Print-friendly Version
'American Idol' Taylor Hicks signs record deal
Taylor Hicks , who last week became the latest winner of Fox-TV's "American Idol" talent competition, has signed a recording contract with "Idol" creator Simon Fuller's 19 Recordings Limited and Arista Records.
The 29-year-old Alabama native won't dish his debut album until "later this year," according to a press release, but he plans to tide over fans with the June 13 commercial release of his first single, "Do I Make You Proud," which he sang during the final two episodes of this season's "American Idol."
"Do I Make You Proud" will be available at retail outlets and via digital-music services, according to J Records. The song's B-side will be Hicks' rendition of the Doobie Brothers classic "Takin' It to the Streets," which also appears on the recently released "American Idol Season 5 Encores" album.
Hicks was crowned the newest "American Idol" last Wednesday (5/24) after beating out fellow contestant Katharine McPhee. Following the pair's final face-off last Tuesday (5/23), viewers cast more than 63 million votes to determine the winner.
Previous "Idol" winners and runners up have sold a combined total of 33 million records, according to a press release. That figure includes music from Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Ruben Studdard and Bo Bice. Clarkson, who was the first-ever "Idol" winner, bears the additional distinction of winning two Grammy awards earlier this year.
Hicks, McPhee and this year's other Top 10 finalists will join forces for a 60-date summer tour that gets underway July 5.
