AI2: Kimberley Locke's CD

[Gina1201]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Fox won't give an official reason why, but a source says acquiring the television rights to the song can be difficult or expensive. Another song that's banned is "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys (news). THANK GOD!! Too many mofos mess that song up!!!

HOLLA!!

Does anyone remeber the guy from last season named Edgar, I think that's his name? He didn't make it at one city so he went to another one and changed his hairstyle to look different. He was at the NY auditions for AI3.

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by Gina1201
HOLLA!!

Does anyone remeber the guy from last season named Edgar, I think that's his name? He didn't make it at one city so he went to another one and changed his hairstyle to look different. He was at the NY auditions for AI3.

EDGAR is like the jheri curl . . . just won't go away.

[CrimsonTide4]

'Idol' Finalist Locke Signs with Curb


By Fred Bronson

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - Kimberley Locke, who finished in third place behind Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken on the second season of "American Idol," has been signed to Curb Records, home of such acts as LeAnn Rimes (news) and Tim McGraw (news).


"I was pulling for her to win," Mike Curb, chairman of the Curb Group, told Billboard.com. "When she didn't, I thought she's the one I wish I had, then I didn't think any more about it."


When Curb learned through Bryan Stewart of his A&R department that Locke was available to sign, he flew to Memphis to see her in concert with the "American Idols Live" show and offered her a contract on the spot. The deal was finalized on Saturday.


"On 'American Idol' we watched her sing everything from Neil Sedaka (news)'s 'Where the Boys Are' to Billy Joel (news)'s "New York State of Mind" to 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' to 'Over the Rainbow,"' said Curb. "She put her own stamp on these classic songs. She's a true pop artist who can sing in all genres."



Locke, 25, will begin recording her debut album for Curb Monday in her hometown of Nashville. Her first meeting with Curb and Stewart was captured on video in Memphis and will be seen in a Fox TV special featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the "American Idols Live" tour. The special will be telecast on Sept. 24.



In other "American Idol" news, RCA Records has confirmed that "Invisible" will be the follow-up to Clay Aiken's platinum single, "This Is the Night" /"Bridge Over Troubled Water." There will be no commercial single, but a promo single is going to radio and the song will be included on Aiken's self-titled debut album, scheduled for release on Oct. 14.

[CrimsonTide4]

Entertainment - E! Online

"American Idol" Puts Stamp on Xmas
Mon Oct 13, 7:05 PM ET Add Entertainment - E! Online to My Yahoo!


By Lia Haberman

American Idol is dreaming of a white-hot Christmas.


• News: Simon Cowell gets dramatic
• News: American Idol dawg slims down
• News: Simon says yes to Idol



E! Online Photo



Fox has scheduled a one-hour holiday special of the amateur talent show during November sweeps to drum up ratings and leave Idol's imprint all over the festive season.


American Idol: Christmas Songs will air November 25, the sweep's next-to-last night and close to a month after the release of The Great Holiday Classics CD, which includes Ruben Studdard and Tamyra Gray's duet of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Clay Aiken's rendition of "The First Noel" and Justin Guarini singing "I'll Be Home for Christmas."


As for the TV special, it will feature past Idol champs Kelly Clarkson (news) and Studdard, along with runners-up Guarini and Aiken and other favorite contestants performing classic holiday tunes.


The pressure (and maybe the performances?) will be off this particular evening as judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul (news) have no plans to appear. Ditto host Ryan Seacrest.


Industry watchers assume Fox is trying to recapture the ratings glory of last May when Studdard and Aiken's highly anticipated faceoff helped the network finish first among 18 to 49 year olds in sweeps.


However, the Idol singers will meet with some tough musical competition that evening as veteran performers Shania Twain (news) and Justin Timberlake (news) perform on NBC.


Also going head to head this holiday season are Simon and Randy. The Idol judges both plan to release how-to-make-it-in-the-biz books within a month of each other.


While Simon's boffo book deal with Random House has already been widely reported, Randy's tome has just been announced by Hyperion.


The veteran record producer's literary effort, What's Up Dawg? How to Become a Recording Star, is scheduled to hit stores in January 2004. Simon's book, I Don't Mean to Be Rude, But..., drops a month earlier, on December 2.


Randy's book includes tips for making it big in the recording biz plus gives an insider's perspective on how to become a recording star "drawing on his decades of experience in the music industry."


Ditto for Simon, though stamped with his own "wicked and witty" brand of humor.


As such, Randy's thrown down the literary gauntlet in a statement released Monday. "Yo, Dawg, if you read one book about the long, hard journey to success in the music industry, this is the one to read. I'm going to keep it real about what it takes to make it in one of the toughest industries in the world."


No word on which way Paula plans to vote in this showdown.

[CrimsonTide4]

Nov. 11, 2003) “American Idol” Update: I love “American Idol” like Whitney Houston loves Bobby Brown. It’s more like an infatuation. My unwavering affection for the show made me curious about what some of my favorite “Idol” contestants were up to since competing on the Fox series. Here’s an update on those I could track down.
Trenyce: I had an in-depth conversation with this Memphis, Tenn.-based singer on the telephone last week, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I made no secrets that this was my favorite contestant during the second season of the reality competition, and after seeing her live on “American Idols Live!” I was even more impressed by her vocal prowess.

Trenyce is a southern belle who uses “ma’am” and “sir.” It’s no secret that she’s a bonafide talent. Even the legendary Clive Davis pulled her to the side backstage at one of the “Idol” tour dates and told her, “I haven’t seen anyone sing like you since Whitney Houston was young,” though the esteemed executive hasn’t signed her to either RCA or J Records as of yet.

Nonetheless, Trenyce is still working on new material and already recorded three original songs that she, herself, wrote. “I’ve been blessed to have some really wonderful people helping me like Fred Bronson of Billboard magazine and actress Sheryl Lee Ralph,” shared Trenyce. The singer recently performed Whitney’s “I Have Nothing” at Sheryl’s “Diva Simply Singing” benefit in Los Angeles, and Ralph also helped secure Trenyce’s audition for the lead role in Broadway’s “Aida.” The role is currently being played be Toni Braxton, who will be followed by Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, and then by none other than Trenyce. “The cast director told me that he hadn’t heard anyone sing the songs like I did since Heather Headley originated the role. I’m not sure when I start, but it all depends on if Michelle extends her contract in January or not,” she shared. Trenyce has been performing spot dates around the country with other “Idol” contestants. “I have dates booked throughout the rest of the year and basically they’ll carry me right up until I begin ‘Aida,’ she explained.

The down-to-earth darling was also quite frank about the Oct. 1999 felony theft charge that made tabloid headlines during the height of the “American Idol” finals. “I never really got a chance to talk about that,” said Trenyce. “I dealt with that. I never attempted to come across as perfect. We all have done stuff and regret it. I helped a friend, and I shouldn’t have. I got in trouble, and it came off my record. The stories were really negative and I blame the show -- they knew this going in -- for not allowing me to comment on it. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I paid for that. I was only concerned with how people back home were treating my family. I was concerned with how they were dealing with having to see and read this.”

Despite it all, Trenyce has moved on and is anticipating a great career in music. Right now, she’s looking for a solid music industry manager (someone tell Benny Medina) and hopes to ink a record deal early next year. “Before “American Idol” I was frustrated and struggling,” admitted Trenyce. “Now I am doing what I love to do.”

On a side note, Trenyce is dating a very pleasant Memphis attorney named Donald. I also spoke on the phone with Donald, who laughed when he realized I was the same person who was on the Doug Banks Morning Show talking about how beautiful Trenyce was and begging anyone in Memphis who knew her to hook me up with a date. If you’d like to contact Trenyce, you can e-mail her directly at Trenyce1@aol.com or visit her online at www.idolonfox.com/contestants/trenyce.htm.

Ruben Studdard: Ruben may be this season’s “American Idol,” but we all see that Clay Aiken is getting all of the attention. (I don’t recall Justin Guarini’s album coming out before Kelly Clarkson’s. But I digress.) According to the label, Ruben’s album “Soulful” will drop next year and will feature production from R. Kelly, Missy Elliott and other top producers. The album will also feature a duet with label mate Tamyra Gray, and a collaboration with rapper Fat Joe. For more information on Ruben, go to www.jrecords.com/Ruben-Studdard/.

Kimberly Locke: The full-figured contestant, who ended up being the second runner up, has inked a deal with Nashville, Tenn.-based Curb Records. The label is known for its country acts like Wynonna Judd and Leann Rimes, but Kimberly, who is from Nashville, will definitely be releasing an R&B/pop record. For more information on Kimberly, go to www.Curb.com.

Corey Clark: Corey was the contestant disqualified from the show when producers claimed they didn’t know he was facing assault charges in Kansas. Corey was eventually cleared of the charges, but that was after the show made him leave. Even so, Corey is now working on new music. “I’ve recorded about 17 songs. My sound is a blend of R&B, alternative and hip-hop,” he said by phone from a studio in California. Though he hasn’t landed a record deal yet, Corey hopes to score one soon. The singer has been performing several live shows and actually has one coming up in Oklahoma City, Okla. with Chingy. You can find more information on Corey at www.CoreyClarkOnline.com.

Tamyra Gray: Season one contestant Tamyra was a favorite of mine as well. There were rumors that J Records had dropped her, but the label assures me that’s not true. “She’s still recording and we’re hoping to put her album out early next year,” said a label rep. Tamyra has been acting pretty regularly. She had a recurring role on “Boston Public” last season and recently guest-starred on UPN’s “Half & Half” this season. Tamyra is also featured on “American Idol” Kelly Clarkson’s CD, “Thankful,” on a duet called “You Thought Wrong,” which is likely to be Kelly’s next single.

Ricky Smith: “Hercules! Hercules!” Yep, Ricky became famous for his impersonation of those famous words from “The Nutty Professor,” but now, the singer wants to become famous for his vocals. “People still notice me, and they’ll see me and point and look at you while you’re eating. I’m just having a great time,“ said Ricky via phone. The Dallas bred singer is now residing in Los Angeles where he’s working on a new album he plans to shop for a record deal. He’s been working with producer/songwriter Madukwu Chinwah who has worked with artists like Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg. Ricky also maintains a friendship with all season two “Idol” participants. “I am really close with Ruben, and Clay and I had lunch the other day,” he said.

Charles Grigsby: The bright-smiled singer drew immediate comparisons to Usher while on the show, but the Oberlin, Ohio-based singer wants to make a name for himself. Charles has been doing a lot of public speaking dates, promotional appearances and some singing dates. He’s headed to Atlanta in the coming weeks with Tamyra Gray and R.J. Helton to judge “Delta Idol,” which is an “American Idol”-inspired competition that Delta Airlines is holding. “I recently signed with an agency that’s working to get my record deal and help me get acting work,” said Charles. The singer is slated to appear on an upcoming episode of the Anthony Anderson sitcom, “All About the Andersons.”

“Idol” fans will be glad to know that “An American Idol Christmas” will air on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 8 p.m. EST. In addition to performances by Ruben and Kelly, the show will also feature Tamyra, Kimberly, Clay and Christina Christian.

[AKA2D '91]

Justin Guarini Dropped By RCA, Missing From 'Idol' Christmas Special
Mon Dec 1,10:00 AM ET

LAUNCH Radio Networks

Season one American Idol runner-up Justin Guarini is among the missing. The Pennsylvania native was dropped from his record label, RCA, after his self-titled debut album landed at Number 20 on the Billboard 200 album chart selling a mere 54,000 copies. While 54,000 may seem like a fair amount of albums, it pales in comparison to Kelly Clarkson (news)'s first week sales of 297,000 copies of her album Thankful, or Clay Aiken's first week slaes of a whopping 613,000 copies of Measure Of A Man.



Guarini was noticeably absent from the Fox special An American Idol Christmas on Tuesday, November 25, and the word is from sources close to the situation that the 25-year-old singer refused to appear on the show. Interestingly, Guarini was on the bill when the show was first announced in October. Clay Aiken, Christina Christian, Kelly Clarkson, Tamyra Gray, Kimberley Locke, and Ruben Studdard were among the Idol stars who did perform.


Paula Abdul (news), Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson return for a new season of American Idol on Fox-TV in January. A special two-hour episode of American Idol will air on January 20 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, and a special one-hour episode of the show will air on January 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

[Neosoulchild]

I think I saw Randy on TV the other day and it looked like he had lost a lot of weight. Did anyone else see this? What did he do?

[CrimsonTide4]

He had his stomach stapled or gastric bypass.

[CrimsonTide4]

WTH?!?!?!

I am watching Nickelodeon and they just showed a commercial for a new Playstation 2 game ~ American Idol. . . no I am not joking.

[Dionysus]

Yeah I saw that. I don't think it will sell.

[1savvydiva]

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
WTH?!?!?!

I am watching Nickelodeon and they just showed a commercial for a new Playstation 2 game ~ American Idol. . . no I am not joking.

WTH is the object of the game? Do tell...

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by 1savvydiva
WTH is the object of the game? Do tell...

From what the commercial showed, AI with auditions.

[RedefinedDiva]

How do you know if your "player" can sing or not? Can you make the voice better? If you are the only player, do you automatically win? I doubt that anyone will buy this game...

[CrimsonTide4]

Looks like Tamyra was dropped from J Records like Justin was dropped from RCA. . .

[Neosoulchild]

What? What happened?