Hi everyone! It has been a long time since I was able to get a newsletter out to you. My apologies to all of you. The reasons why are to many to list.
Now as I try to catch you up on things. I do hope you will take some time to enjoy the members and information at The Real Deal Forum.
First up Taylor news:
The Truth about Early Works!
This post came from Taylor's HQ... From Taylor's "People"
"Early Works" will be exclusively distributed through Target! It will be released on August 12, 2008.
UPDATES ON THE FORUM SITES
One of the reasons this newsletter is so late is because I wanted To do some updates before I posted it. With that said. The Taylor Hicks Times has a brand new look and feel. Easier to access your favorite sites with just a click. I have added many sites that were not there before. As well as an email link for you to get in touch with me if you would like a site added.
Go To http://thetaylorhickstimes.org
I have also added a new wallpaper to my list. This one is to honor Taylor's new CD. I hope you enjoy it.
http://therealdealforum.blogspot.com/
Now in closeing I would like you to enjoy this piece written by our own ConcertCris!
Rock 'N' Roll Revivals – Reality Rocks
Taking a cue from Lyndsey Parker of Yahoo's Reality T.V. I decided to give my thoughts on how reality television does indeed revive careers of former singing artists. We have seen in the last few years how reality television especially from the show American Idol has launched singing careers. Just ask Taylor Hicks, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken and so many others that have obtain success via this show.
But reality television may be an even better re-launching pad for past artists who have lost their appeal for the fickle fans. A good saying for this could be "Old musicians never die, they just star on reality shows". To name a few whose careers have been re-launched by reality television are Gene Simmons (Kiss) whose shows include "Family Jewels", "Rock School" and "Celebrity Apprentice". Dee Snider of Twisted Sister fame also appeared in reality shows like "Gone Country", "Rock the Cradle" and "Celebrity Duets". Another is in the form of Tommy Lee of Motley Crue fame who joined with Jason Newsted (Metallica) and Gilby Clarke (Guns N Roses) to create a new band on the show "Rockstar:Supernova". Tommy also had a show entitled "Tommy Lee Goes To College".
In keeping with Lyndsey's idea I will now quote her top 10 of famous re-launchings.
Paula Abdul comes in at number 1. In the 1980's she rose from being a cheerleader of the L. A. Lakers to sell 53 million records worldwide during her singing days in the late 1980's and early 1990's. Her 1988 album "Forever Your Girl" spent 10 weeks at 1 on the charts. She has also choreographed several videos for other artists like Janet Jackson. One of her famous choreographed moments came from the movie "Big" in which Tom Hanks does a dance on a large keyboard. Her television credits for choreography include The Tracy Ullman Show, the American Music Awards and also The Academy Awards. She is now single but was once married to Emilio Estevez for two years. Now known as the gentler and sometime wacky judge for the hit show American Idol, she has once again attained grand prominence in the public's eye. Recently she re-entered the singing world with her latest song "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" which can be heard on the Randy Jackson Music Club, Vol. 1 cd.
Coming in at number 2 is Flavor Flav, a rapper from the group Public Enemy. Still performing since his debut album of Public Enemy 1 in 1984, he still has time for shows like The Surreal Life, Strange Love and Flavor of Love. Some of these shows are quite popular in today's reality television.
Ozzy Osbourne is indeed a force in music even today. Being the lead singer of the group known as Black Sabbath who had several big albums beginning in the 1970's and are considered the first ever heavy metal band. Who could ever forget their single "Paranoid"? One of his financial enterprises which has garnered over $100 million in the U.S. is Ozzfest which is basically a concert to promote other bands with Linkin Park and System of The Down as two among many who have performed at this event. Another huge venture was his reality show entitled "The Osbournes" which ran from 2002 to 2005 on MTV. This Emmy winning show was a huge hit. His wife Sharon now is a judge on the show "America's Got Talent". Ozzy, himself is still making some music however is rarely seen as he suffers from Parkin Syndrome which is a genetic condition much like Parkinson's Disease. He would have been my 2 success story if I had created this list.
Number 4 are the Simpson girls, Jessica and Ashlee. Jessica became popular as a singer with her double Platinum album "Sweet Kisses". However many remember her goofy persona on the 2003-2005 MTV reality show "The Newlyweds" who she co-starred with her then husband Nick Lachey from 98 Degrees fame. They divorced in 2005 shortly after the show ended. Jessica is currently releasing a country album and is talked about a lot more for her love interests than anything else in today's news. Her sister Ashlee appeared on the "Newlyweds" show several times and even had a reality show herself showing how to learn to sing. She had much success in 2004 with her triple Platinum album entitled "Autobiography". Now married to Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz, she is still recording today and has 3 albums under her belt which have had different measures of success.
A popular lead singer in the group Poison, Bret Michaels still plays with the band today since coming into the music scene in 1983. One of their biggest hits was from the 1988 album "Open Up and Say ….Ahh". It was entitled "Every Rose Has a Thorn". Bret has been a judge on the show Nashville Star but is probably better know for his reality series "Rock of Love". So far they have had two seasons however there is talk of a season 3 coming up.
Many forget that Bobby Brown was a huge success as a singer with his song "My Prerogative" released in 1988. He has been a huge media freak for his often publicized marriage woes with Whitney Houston and his many run-ins with the law involving his drug and alcohol use. He has appeared on the reality shows "Being Bobby Brown", "Gone Country" and will soon be appearing with Carnie Wilson and Maureen McCormick in the new reality show entitled "Outsider's Inn".
Our next reality star is Carnie Wilson of Wilson Phillips fame. This group had a huge hit in 1990 with the song "Hold On". She is the daughter of Brian Wilson, the songwriter and singer of the group The Beach Boys who have also had quite a bit of success. Carnie has appeared on the reality shows "Celebrity Fit Club" and "Gone Country". I personally like her a lot as a singer. Her next venture is the "Outsider's Inn" as mentioned above and a possible country album.
Baritone Joey Fatone is becoming quite well-known for his hosting duties lately. Once part of the popular singing group 'N Sync who had massive success from 1995 to 2002, he now hosts many shows which include "The Singing Bee", the recently debut show of "Celebrity Circus" and possibly a new reality show entitled "Scary Spice – The Singing Office" among others. He married his long-time girlfriend Kelly Baldwin in 2004 and they have a daughter named Briahna (her godfather is singing mate Lance Bass). He also appeared in Season 4's "Dancing With The Stars" and took 2nd place.
Jewel had a huge hit in 1996 entitled "Who Will Save Your Soul". She recorded other albums with less success but has recently released a country album called "Perfectly Clear" which debuted at 1 on the country charts and was 8 on the Top 200 Billboard charts. She has been a judge on the show Nashville Star and American Idol.
Our last top 10 entry is Sebastian Bach who came on the music scene with his group called Skid Row. Their 1989 album of the same name went 5x Platinum. He still appears today on gigs with this group. He did however appear on the reality show "Supergroup" which did not fare well mainly because of Sebastian's odd and conceited behavior.
In closing out this article you can see that reality television is here to stay for now and who knows maybe in the future we might see some of our idols taking advantage of this phenomenon. Wouldn't you just love to see our beloved Taylor on a weekly show?
By CC
Peace Out Tay fans!
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