Taylor Hicks [ tickets ] celebrated his birthday yesterday (10/7) by announcing a new deal with the independent artist services company Artist To Market to release his new album, due in stores Feb. 10. Under the new deal, the Season 5 "American Idol" winner will maintain complete control of direction and ownership of his master recordings on his solely owned and operated Modern Whomp Records label, according to a press release.

Hicks--who, since his win, has performed with artists including Willie Nelson, Widespread Panic, The Allman Brothers and Jackson Browne--appeared on Broadway this summer in "Grease." Beginning Dec. 1, he will perform in a touring production of the musical.

In August, Hicks released a reissue compilation of his two independent albums. He also is planning the release of "Whomp at the Warfield," a live DVD recorded at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco.

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