Taylor Hicks

Age: 29
Birthday: October 7, 1976
Birthplace/Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama
Pre-Idol Occupation: Musician/songwriter
Musical Style: Blues, soul, rock
Favorite Female Singer: Cyndi Lauper
Sounds like: Michael McDonald
Fan Club: The Soul Patrol
Audition City: Las Vegas
Contestant #: 74094

Taylor's journey has been incredible. He was originally going to audition in Memphis, but the arrival of Hurricane Katrina cancelled that stop on the tryout tour. Taking a chance, he took the last taxi out of New Orleans the night the hurricane hit and flew to Las Vegas using a travel voucher from his airline, auditioning for AI5 there. Paula and Randy liked him, but Simon wasn't too thrilled. Taylor passed the audition anyway.

The rest of the way, he performed these songs:

Men's Semi 1: Levon
Men's Semi 2: Easy
Men's Semi 3: Taking It To The Streets

Top 12: Living For The City
Top 11: Not Fade Away
Top 10: Trouble
Top 9: Take Me Home, Country Roads
Top 8: Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Top 7: You Send Me
Top 6: Just Once
Top 5: Play That Funky Music, Something
Top 4: Jailhouse Rock, In The Ghetto
Top 3: Dancing In The Dark, You Are So Beautiful, Try A Little Tenderness
Finals: Living For The City, Levon, Do I Make You Proud

On the American Idol CD, he performs Taking It To The Streets

Dear Taylor,

I want to just tell you about my Mum (Pip). She is 77 years old and has had a very tough life. She has followed and supported you all the way through American Idol. She absolutely adores you. She is here is the US from England staying with me. We are coming to see you at the American Idol concert on the 25th of July in Bridgeport , Connecticutt, although she dosen't know that yet - I am surprising her. She hasn't been too well on her visit this time and I am doubtful that she will be able to travel to the US anymore as she is becoming unable to walk as she has had 2 knee replacements and 1 hip replacement over the last few years. I don't know if this is possible but I wanted to know if there was any way you could either mention her or whether it would be possible to meet you. It wouldn't make her day, or her week, or her year but it would make her LIFE!! We are sitting in Section 1, eight rows from the front.
I am sure you must get requests like this all the time but I thought that I would try as I know that it would be the most exciting thing that has happened to her in her whole life.

Thank you for your consideration.

We love you

Pat Millman