Taylor Hicks Taylor Hicks performs for troops aboard the USS Ronald Reagan, docked at Coronado, California in December 2006 Background information Birth name Taylor Reuben Hicks Born October 7, 1976 (1976-10-07) (age 32) Origin Birmingham, Alabama, USA Genre(s) Blue-eyed soul, blues, blues rock Occupation(s) musician, record producer, author, songwriter Instrument(s) Vocals, guitar, harmonica, organ Years active 1995-present Label(s) Independent (1997-2005) Arista (2006-2008) Modern Whomp/A2M (2008-present) Associated acts Little Memphis Blues Orchestra Website http://www.myspace.com/taylorhicks Taylor Reuben Hicks (October 7, 1976) is an American singer who achieved fame in 2006 as a contestant on the fifth season of American Idol, which he won later that year. Hicks got his start as a professional musician in his late teens and performed around the Southeastern United States, including The War Eagle Supper Club (a popular college bar) in Auburn, Alabama.[10] Hicks has performed with the likes of James Brown, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, Drive-By Truckers, Robert Randolph, Snoop Dogg,and Keb Mo.[11] He also performed in the huge infield of Talladega Superspeedway in 2004 during a NASCAR race weekend. After Hicks won Idol, driver David Stremme said that he hoped Hicks