Chris Greicius Award is named for the first child who inspired the Make-A-Wish program. Greicuis wanted to be a state trooper, so just before he died in 1985 some people made that happen for him for one day. After he was gone, they decided there must be other children with other wishes that could be granted.
Every year the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America recognizes the entertainment industry for its dedication to wish granting with the Chris Greicius Award. Chris' wish to be a police officer was fulfilled in 1980, and inspired the volunteers who granted this wish to form the Make-A-Wish Foundation later that year. This year, we are proud to announce the following members of the entertainment industry as the 2004 Chris Greicius Award winners: the cast from the WB television show Charmed, country music legend Garth Brooks and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Congratulations!
From the CB's ellenpoppy:
[The morning show anchors] just announced on KTLA in Los Angeles that Clay will be there next week for an interview!!!
No other details.
From the CB:
I didn't see any mention of this on the board. Me, My sister and her husband attended a Neil Sedaka show at Casino Rama in Orillia, Canada last night. He was very good and such a nice man. He sang all his hits including Solataire and mentioned that a young singer Clay Aiken had the biggest hit of 2004 with his song. Many people in the audience clapped when Clay's name was mentioned, including us of course!
