It`s All About the Soul Patrol!

Transcription

Sep 07
SoulConnection
The
Volume 1 Number 11
Page 2
•SPer of the Month
Page 3
•Ray Charles – Part 4
Pages 4-13
•Question of the Month
Page 8
•The New Backyard Fence
Page 10
•Websites!
Page 12
•How To Enjoy a Concert
Page 13
•All About the Music
•Stress Relief
Pages 14 -15
•Happy 1st Anniversary
Pages 16-17
•Fan Site Shout Out
Page 18
•Idols Live 2006 Tour Success
•New Orleans Is Back
Page 19
•NESP Update
Page 20
•Song of the Month
•Sun Signs
Page 21
•KOPS In Action
Page 22
•Cartoon
•Soul Patrol Special Events
•Taylor Trivia
•Noteworthy
It’s All About the Soul Patrol!
Volumes upon volumes of email messages,
message board posts, web site comments,
blog entries, and celebrity interviews – both
in print and online – have appeared about
Taylor Hicks since his AI5 audition.Some
disappeared quietly – some not so quietly –
and some still flame bright and strong.
Charleston SC 6.30.07 concert photo taken and submitted by Joanna Heberling
In this Issue:
The Soul Connection celebrates its 1st
anniversary with this issue. At this point
in time we are the only fan magazine
– or ezine – devoted to supporting and
promoting Taylor as a musician and artist as
he continues his musical journey. We also
join with the many wonderful Taylor web
sites that help the Soul Patrol stay united as
a fanbase.
The idea for a fanbase newsletter was born
in the hearts of fans at the AI boards who had
bonded as a group. Before publishing the first
issue, however, the founding editor had to step
away from the newsletter due to health reasons.
When a thread was posted calling for someone
to step in to publish the first issue, I was taking
a quick coffee break at work, logged on to the
AI Taylor boards, and read through the thread. I
didn’t want this group of dedicated fans to work
so hard writing articles and not be able to see
their newsletter published. So I contacted the
founding editor to tell her I could help publish
the first issue with her reporters.
with it for so long. Hickschicks792 aka Leah
faithfully interviews our featured Soul Patroller
each month. And Mammascrush continues to
delight all of us each month with her on-target,
very funny cartoons.
Eleven issues later I’m still here. Since that day,
The Soul Connection has published 169 pages
of text and photos in 11 issues.
When I realized last year that a second issue
of the newsletter would not happen if I didn’t
continue as publisher and editor, I called upon
four of the most talented, organized, and
creative people I’ve ever known to join me as
the Editorial Board of The Soul Connection.
I am very very lucky to have the support of
Linda Coke, Patti LeMaster, and Susan Truby,
who provide ideas, guidance, and steadfastly
support Taylor, me, and this ezine. Their hearts
and souls help me keep every issue of The Soul
Connection lively, fun, and informative.
I certainly haven’t done this alone. From
the very beginning Soul Patrol reporters and
photographers eagerly provided copy and
photos for publication. In fact, two of the
original reporters still contribute each month,
and I thank them for their willingness to stick
THANK YOU ALL for your faithfulness to The
Soul Connection and your Soul Patrol family
during our first year of publication. With your
help, The Soul Connection will continue to
nourish and feed our hearts and souls as we
support and promote Taylor and his music. ;p
Soul Patroller of the Month – Rina!
Submitted by HicksChicks792
have had my vote though.
This month Rina is our featured Soul
Patroller.
What is your favorite Taylor performance of all time? Now that is a
tough question. The one that touches
my heart the most is his audition.
He was just so innocent and loveable, how could you resist him? I
also enjoyed “Play that Funky Music
White Boy.” I jumped up and danced
right along with him. My son thought
I was pretty crazy during the AI5
season. He couldn’t watch it with me
because of all the screaming, clapping, and wooing going on LOL!
Tell us about yourself – things some of
us may not know? I’m not sure what I
could tell you that you might not already
know. I’m a single Mom and have a
wonderful 13-year-old son Michael. My
real name is Marina. I’m a big Disney
fan! Growing up I always wanted to be
an actress, sometimes I still do. I was
in theater class in high school and one
of my classmates was Lori Laughlin (of
the TV show Full House). Obviously she
made it and I didn’t. . .LOL!
How much time do you spend on the
Taylor boards each day? I sign on in the
morning while having my coffee, catching up on everything Taylor and to see
what’s happening with my Soul Patrol
family. I also check throughout the day
and night. I guess I should list the Taylor
forums as a hobby!
What do your family and friends think
of Taylor? My friends and family don’t
really talk much about Taylor. I’m still
working on Taylorizing them. Some of
them did watch AI5, but didn’t come to
know the Taylor we all know and love.
How early did you start posting on the
boards? I began posting on March 14,
2006 and I haven’t stopped LOL!
At what point during AI5 did you become a fan of Taylor? Honestly at his
audition. There was just something about
him that totally drew me in. And when
Simon said that he wouldn’t make it,
something inside me said. . .this guy is
going to win!
Were you part of the early voting
regarding naming the Soul Patrol? No,
unfortunately I wasn’t. Soul Patrol would
What is your favorite song on
Taylor’s new CD? I’ve always loved
“Heaven Knows.” I love the beat and I
love when Taylor gives that little. . .uh!
Which concerts have you attended on
Taylor’s Solo Tour? I went to the concerts at Westbury and thanks to my dear
friend Headlight, she surprised me with
tickets to see Taylor at Tags in Big Flats
NY for my birthday. I was supposed to go
to Atlantic City, but due to unfortunate
circumstances I couldn’t. I’ll be going
to see Taylor at The Mid-Hudson Civic
Center and also Jones Beach with Earth,
Wind, & Fire.
Have you seen other Taylor performances (besides his solo tour)? I did see
two of Taylor’s AI5 performances, one
in Bham and one here on Long Island.
I was also lucky enough to see his performance at WorkPlay and the Oasis in
Bham 06. That was a magical night.
If you had a choice to do the whole AI5
experience all over again, would you
do it? 100% YES, absolutely, definitely
without a doubt! Did I say yes? :)
How has another Soul Patroller affected
your life in a positive way? I have met
some very wonderful people along the
2
way. Some I truly consider not just
friends, but family. I don’t think there is
one Soul Patroller who hasn’t affected
my life in a positive way. Being a Taylor
fan is so much more than just going to
concerts, it’s a lifetime journey and I’m
happy to have the Soul Patrol as my
family to travel along with me.
Do you have any other favorite artists?
I’m a big James Taylor fan. I also like
Billy Joel, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young,
Carole King, Carly Simon, there’s a
bunch more. I pretty much like any type
of music, but of course Taylor is at the
top of my list.
Who would you like to see Taylor do a
duet with, and what song? I would love
to see Taylor do a duet with Ray Charles.
Similar to the one Natalie Cole did with
her late father Nat King Cole. I think this
would be the ultimate duet!
Do you have any hobbies? I guess you
could say eBay is my hobby. Aside from
being on the Taylor boards, I spend a lot
of time on eBay. I also like to crochet
and do crafts.
Ray’s Career Soars With ABC – Paramount
Submitted by Jacque Jones
Ray dropped his last name, Robinson, and just
started going by the name Ray Charles while
he recorded for Atlantic Records. By the late
1950s he was being called “The Genius” by
the recording industry. Ray would not settle
for just one particular style or genre. He was
now performing jazz, rhythm and blues (the
newly combined genres of R&B), and gospel
(called soul), and a little country. Then in late
February 1958 he recorded a song combining
a Latin-esque blues riff with gospel doing a
call-and-response vocal with the Raelettes,
which resulted in the monster smash “What’d
I Say.” This song became his first crossover hit,
reaching #6 on the Pop chart and #1 on the
R&B chart in 1959.
Afterwards, Ray did two sessions in May and
June of 1959 that turned back to jazz and the
big band. These sessions were combined for
the release of The Genius of Ray Charles. Half
of the album featured his long-time friend
Quincy Jones who directed an all-star big
band consisting of alumni mainly from the
Count Basie Orchestra. This release brought
Ray two of his first four Grammy Awards
in 1960, one in the Best Rhythm & Blues
Performance category and another in the Best
Vocal Performance Album, Male category.
All of this contributed to ABC – Paramount
making Ray an offer that was just too good to
pass up. His loyalty to Atlantic was very strong,
but when he gave them a chance to meet the
offer, they couldn’t match it and wished him
the best with ABC. One of the chief attractions
to ABC was the degree of artistic control they
gave Ray. In March 1960 he had a session that
was a superb success. The album The Genius
Hits the Road was produced with one of the
recordings being Hoagy Carmichael’s tune
“Georgia on My Mind.” This song earned Ray
his two other Grammy Awards in the Best
Vocal Performance Single Record Track, Male
and Best Performance by a Pop Singer Artist
categories.
In August 1960 he recorded another album
Fourth in a Series
titled Dedicated to You, which
produced the hit song “Ruby”
arranged by Marty Paich, that
topped the charts near the end
of 1960. Then in December
1960 Ray joined Quincy Jones
and the Count Basie alumni
again to produce his best jazz
album ever. Titled Genius + Soul
= Jazz, this album featured “One
Mint Julep” which went to #8 on
the Pop chart and to #1 on the
R&B chart in 1961.
Ray’s next chart hit in 1961 was
bigger than ever. “Hit the Road
Jack” topped both the Pop chart
and the R&B chart at #1. He
also won a Grammy in 1961
for the Best Rhythm & Blues
Recording. Amazingly, this song
received these honors before the
album was released in 1961,
evidence of the power of the 45
RPM record medium.
Then Ray did, what was believed by many,
the unthinkable. He decided to venture into
the country and western genre of music. But
not only was he a big success, he forever
changed its face when on June 1, 1962
the landmark album Modern Sounds in
Country and Western Music was released.
His renditions of some of the greatest songs
written in the country music field put a new
energy and soul into the recordings. It made
other artists reassess their opinions about
country songs. Also, it beckoned a wide range
of music fans to listen to what country music
and country songwriters had to offer.
Some of the songs on the album included
such greats as “Bye Bye, Love” by the Everly
Brothers; “Half as Much,” “Hey Good
Lookin’,” and “You Win Again” by Hank
Williams Sr.; “I Can’t Stop Loving You” by
Don Gibson; and “Just a Little Lovin” and
“You Don’t Know Me” by Eddy Arnold. The
album was #1 on the Billboard Pop Album
chart for 3½ months and stayed on the chart
3
for 2 years. Four singles from the album were
released. “Born to Lose,” “Careless Love,” and
“You Don’t Know Me” all charted Pop, but “I
Can’t Stop Loving You” was a #1 Pop hit for
5 weeks. ABC – Paramount’s A&R director,
Sid Feller, said “I didn’t know that a Pop
artist could do country songs and become a
national monument.”
Because of the success of Ray’s first country
album, another one was inevitable. Modern
Sounds in Country and Western Music
Volume 2 was recorded in September 1962.
The second album was just as solid as the first,
and more varied. It went to #2 on the Album
chart powered by the two singles “You Are My
Sunshine” and “Take These Chains from My
Heart”. The interesting fact about Ray’s success
in the country and western world was that
many of the songs were also charted on R&B.
“You Are My Sunshine” went all the way to #1
on the R&B chart, while “Take These Chains
from My Heart” went to #7.
Next Month: Ray’s Success Just Keeps
On Moving Forward
A Change Has Come
“. . .who knew it would be ME doing the changing!
Compiled and submitted by Lanae Brooks
I introduced a lot of co-workers to Taylor’s
music, which of course spearheaded conversations on what types of music people liked
to listen to. I have met some nice people on
line and I was able to meet Mammascrush
in JAX. I have also been able to recieve email
blogs from YODA aka Dante from the AI
board, which are interesting. Gray Charles
introduced me to new artists to add to my
blues collection. From Gypsee’s site, wonderful videos, and on The Boogie Board I read
some interesting stuff. I learned how to utilize
my computer more by being introduced to
send space, etc. Kyarilee
Taylor reignited my love for music that I lost
due to the loss of my Mother, Grandmother,
Aunt, and my health. Now my house rings
with his music, Little Buddy Radio, or
other artists. I have made lifelong friendships through the Soul Patrol that bring joy to
my life daily. I will never be able to put into
words how thankful I am that Taylor decided
to audition for AI5. That was the start and
now we continue on this wonderful journey.
WOOOOO! SOUL PATROL! Thanks!
Susan aka bluefox21
Being crazy about Taylor has been very
educational for me! I’ve learned about message boards and websites and downloading
pictures, videos, and music. I’ve learned
how to burn CDs and DVDs, how to edit
videos, convert files, etc. I’ve been places I’d
never been and never thought I’d be like The
Viper Room, Hollywood House of Blues,
Staples Center, Pala, Kodak Theater, the Leno
show. I had the thrill of meeting Taylor! And
when Taylor didn’t bring his summer tour to
California, I decided California would have
to go to him – so I cashed in a CD and I went
to Dallas (no doubt the first of many future
trips I’ll take – all in the name of Taylor!)
He awakened enthusiasm for music in me.
Enthusiasm for life. I’ve made friends, I’ve had
FUN – and I look forward to more! When he
sang “A Change Is Gonna Come”, who knew
it would be ME
doing the changing!
And I couldn’t be
happier! Carol aka
CALTAYFAN
Taylor’s music has
definitely enriched
my life. I now have
a deeper appreciation of blues and
soul music. I am
listening to blues
music more and
more, and I really love hearing the
harmonica. Because
of Taylor I have met
some very wonderful people – both
men and women.
In fact, some of us women have formed an
informal group called the MidAtlantic Taylor’s Ladies. We meet once a
month for lunch and share our Taylor experiences. I met a girl through this group who is
now one of my best friends. Even though we
live over an hour apart, we are close in “heart
and soul.” Taylor has brought so much joy
into my life this past year. His music makes
me happy, and his shows give me something to look forward to. I just hope we give
him happiness too! Sue Lopez aka Sue in
Maryland
As a result of Taylor, I am a heck of a lot better
at using a computer! Nina / grayhair
I LOVE to travel! If not for Taylor, I would not
have traveled to the many places in the US
I’ve been over the past year. Taylor was my
“excuse” to visit a friend in Charlotte NC and
relatives in Nashville, Philadelphia, and Den4
~CALTAYFAN
ver. If not for Taylor, I might never have visited
San Diego, Wilkes-Barre, Cleveland, Seattle,
Loudon VA, Vicksburg MS, Biloxi MS, or
Biloxi 8.3.07 concert photo taken and submitted by Lanae Brooks
Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, AL. It was grand
spending time in the South, along the Gulf
Coast, visiting Taylor’s old stomping grounds,
including the FloraBama. Needless to say,
along the way, I’ve met some wonderful
Soul Patrollers and made some true friends.
It’s been a fascinating and spirit-renewing
journey! Thank you, Taylor! Cassie Tuttle,
Pittsburgh PA
Because of Taylor my life has been blessed
by meeting the best group of people on the
face of this earth. The love shown through the
SP has been never ending. Everyone is here
for one another. Making the friends I have
through Taylor has been one of the best things
in my life! KidOne has also enriched my
life. Helping these amazing kids is a blessing to them and to me also. I am also aware
of SBTT. Without Taylor I’m not sure I would
have known about them. Alagirl77
continued on page 5
“. . .there are still people out there who care
about others. . .” ~Gbfans66
continued from page 4
I was not a big soul music fan before Taylor,
but now I listen to more than I ever thought I
would. I’ve also made some great friendships
in the Soul Patrol. Probably the best thing is
that I’ve realized that there are still people
out there who care about others and will still
do things for others because they WANT to.
There are a couple of them in particular who
helped out my new friend (met in St. Louis
during AI tour) Paulatroller. And Tay_What
is one of the best! She made it possible for
Paula to make the trip to see Taylor in Joliet
with me. The other one I will have as a friend
for life is Hookedonhayes! She’s the best! She
actually gifted Paula and me the tickets for
the show, she’s sent me flowers before, and
calls me alot. We have an age difference, but
I love her like my own and will always have
that special bond and friendship with her. I
love the SP! Gbfans66
As I look back over the past year, I find that
being a member of the Soul Patrol and a
Taylor Hicks supporter has filled my life with
lots of experiences and changes. I’ve traveled
to many different cities, generally meeting
other fans, but occasionally going completely alone. I’ve met so many fans that it’s
hard to keep track of them all, and many of
those have now become very good friends!
I’ve had dreams come true and helped
others have their dreams realized. When I
was younger I had two goals in life: to be a
writer and an accountant/CPA (the job that
pays for my travels). Now I write Mandy’s
Blog for The Official Soul Patrol (as well as
RagsQueen and the Traveling Circus), which
allows me to share stories about my travels
as well as observations and thoughts about
Taylor and his music. But the best part of
this past year has been helping form Taylor’s
Angels with six beautiful ladies. We help fans
and local charities get tickets to see Taylor in
concert as well as provide paid memberships
to THHQ, CDs, and copies of Heart Full of
Soul. To think this journey started with a sim-
ple audition and the acquisition of a beautiful hand drawn portrait of Taylor that was
auctioned on eBay for the benefit of Kid One
Transport still brings chills and tears of joy
that warm my heart knowing that I’ve grown
in so many ways to become the person I am
now. I look forward to additional opportunities to travel, meet fans, share stories, and
just enjoy the music and performances of
one very talented
entertainer –
Taylor Hicks!
Ragsqueen
great friends. We all promised that we would
be at Taylor’s first concert. It turned out to
be in JAX, so we decided to make a trip
out of it and went to 3 out of the 4 Florida
concerts. This was one of the best times of
my life. We not only got to see Taylor, who
was fabulous, but we all met and bonded in
those fews days. We will no doubt be great
friends forever. We’ve had the best ride of our
Taylor awakened a love for
music in me that I
thought had long
since been buried
forever. Because
of this I got on
my first message
board (AI), something I would
have never done
before. I met
some of the greatest people on that
board, people
that will be my
sistas forever! We
all feel the same
way. I had the opportunity to meet
my first friend in
Bham last August
– a big step for
me. I couldn’t believe I was going
Orange Beach 9.2.07 concert photo taken and submitted by Mandy Crowell aka RagsQueen
to meet someone
I met on the internet. My friends
thought I was nuts. She turned out to be a
lives. Taylor brought us together, and we will
wonderful person. We had a great time, saw
always give him the credit for that. My life
Taylor at Workplay, and met many more Soul has been totally changed because of Taylor
Patrollers, which is a memory I’ll cherish
and the Soul Patrol. I will forever be grateful.
Jacque Jones
forever. By the time Taylor began his own
tour, there were many of us that had become
continued on page 6
5
Fall Concert
Dates
“. . .the love we’ve shared is
unbelievable” ~JeanneMarie
Taylor’s Spring/Summer/Fall 2007 Solo Tour will
soon be over, but we can look forward to possible “acoustic” appearances. As Taylor has
communications with my friends I have
I was talking to another SPer the other
met online. I met them all through the
day, and together we wondered what
TaylorHicksFan site. They have kept me
our lives would even be like now if it
company through many dark moments
wasn’t for Taylor and the Soul Patrol.
with phone calls and PMs through
The people we’ve met, the places we’ve
the site. These wonderful friends have
gone, the love we’ve shared are just uneven sent my daughter letters, cards,
believable. I have done things I would
and packages of goodies to Iraq. Most
have never done if it wasn’t for Taylor
important they have prayed for her
and the Soul Patrol. My Soul Patrol
safety. One of them even got Taylor to
friends have gone above and beyond
autograph a picture and sent it to her
for me since first offering their hands
over there. She is very thankful to all of
in friendship the day I joined the AI
them for remembering her and for being
boards. When I had my hip replaced, I
received cards and gifts from all over the her mom’s friend. I have been fortunate
to see three of Taylor’s concerts, the first
world from other Soul Patrollers. I had
one my daughter ordered the tickets
wonderful phone calls from so many
great people cheering me up and
giving me the extra push I needed
to keep going. Another SPer gifted
me a trip to Taylor’s opening concert in JAX – something I would’ve
never been able to afford myself.
This person taught me how to be
a stronger, braver woman, and
my time with her will never ever
be forgotten. I could go on and
on and on about how Taylor, his
music, AND the Soul Patrol have
enriched my life. I have so many
wonderful friends who make
me smile every day, all thanks to
Biloxi 8.3.07 concert photo taken and submitted by Lanae Brooks
Taylor Hicks and his music.
Jeanne Marie
from Iraq and that was very special for
me. The concerts filled me with joy.
This past year has been one of worry,
Taylor, his music, and his warm heart
stress filled and making new friends. It
have given me a new outlook on life. I
has also, due to Taylor, brought back my
feel I finally have something wonderful
interest in music. My daughter has been
all for myself and at the same time to
in Iraq and my hubby traveling with his
share with other fans and friends. A very
job all the time. I have felt stressed out
positive thing. When I listen to Taylor’s
with being here with all my other kids
and all the responsibilities. I have had so music and dance around the house, I
feel young again! Shawn Buss
many moments of panic and worry over
my daughter in Iraq. I have felt lonely,
We started our journey with Taylor
even with a houseful of my children
with “A Change is Gonna Come.” That
and their friends. The only way I have
prophecy has certainly come true. There
dealt with all of this is with the constant
continued on page 7
termed it at several of his current tour shows:
“Where in the World is Taylor Hicks?”
Sep 15
Mississippi State at Auburn, Jordan
Hare Stadium, Auburn, AL
Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport
News, VA
Sep 28 Bloomsburg Fair, Bloomsburg, PA
Sep 29 The Big E Festival, West Springfield, MA
Oct 13 Millersville University, Millersville, PA
Nov 2 Pearl River Resort, Philadelphia, MS
Fan Mail!
We’ve Got Fan Mail!
Submitted by Sandy Leach
As a fan community, we are very fortunate
to have a trendy e-zine gathering place
like The Soul Connection.
Here, we have learned and laughed. We have
met each other from all over the world. We
have been challenged and inspired. We have
seen the best of Taylor, the Soul Patrol, and the
good works of his charities.
The Editorial Staff of The Soul Connection is both
professional and dedicated to Taylor’s goals. They
are also a lot of fun – they were seated closest to
the bar at Vicksburg BOTH nights!
The Soul Connection has brought us together for
sharing what we have in common and what we
can do together.
Taylor’s words bear repeating: “Together, our
voices can really make a difference.” The Soul
Connection is making a difference!
For all they have contributed to our Taylor experience in the past year, they deserve a whompin’
“WAY TO GO! THANK YOU TO THE SOUL
CONNECTION!
6
“They are happy for you in good times and sad
for you in bad times.” ~Sandi aka wietzema
have been many new and exciting experiences during the past year. However, the
change that is most important to me is the
new friends I have made. There is a small
group of us that have bonded in a significant
and long lasting way. We don’t just attend
concerts, post on message boards, and support Taylor together; we also support each
other in our everyday lives. I continue to
marvel at how tuning into AI5 that night led
to a major positive impact on so many lives,
including mine. LindaC
There is so much that has happened to me
the past year as a result of Taylor. It‘s like I‘ve
awakened from a long sleep. But what has
meant the most is the people I have met from
NESP and the support they have shown me
during a recent trying time wherein I lost my
job. Whether it was a heartfelt comment on
the board, on chat, or in person, they made
me feel like I have friends who really care.
Plus they are great at getting my mind off
things by talking about my favorite topic –
Taylor of course! DebD
Where do I start? Taylor has brought music back into my life. I grew up working in
my Dad’s music store selling albums and
45 speed records of all of the artists that so
inspired Taylor. Because of my “obsession”
with Taylor’s music, I have traveled to two
states to see him live – an experience that I
will never forget. I have learned about YouTube, GoFish, Rehearsals.com, The SoulConnection, THHQ, many fansites, mp3s, iTunes,
and Ebay. I have discovered LiMBO, pre-AI5
Taylor CDs, and a variety of musicians mentioned by Taylor. I have been introduced to
KidOneTransport and now support this charity. I have learned how to download music
and videos and now I own an iPod. I have
met new “Taylor” friends through concerts
and emails. I have spent hours on the computer watching Taylor videos and reading articles about him. He has basically changed my
LIFE and it’s ALL GOOD. Anytime I need a
smile, I listen to Taylor’s music. He just makes
me happy! Judy Morton, SpokaneWA
that someone that special loves our Taylor
Hicks too. I don’t think she’ll ever realize
how much it means to me. Judy
I have never met anyone from the Soul Patrol,
I wanted to let you know what a great thing
rwe205t aka Rita did for me. I was supposed only been to two concerts, but even though
I’ve never met anyone, I feel that there are so
to go to Charlottesville and Glenn Allen
many that I can honestly call friend. I’ve been
VA concerts in July. I had a car wreck and
in touch with so many of these wonderful
couldn’t go. Rita said she was going to the
people and each one has a different way of
Glenn Allen concert. She told me to have
bringing out the very best in each other. I’ve
my sisters call her when they got there so
given to different Soul Patrollers for different
she could meet them. She delivered some
Taylors peanuts and the red
flashing guitar pins for the
three of us. I’ve been wanting one of those guitars for
a long time! Rita met Taylor
after the concert and gave
him a bag with two greeting
cards. One for her mother
and one for me. She asked
him if he would sign them
and drop them in the mail
to us. She included with the
cards a note telling Taylor
her mother was going to be
85 on her birthday. She also
included the newspaper article about my accident and
told him I had to miss the
concerts because of it. Taylor signed both cards and
mailed them to us. I wanted
to jump for joy when my
hubby found that card in
the mailbox, but I couldn’t
get out of my wheelchair.
Orange Beach 9.2.07 concert photo taken and submitted by Mandy Crowell aka RagsQueen
I missed the concerts, but I
have some great memories
and momentos that will last a lifetime. Rita
reasons, and I’ve gotten back so much more.
and I didn’t know each other at all before
It’s hard to put into words what Taylor and the
this happened. I don’t think I ever conversed
Soul Patrol mean to me. It’s like an extended
with her at all on any of the boards. Thanks to family, someone you can turn to if you’re
the kindness of a Soul Patroller, when I think
down and just need someone to talk to. or if
about missing the concerts it’s not with a sad
you’re happy and can’t wait to tell someone.
heart. I think about it with joy in my heart
They are always there, willing to listen or
continued on page 8
7
Growing up, many people watched their
parents chat with neighbors over the
backyard fence. But few of us have such
opportunities today. That doesn’t mean the
backyard fence has disappeared; it has just
taken on an electronic glow.
Recent research by the Pew Internet and
American Life Project, a nonprofit Washington DC think tank, shows that Americans
who join online communities have, on average, 23 “very close” online relationships
and 27 “somewhat close” relationships.
And nearly a quarter of those relationships
are with people whom they consider to be
friends.
What’s more, instead of the popular image
of a lonely person hunkered down in front
of a screen, the Pew study found that those
who make contact online are 50% more
likely to have in-person contacts than those
who never touch a computer. Computers,
it seems, are simply another way to make
even more friends.
Reprinted from Better Homes and Gardens
August 2007 issue.
“I’m just now starting to
open up creatively. I can
let my brain open up,
create, and trust my
instincts. That’s the
approach I’m taking. . .
the gut feeling.”
~ Taylor Hicks
“He has brought more than
music back to me. . . . ~3babies
help in any way they can. They are happy for you in good times and sad for you
in bad times. I have never met Taylor, and it is something I would love to do, but
even if that time never comes, I’ve been enriched so much by the Soul Patrol, and
Taylor made all this possible. Sandi aka wietzema
To put it simply, my life has changed a lot because of Taylor. There is a spark that
has resurfaced in my life and that is enjoying music again. He has brought more
than music back to me though, he has brought me new friends I can count on if I
need them, and ones to share my Taylor experiences with and be a part of theirs.
These are not things I can share with my friends at home. I have done so many
things that I never would have dreamed I would do because of this man. No
other man could have inspired me to do. LOL. I learned how to upload pics and
videos, and just last night the SP directed me to Sendspace to upload a “Georgia” video I had. I learned about avis and siggys etc. I can’t begin to tell you the
computer skills I have mastered since discovering Taylor Hicks. I have traveled by
myself, which I do not like to do, just to experience the joy of Taylor, and stood by
buses to get my CD signed and to be close to greatness. Never done that before.
Never been in chat, on AI boards, or joined any sites like Innie’s before. This is
all new to me. All of this
has brought great joy to a
place where something was
missing. I have a wonderful
family and friends, but all
of this has been an added
pleasure in my life. . .what a
ride it has been!. I was gifted
an AI concert ticket and a
ticket to see Taylor at The
Tabernacle by an SPer. Also,
when my computer broke
down and I lost everything,
several members sent me
everything they had on
CDs. I have also received
calendars, bookmarks, red
guitars, etc. from SPers. And
a very special SPer got me a signed In Your Time CD that I will treasure for the
rest of my life. An SPer also gave me 2 tickets to the Tabernacle that they couldn’t
use to give away etc. When I was at the Tabernacle, a guy was looking for 2
tickets for him and his girlfriend. I gave the 2 to them and they were shocked to
see I wanted no pay, just for them to enjoy Taylor. So I guess we paid it forward.
3babies
Orange Beach 9.2.07 concert photo taken and submitted by Mandy Crowell aka
RagsQueen
The New
Backyard
Fence?
What started as just liking another contestant on AI5 has turned into some of my
best adult friendships. I was able to attend a Taylor concert because a member
trusted me enough to purchase my ticket and mail it to me – while waiting for the
dollar amount to fit into my budget. I have been able to do some community sercontinued on page 9
8
“. . .this is where I’m supposed to be at this
point in time.” ~Evelyn aka Gr8fulheart
vice work – thanks to the Soul Patrol Support
Group. And now I will be mailing Christmas
Cards again thanks to a group of ladies who
wish to exchange cards. All of this while enjoying the best artist since Elvis. Scorp59
I met Taylor in Portland OR on May 11 of this
year. I had no intention of attending one of
his concerts because of health issues, even
though I’ve always felt that our paths would
cross somehow. That somehow became
reality on that date. “Angels” without wings
were responsible for a special meeting with
him. First, let me try to explain why it was
so special. The minute Taylor looked up at
the AI5 judges, I gasped. I saw what I call a
“Sweet Spirit” in his eyes. Two years before,
although I had promised my husband to
stay strong following his death, my soul
submerged into a depression. I didn’t
realize that I had pushed my pain so deep
inside, but watching Taylor’s journey on AI5
took the focus off of myself. As I did that,
my healing began by slowly and steadily
dismantling my encased tomb of memories
until May 23, the night before Taylor’s AI5
win. On that night, when he sang “Do I
Make You Proud,” I experienced what I call
a sort of “rebirth.” Thoughts of life’s journey
with my husband mingled with thoughts
about Taylor’s trials and AI5 journey. (My
husband had told me numerous times
through our life together that he was proud of
me.) As Taylor reached “proud,” he tilted his
head from side-to-side, creating an echo effect. At that moment, all the memories inside
my heart and soul burst through that encased
tomb of memories and were finally released.
I hadn’t cried that intensely since the day I lost
my husband, yet I felt such a release. After
that, I had this “feeling” that somehow we
would meet so I could personally thank him
for how he made a difference in my life. The
minute ticket sales for the Portland concert
became available, I became like a ‘“pit bull
with PMS.” Although I had no plans to attend,
nor had I spoken to anyone about going to
his concert, I just had to have 2 tickets! Every
imaginable roadblock was put in my way to
deter my going, but I found a way to maneuver around them. Then 2 days before the concert, I received word that I was going to meet
Taylor. I was overwhelmed! He was so easy to
be around; yet I struggled with holding back
tears. I didn’t want to cry, especially since I
was informed that if I cried, he would too.
Biloxi 8.3.07 concert photo taken and submitted by Jacque Jones
You see, I personally saw that same “Sweet
Spirit” in those eyes that I had seen through
the TV screen the night of his audition. After
sharing a few things with him, I placed my
hand over my heart, then gently over his, and
said, “Taylor, from my heart to yours, Thank
You.” He probably thought I was a nut case,
but I tried to say what I wanted to say and get
out since I knew he had important things to
focus on. Shortly afterward, I realized that my
experience had come full circle. That’s when
I cried.
9
I have also met numerous Soul Patrollers on
TaylorMadeOnline and I met one of them
from New York at the Portland concert. Then
I found myself posting info about the Taylor
Tots Cookbook on TMO. I began casually
talking with a couple of the ladies from KOPS
about the projects they had been working
on for Kid One. Then I visited the KOPS site
and became a member. Through Kid One I
heard about a 16-year-old girl and the Scott
family whose son was battling the same brain
cancer I had lost my husband to. I felt such
a nudge from above telling me this is where
I am supposed to be at this point in time. I
contacted one of the ladies at KOPS and told
them I wanted to help in some way. Currently
I am participating in the work for a hanging
wall quilt project for Kid One. Most recently
a friend from TMO gave me a link to suggest
airplay of Taylor’s music. And now Uncleshag
from WLSO.FM is a confirmed and addicted
Soul Patroller.
All of this began with an unexplainable
nudge. That nudge came from the only
explanation possible – it was the Lord saying,
“Evelyn, you have grieved long enough.” HE
worked through Taylor to reach me! And to
think this all took place because a gray-haired
guy took a step forward in an effort to have
his voice heard. I will forever be grateful to
Taylor for being stubborn and not ever giving
up on his dream. Evelyn aka Gr8fulheart
First I will say what many others are sure to
say – Thank you Taylor Hicks for bringing real
music back into our lives. I believe in karma
and I do think it was fate that we should witness Taylor’s audition and become his “legion
of fans” known as the Soul Patrol. I have
traveled to Bham and experienced amazing
musical performances and had such fun with
many of you. I will always have a special
place in my heart for those fellow fans who
gathered in that beautiful city. I have also had
the privilege of being involved in our New
continued on page 10
What’s the Buzz?
Websites!
“I have seen the Soul Patrol
help many in need. . .” ~Rina
In addition to THHQ, the Soul Patrol has
visited many web sites that have Taylor-related
news, discussion, and media. The Soul
Connection has called readers’ attention to
the following web sites during our first year
of publication. If you haven’t found some of
these, you should!
England Soul Patrol, which continues to
be an association that makes me proud.
I have been honored to have had a
part in many of our charity fundraisers,
local and national. That the Soul Patrol
bands together to help those in need
is something we all should be proud
of. Helping children and their moms
get medical care, programs for autistic
children and teens, sending packages to
lonely soldiers, donating concert tickets
to kids who might not have the chance
to see live music, and so many other important ventures have been sponsored
by our members. “A Change is Gonna
Come“ was our call to action. Here’s a
toast to the years to come. Let’s continue
to support Taylor Hicks and his music,
as well as the causes that make him
proud of us – his Soul Patrol! Cheers!
Duff
365Live.com
bluzkat.com
bobdenver.com
fuzzybunnybelly.com
harmonyforthesoul.com
myspace.com/internationalhouseotaylor
myspace.com/soulpatroleurope
newenglandsoulpatrol.org
promosquad.com
ratethemusic.com
soulpatrolhome.net
Tay_Online.com
[email protected]
taylorhicksfan.com
TaylorMadeOnline.org
taylormadesoul.com
[email protected]
taylorslegs.com
taylorsoulcentral.com
theofficialsoulpatrol.com
whompswamp.com
The Soul Connection hopes to continue to
include information about events and news
at each of these web sites to keep Taylor’s
online fanbase connected. With the permission of their webmasters, we hope to feature
additional Taylor-related sites in the future!
“Music has provided an
outlet for me to touch
people and make them
happy.”
~ Taylor Hicks
Where do I begin? I finally bought a
computer so I could keep up with all
things Taylor. I met a lot of new friends
online (especially on TMO!). I took
chances traveling to see him, learned
some different music from what I heard
as a child, got involved in a celebrity’s
career as never before, but the biggest
difference is I went to a golf tournament
and walked links with him and watched
him not be afraid to mingle with the
fans when his third shot on Hole 1
went out of bounds in the woods – and
while walking to his shot he crossed the
ropes and walked to his golf ball WITH
THOSE OF US WHO WERE THERE!
The biggest difference is that I have
found someone who, even though he
is a celebrity, is just a guy and doesn’t
mind taking chances around the fans,
which keeps us coming back for more
and wanting to help out with his career
as much as possible, and is seemingly
grateful enough to show his appreciation, and isn’t afraid to end blogs to us
10
with “God Bless.” Oldiebutgoodie
Where do I begin when there is so
much that has enriched my life because
of Taylor? The one thing that stands out
the most are the people of the Soul
Patrol. Taylor has brought us all together,
and I truly thank him for that. I wish I
could write a book about all the wonderful things the Soul Patrol has done in
the past year. I have seen and experienced some amazing life-touching
moments – from people being gifted
tickets, trips, books, CDs, things they
normally couldn’t afford and wouldn’t
get to experience. I have seen the Soul
Patrol help many in need, whether it be
financially, spiritually, or just being wonderful caring people. There is not one
person that I have met or read about on
the boards who isn’t willing to help in
some way. I have always thought that
there were good people in the world,
but I never realized at this magnitude.
I hope that some day Taylor will know
what amazingly caring people he has
brought together. We’re not just fans,
we’re family! Rina
The last year I have seen two Taylor
concerts thanks to Angels. I drove BY
MYSELF to Leroy IL and met up with
gbfans66, and we went to Joliet IL to
see Taylor. I spent the night at Gb’s, WE
HAD A BLAST. Super friend for life.
Jesse and I BOTH got to go to Branson MO and met StLouis – one of my
dreams come true. She is one of God’s
Gifts. Spent the night in Branson with
StLouis and saw Taylor at his all-time
best. I lost my husband March 15, 2007
after a 3-week illness and received
cards, gifts of love, support, hugs, and so
much more from my Soul Patrol family.
Donations came in for Chuck’s funeral
expenses, and then another SOUL
PATROL ANGEL paid the remaining
“. . .I now listen to a wide variety of genres
and artists. . .” ~Dante
$4,245.15 – so I could grieve and remember
my loving husband of 27 years. Then my
sister died unexpectedly on May 12, 2007
of a cerebral hemorrhage – far too close to
my husband’s death, and when I thought I
couldn’t take another step, the Soul Patrol
picked me up by the bootstraps and carried me through the most difficult year I
have EVER faced. This Soul Patrol is so full
of love. Now on Sept. 27 I get to go spend
5 BEAUTIFUL days with Tay_what and Mr.
Tay_what, who are graciously opening their
home to me for some much needed R&R.
My goal is to fulfill that Pinky Swear to my
dear Stormy and Lurkers to meet in Vegas.
So many of us have lost family members,
and from firsthand knowledge, I know the
threads, comments, love, and prayers that
we convey to each other are memories of a
lifetime. Taylor, you are the Soul of the Soul
Patrol, and I hope you are as proud of US as
we are of YOU. Love you all! Paula Dyer
aka paulatroller
Before this year I had only been to one live
concert my whole life. At the Dallas HOB I
saw my sixth Taylor concert. I never posted
on a message board or even read them before Taylor, and now I’m a member of about
6 boards and a moderator on one of them. I
never owned or even felt the need to own an
MP3 player before Taylor. I’ve got one now
that’s almost full! I never knew how to create
a DVD before, but that’s been lots of fun.
And not only have I benefited from this new
skill, but others have been recipients of Taylor on DVD also. I never made friendships
with people through the internet before. This
past July my husband and I flew from Texas
to Virginia to meet up with friends I made
through one of Taylor’s fan sites. We had
never even been to the east coast before. It
was every bit as much fun as I expected. I
have bought more music since Taylor was
on AI5 than I had bought in the previous 30
years put together. Taylor with his vast musical knowledge has introduced me to many
great musicians from both the past and the
present. And finally Taylor gave me the gift of
music in my life. I had stopped listening to
music completely when he stepped on that
stage and opened up a whole world to me
once again. I will be forever grateful. Love
ya, Tay! Tishlip
Since I heard Taylor sing “First Cut Is The
Deepest” I have been a changed person. I
rediscovered music after many years of only
listening to talk radio. I now own 2 iPods at
age 57 and listen to music as often as possible. I hadn’t been to a concert in 10 years,
and in spite of having panic disorder, have
gone to see Taylor 3 times. I have bought
Elton John tickets for the grand opening of a
new 18,000-seat arena that will open here
in October. Of course Taylor is my favorite
artist, but I now listen to a wide variety of
genres and artists and constantly am on the
lookout for music. My life is much more
joyful. I have also learned how to download
11
songs, videos, and pictures so my computer
knowledge is growing everyday too. I even
try to pick restaurants that have live music
and now know how important it is to put
money in their tip jars (never knew they
weren’t well paid to play). My life is so much
more fun now thanks to Taylor. Dante
The most important life change for me has
been TAYLOR’S CONCERT. . .seeing him
live in person doing HIS SHOW and not the
bubble gum AI5 tour. . .seeing him perform
and getting his autograph afterward by the
bus and taking his picture has been forever
etched in my mind like it was yesterday. .
.Taylor walking out doing “Soul Thing”
. . .singing HOAD with Pink Floyd’s “The
Wall” infused was complete genius. Modern
Whomp is what he calls it. I call it Incredible! Claylor
There are many ways that Taylor has
enriched my life, but what I’ve decided to
reply with is the friends I’ve made because
Taylor’s music came into my life. I have
made many wonderful friends in the Soul
Patrol and people that know Taylor. The guys
in the Little Memphis Blue Orchestra – Jeff,
Brian, Sam, Mitch, and Zippy – are some of
the nicest people I have ever met! There are
others, too, like Dean and Crystal (Dean was
LiMBO’S manager for a while and helped
them get the WorkPlay video out to us), Ted
(Taylor’s stage manager), Taylor’s Mom and
Linda, his Dad and brother Sean, and now
the members of his new band – Felix, Al,
Brian, Josh and Loren. It seems every person
I’ve met who knows Taylor is super nice. I’m
so happy that Taylor has been surrounded
by so many wonderful people, and now
he is also surrounded by his Soul Patrol,
sometimes a little TOO close – LOL – but he
knows we care for him dearly. I’d say I have
made friends with more than 100 people
who I never would have met if it were not
for Taylor. TaylorCrazy
How To Enjoy A Live
Concert – The Listener’s
Job Description
Music concerts can seem intimidating. It seems
like you have to know a lot. What if you don’t
understand the music? What if you don’ t know
how to listen correctly? What if you don’t “get
it”?
The good news is this: there is no right way to
listen, there is no correct experience to have,
there is no one thing to “get.” Understanding
is not required. Your job is not to be an expert
on the music. Your job is not to be a perfect
listener.
Your job is very simple:
Be affected by the music.
That’s it. That’s all there is.
Because you are unique, and because your
collection of experiences is unique, the music
will affect you differently than it will anybody else. It may affect your emotions, your
thoughts, your spirit, your body – any part of
you. The same music may affect you differently at different times.
Music is meant to trigger reactions, invite
reflection, awaken feelings, activate memories, and touch the heart. So just let yourself be
affected.
Of course your knowledge of music, and your
experience with it, influence how you are
affected. If learning something about the music
makes its effect more powerful, then by all
means learn more. If repeated listenings helps
you to be more and more affected by a piece,
then by all means listen to the music a few
times before coming to the concert. Whatever
helps you be affected is good to pursue. If it
doesn’t help you, or if it gets in the way of your
enjoyment, then don’t worry about it.
A wonderful and mysterious thing about live
concerts is that everybody comes to be affected
together. Everybody onstage and everybody in
the audience share in the same experience, each
of us in our own unique way.
Reprinted from www.naxos.com/education/
enjoy_jobdesc.asp
“. . .I’ve learned that life is best
when shared.”
~San Leach
Like many others, I have experienced
several new things in the last year
because of Taylor. Among my most
dear are finding an inspiration and gift
in songwriting and instrumentation,
a growing passion for live music, and
experiencing new cities during Taylor’s
musical journey. I have also grown very
close to my sister as a result of our Taylor
travels! ParTayGirl
I think the whole Taylor experience has
pushed me to attend more live music
events and to stop accepting the bland
musical choices TV and radio currently
offer. Jenni Jac
I have a renewed interest in music that I
had long lost. Also, my love for Taylor’s
music has inspired me to go to three
concerts, two of which were road trips.
Nothing had ever really motivated me
to do this before. My two sisters met
me in KY for a concert and it was the
first event or trip we had ever planned
for just the three of us. That was really
special! Connie Simpson
The Taylor experience has enriched
my life immeasurably. I have seen new
places, made new friends, and learned
that life is best when shared. I’ve been
to three new states, seven new cities
(and all those in between), and four new
airports. I have met many wonderful
people, and I’ve seen what good things
happen when people care. I love music
again! Most of all, I’ve seen a dream
realized. I’m not sure what is better than
that! San Leach
Taylor has enriched my life in so many
ways that there’s no way I could list
them all, so I’ll try my best to summarize. First, because of Taylor I joined
my first message board at AI. Through
that message board I have made many
12
friends, and I met the greatest group of
women I’ve ever known on the Lurkers
thread. Because of these women I have
traveled to see Taylor although I’d never
traveled to see any other artist before.
Although Taylor’s concerts are the main
events on these trips, they have become
just as much about spending time with
these ladies as they are about seeing
Taylor. These ladies and Taylor have
enriched my life in so many ways. I’ve
waited all my life to have a group of
friends like them, and I know we’ll be
traveling to visit each other and see
Taylor for many years to come! Through
Taylor, I have become a more courageous person. I have attended 3 Taylor
concerts by myself, which I never would
have done before! Once I got there and
was surrounded by other SPers, I didn’t
feel alone at all. Because of Taylor I’ve
also been interviewed on TV and radio.
I am a relatively quiet person, so this
is really amazing for me. The day that
the single “Do I Make You Proud” was
released, my husband and I were in the
mall and passed by a record store where
our local news crew was set up. They
saw we were wearing our “Got Soul”
T-shirts and insisted on interviewing
us. I didn’t want to at first, but as soon
as the camera started rolling I started
talking about Taylor – my poor husband
couldn’t get a word in – and he’s the
one with a degree in communications!
I was also interviewed on The Rick and
Bubba Radio Show in May when Taylor
was playing golf in the Regions Charity
golf tournament. I had won the bid to
follow Bubba and Taylor during their
round of golf that day, and that entire
day is one I will never forget!
Taylor and his music have also made
me a much happier person, which may
be what I’m most grateful to him for.
Musical This and That. . .
TaylorHicks.com Is Back!
Have you registered at the all new Sony
BMG web site – TaylorHicks.com? If not,
visit soon and sign up! You’ll receive all
the latest news, you can download media, and join in the forum topics.
An email message today from this new
site announces that Taylor will be giving
away 5 harmonicas he used on the tour.
Each purchase of $50 or more at THHQ’s
store will enter you in the drawing. If
you weren’t able to purchase all the tour
items you wanted during the tour, here’s
your chance to order with an opportunity
to win a harmonica!
File This Information!
Outside Taylor’s Biloxi concert on August
3, a local radio disc jockey from Magic
93.7 spoke to The Soul Connection staff
Stress Relief?
Stress relief lies not in the nature of
music itself, but in the fact that it’s what
you like. According to an article about
eliminating stress in your life, this was
the result of an experiment where
songs selected for their stress-relieving
qualities were less effective in reducing blood pressure and perceptions of
stress in subjects asked to perform a
difficult task than was music chosen
by the subjects themselves. Even the
ethereal “Pachelbel’s Canon” was less
calming than the subjects’ own picks.
Another 2003 study cited showed that
listening to favorite tunes activated
areas of subjects’ brains associated
with rewards or pleasure. What does
this mean? That YOU are the best
decision-maker about what kind of
music relieves your stress!
To read the full article, check out the
September 2007 issue of Ladies Home
Journal.
about radio airplay. According to this
morning airwaves DJ, his station doesn’t
put a single on its regular rotation until
“the research results” place the single in
the top 10.
squad are listed on R&R magazine’s Hit
Predictor chart. R&R is the radio trade
publication.
All the more reason to
sign up at both
promosquad.com and
ratethemusic.com
to rate 90-second clips
of new Adult Contemporary music!
Listeners rate the 90second clips on a numeric system and then
provide a few words of
feedback. Each week the
10 highest rated songs
in that genre on Promo-
HOB New Orleans photo taken and submitted by SusanJane
“Taylor and his music have
made me a much happier
person. . .”
~Lanaesgifts
Before Taylor I was just going through the
motions of life. I wasn’t really unhappy, but I
wasn’t really happy either. That all changed
as soon as Taylor opened his mouth on AI5.
I began to be really excited about Tuesdays
and Wednesdays because I couldn’t wait to
hear and see what Taylor was going to do!
Watching AI5 then and listening to Taylor’s
music and attending his concerts now, his
charisma draws you in and all of your cares
and worries just seem to disappear. For that
moment it seems as if time stands still. Maybe
that’s why there are so many who have traveled to so many of Taylor’s concerts. A friend
of mine who has been to many Taylor events
with me told me the other day that I look
like a child at Christmas when I’m watching
Taylor, and I’m sure that’s true because that’s
13
exactly what I feel like! This is why I will
support Taylor, attend his concerts, and listen
to his music for as long as I live. . .just to feel
that way! Lanaesgifts
One big experience I’ve had is going to
three concerts. I tend to get panicky in large
crowds, but the lure of seeing Taylor performing live outweighed any anxiety I had! Well,
except for the passing out part I had at one of
the concerts.
dananbethany
Taylor’s song “Do I Make You Proud” inspires
me when I’m in down moods. The last thing
my Granddad said before he died was “I
am proud of you and I love you.” EnglishGirl8504
Happy 1st Anniversary!
The Soul Connection
Hitting HIGH Notes All Year Long!
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR. . .ARTICLE CONTRIBUTORS
Jolene60
Juney_B
Karen D’Valentine
Karen Rice
Karen/Kazcoles
Kyarilee
Lanae Brooks
LeAnn
LindaC/MSVotes
LindaTN
Lisawriter
Lizlovestaylor
Mammascrush
Mcclntt
Mouser
NavyMom
Patti LeMaster
PaytheDevil
Radiofan
Rosanne Simunovic
Rosie O’Donnell
San
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR. . .
PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ARTISTS
AZGoddess
Connie Hall
Dreama Denver/hottay
FitzGib
GrayHair
J Records
Jacque Jones
John
Keith Brooks
Kid One Transport
Kid One Patrol of Soul
Lanaesgifts/Lanae Brooks
Lori Bradshaw
Mammascrush
Mandy Cowell/Ragsqueen
Mark Mayfield
NavyMom
Niram
Patti LeMaster
Robin & Wayne Williams
Southern Hick
Stacey Lampman/Twinner
Studio by the Tracks
Sue Hanson
SusanJane
Tina Shaddix/DidNotExpectThat
Tricia Chase
Wanda Wasilko/ Laurensilk
4
Sideways721
SonyaB1974
Soulpatrol13/Windy/SarahB
SueAnn
Susantr/Susan Truby
TaraRenee
Teri Noboa
Travis Cody
Tweetibear
Txchick
uhadmeatwoohoo
Adora
Alice Culbreth
Amyrebo
Annie McNeil/Sallyannlady
AustinLovesTay
Babyharp
Cath
Connie Hill
CydTer
Dana Silver
DavidC/MSVotesDH
Design by Feline
Evancol
Fitzgib/Jo
GrayHair
Gypsee
HicksChicks792/Leah
Idolbabble
iluvuTaylor/Jeanne Marie
Jacque Jones
Jamie Hebert
Jewelry Sprout
. . .and Thank YOU,
Taylor!
Here’s Who’s Been Mentioned in
The Soul Connection the Past 12 Months. . .
3babies
AGentlRose
AgingHippie/
Linda S
Alagirl77
AllyKat/Ally
Amateurrun
Amyrebo
Andrea Whitcomb
Angela
Auburn
AZGoddess/
Sonia
Babyharp
Bama_soul_cat
BamaBelle4Tay
BamaGalUK/
TaraRenee
Barbieflausa/
Barbara
BBS420
bear&son
Benjamin
BentoBoxX
Bernie
Bethany
Betsy/
Cher5069
Billsgirl
Binaboosvoice
Border0531
Botay
Brendon Holcomb
BrianLatchford
Cath
cathym
changingtimes
Charlotte H
Chewysmom
Chrissie542
Christian
Clairb7tx/
Claire
Claudia
Claylor
Copycat
Cora Mitchell
corky
Crazyfortaylorh
Cydter
Dananbethany
DavidC
Deanie79
DeAnne/StLouis
Deb
Debrakw47
Debs1963
DeeDee56
denv
DidNotExpectThat
Dogmom06
Dream of Jeannie
Dreama Denver
Duff/Debra
dusty
eljean
EmeraldIisle
Emptyhd009
Englishmummy/
Michelle
Ennyllek
Evancol
Fitzgib/Jo
GailCC
Gbfans66/Jill
GingGing
Gr8fulheart
grannyforbo
Gray Charles
Grayboy
GrayHair
GrayHair50
Grimsby/Deirdre
Gypsee
Hall Family
HatchRoo
Headlight
hickifino
Hicklet
HicksChicks792
Hookedonhayes
Hottay/Dreama
Hsv4Taylor
Idolfan082
IdolWatcher33
Ila Faye Miller
Ilovetaylor64
InjunKB/Keith
Innie
Irisheyes/Erin
J
Jacque Jones/jjones1/
cooljj
JAG/Judy
Jan
Jan4taylor
Jaynenicey
Jazzytide
Jcinshanssoul
Jerseygirlidol
Jewell
Jewell49
JewelsSoul
Jodi
JoJo Yu
Jonibug
JSNorris
JudiNH/Judith
Judy M
Judy Morton
Julia M
Juney_B
justwatchin
kaitlin45
Kalleyne
Kate21989
Katja
Kazcoles/Karen
KeepBreathing
Kid One Transport
Kimbali106
Kirsty
Kirstymich
KityKat132
KTINTN
Kyarilee/Tracy
Lanaesgifts/Lanae
LAteacher
Lauren
Lauri
Lilolme
LIMBO
Linda
Lionels02
livinonheartnsoul/
Tanya
Liz Green
Lizlovestaylor
Lmo4taylor1
Loner2
LoniR
LovesGoodMusic
Lubiana
Luv2
Luv2tokidol
Mac_fae4taylor
Malisa
Mammascrush
Margie
Marszajl
Maryann1
Maryqtpi
meekowl
Merrymax
Michel2006
Mikki
miknerak
Mouser
Mr. Duff
Msdog
Murly/Liz
Mybro
Navymom1921
Navyson/Aaron
Nina Ito
Nobeers
Oldiebutgoodie
PapasPilar
Pat Boyers/PBoyers
Pat Rice
Patay
Patti LeMaster
Paula
Paulatroller
Pboyers
Penny.cyn
Plushaye
Poetcindy1966
Purplebutterflies
Rachel
Ragsqueen/Mandy
Raylindy
Reporterchick
Rina
Rita
Robin Williams/
Robin3w
Robinqm
Rs94
Ryleediane
Sandi/Weitzema
Scorp59
SegerHicks
Sendmetay
Shelia
Shell4taylor
Shellmomof2
Shelovesmodernwhomp/Connie
Sideways721
skygram
Sonyab1974
Soulaz
Souldaria
SoulMan56
Soulpatrol13/Windy/
SarahB
Soulpatroller
SoulSisterDK/Lotte
Stormynight555/
Stormy
Studio By The Tracks
Sunny
Susan Truby/Susantr
SusanJane
Takemetay/Michelle
Tay_What
TayBea
tayfan65
Taylor crazy
TAYLOR HICKS
Taylored
Taylorfever105
Taylorgotsoulno1
TaylorNaster
TaylorsBunny
Taylorwow
Taymate
The Shalk Family:
Carolyn & Terry
tober55
TotallyTaylor10
Tracy
TurtleHeart
Tweetibear
UhadMeatWooHoo
VirginiaUK
Wanda Wasilko/
Laurensilk
Wayne Williams/
Wayne3w
Webchic00
WeLoveThatTaylor/
June
Willard18517
Yolonda
YoursSoully
ZoMBIExX
Let Us Add YOU in the NEXT 12 Months. . .
15
Fan Site “Shout Out” – Season of the Soul
Submitted by Lydia Bower
The End – January 31, 2006
I was in a very dark place in my life, and that
night I was sitting in my living room with a
belly full of wine and a full bottle of prescription sleeping pills in my hand. I’d made up my
mind that I was not going to see February 1st.
As fate would have it – and I truly believe it
was fate, not coincidence – I glanced at the TV
just as a musical montage set to the song Hair
began on AI5. I saw a gray-headed guy with
the most haunting eyes leaning against a brick
wall. I listened as he introduced himself and
watched as he faced the judges. And then he
began to sing.
He cracked me wide open. I don’t know how
else to describe it. All I’d been through had
turned my soul into an empty and brittle thing.
But I felt it shatter when he sang of a change
coming. He’s been putting my soul back
together ever since that night. His music is the
glue, and his voice the hand that applies it.
The Early Years
I’m a Gray Charles baby, finding him in late
February 2006, and stayed until he called it
quits after his interview with Taylor in June ’06.
I rarely posted there. I wasn’t quite ready to
jump into the fray, being still fairly fragile,
and by the time I’d gathered my courage and
posted a few times, Gray announced his retirement.
I hopped over to the Boogie Board and settled
in there as AliceinWonderland. I chose that
screen name because the only other thing in
my life that makes me feel like Taylor Hicks’
music does is writing. And when I’m really in
the zone and lose hours at a time to the muse,
I refer to it as falling down the rabbit hole. So
the moniker seemed fitting.
I spent scads of time on the Boogie analyzing
Taylor’s music with a bunch of other like-minded folk. I began and hosted a re-examination
of Taylor’s AI5 performances while there. That
exercise is one in which I remain extremely
proud.
Along the way I met some truly fascinating
and remarkable folks. A group of us traveled to
Wilkes-Barre PA for the final night of the Pop
Tarts tour and LiMBO’s after-party gig at The
Woodlands, confident that Taylor would show
up. And he did. It was an extraordinary weekend all around. Seeing Taylor perform with
his band in a smaller, intimate setting for what
might have been the very last time turned out
to be only one of the highlights. The other was
putting faces to names and forming friendships
that grow stronger every day.
New Year, New Beginnings
The Season Of the Soul message board fired
up its engines on January 1, 2007. That’s where
I make my home now, as Wonderland. I’ve
become the place I fell into!
The reasons I started the SOS are many, but
it really boils down to a few simple things. I
wanted to create a sanctuary for folks who
weren’t comfortable or didn’t feel welcomed
or appreciated at other sites. I wanted a place
where the community our members ultimately
created would be just as important as anything
Taylor Hicks was doing. I wanted it to be supportive, encouraging, loving, respectful, and
compassionate.
I wanted to start a family. Not just for us, but as
a way to build upon the kind of fan base Taylor
spoke of wanting. A group of fans that would
make experiencing him in concert not just an
event, but a kind of family gathering. I’m proud
to say I think we’ve reached that goal. And
done it splendidly. We’re a small board. We sit
at 262 as I write this. Of those, perhaps a third
are active, with the others popping in from
time to time.
Why SOS Is Unique
We’re a tightly knit group with an especially
supportive environment in which to hang out.
A group of 27 Season of the Soul board members gathered July 23, 2007 in Goshen IN for Taylor’s Elkhart concert.
11
Season of the Soul “Shout Out” Continues!
And we’re very chatty. It’s not unusual to fill
three threads (that’s 1500 posts, folks) in an
18-hour span. And that’s just our daily thread.
Once we leave the sanity of the News and
Media Forums, it’s controlled chaos, but of
the best kind. We laugh together, cry together,
aggravate each other, and then happily make
up. We’re a loving family. And all that positive
energy goes toward supporting Taylor and
his career – and each other – in the process.
We’re strong believers in the Karma wheel.
Rarely does one of our members see Taylor
in concert alone. It seems we can only travel
in groups of three or more. There were 27 of
us gathered on July 23rd in Goshen IN (see
photo, page 11). Others of us meet regularly
for lunch or weekend slumber parties. We’re
all about fun and friendship and the admiration and appreciation of Taylor and his music.
We count among our ranks some amazing
videographers, photographers, and artists,
as well as wonderful writers. We are global,
with members from North America, Finland,
Great Britain, and the Philippines, and our
friends across the pond can be found posting
in the wee hours while most folks are sleeping.
We love to pick at Taylor’s brain when it
comes to his music or his interpretation of
others’. We surprise each other with incredible new, or newly discovered, artists. We’re
experts at multi-tasking, able to discuss the
finer points of Taylor’s newest tag while
appreciating the photos and videos that go
along with it. It’s all in good fun and never
crosses the line into the land where there be
dragons.
We’re surprisingly positive. It’s not that we
bury our collective heads in the sand, but
more that we generally don’t feel the need
to dwell on bad press or radio and marketplace numbers. In many ways Taylor is only
at the beginning of his career, and there’ll
be bumps and dips in the road, but we’re in
it for the long
haul. We’ve
drunk deeply
of the Taylor
Hicks “KoolAid,” and we
believe wholeheartedly in his
gifts. And we’re
each, in our
own unique
ways, deeply
grateful for
them.And we
have our own
resident Soul Potato, the infamous fAtnhapy.
Though we started out as an open message
board, as of early July 2007 we closed our
doors. The SOS is now a private, by-invitation-only board. My decision to do that was
not an easy one. But in order to assure that
our community remains a positive and safe
one, I had to do it.
I think we’ve built something very unique
and special on the Season of the Soul message board. My moderators and I are determined to keep it that way. If you’re interested
in joining our merry band, please email me
at [email protected].
I hope to keep adding members to the board,
to expand our family. I’d like our board to
continue to represent Taylor’s fan base in the
best possible light to those on the outside
looking in. Other than that, my needs are
simple: my family and a place to talk to them,
and the music. Always the music.
Evolution
The best thing about SOS is that it’s comfortable. The board has a very lived-in feel, if a
message board can claim such a thing. And
I love settling in after work and catching up
with everything I’ve missed during the day.
Thanks to my lovely and talented moderators,
Babynco, PC325, and HarpNSoul, who
keep watch when I can’t be there, there’s very
little stress involved in overseeing the SOS.
17
Hopping on the board is like slipping into a
beloved old bar and kicking back with a few,
surrounded by my favorite friends and family
members.
I do wish I had more time to delve into Taylor’s music from a more analytical standpoint.
While too much analyzing can take the fun
out of it, a little bit is good exercise for the
brain, and I think it makes us all appreciate
his talents even more. I wish I could add my
thoughts to all the various threads others have
started as well.
The Beginning
II’ve been blessed to find the unique collection of souls gathered around me on the SOS.
I often tell them I may have built the house,
but they’ve made it a home.
Taylor Hicks’ fandom is a rich one. It’s filled
with some of the most amazing folks I’ve
had the chance to meet. And we seem to be
a generous bunch as well, always stepping
up to the plate and doing what needs to be
done, whether it’s comforting a fellow fan in
a time of need or raising funds for charities.
It started with the music, but it’s become
about so much more. It’s about the music
and the friendships; the community and
the compassion; the re-awakenings and the
discoveries; the journey and the destination.
It’s a soul thing.
Idols Live 2006 Tour
Most Successful
To Date
According to a recently published article in
USA Today by contributor Steve Jones, the
2006 AI tour featuring the AI5 top ten was
the most successful tour to date.
The article reports that Billboard Boxscore
records show that, of the 2006 tour’s first
30 shows, 17 were sellouts and another 10
exceeded 93% of capacity. The lowest capacity figure for the 2006 tour was 89.3%.
Gary Bongiovanni, editor of touring trade
publication and website Pollstar, was
quoted in the article as saying, “There are
always intangibles that motivate people to
see something live, and maybe there was
something about last year’s [2006] tour that
people wanted to see versus the acts this
year [2007].”
The article also quotes Don Waller, former
Variety music editor and USA Today AI
commentator for the past two seasons
saying that last season’s [2006] top four
were much more of an attraction than the
leading finalists this year [2007]. “There
was no must-see live performer and not a
lot of diversity.”
Hmmmmm. . .
Louisiana 1927
Taylor performed a touching version of the
song “Louisiana 1927” at his recent August
4 New Orleans HOB concert. To hear the
story of “Louisiana 1927” from its songwriter, Randy Newman, and to hear Aaron
Neville’s (a distinctive recording artist and
one of the famous New Orleans born and
raised Neville Brothers) rendition, go to:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.
php?storyId=4838741
New Orleans Is Back!
Submitted by San Leach
On the narrow streets of the French
Quarter there was barely room for Taylor’s two shiny buses to park and traffic to
go around. There was no problem finding
the House of Blues.
New Orleans is a city of contrasts with
neighborhoods struggling to build a new
life after Katrina and with life pouring
out of open doorways in the French
Quarter with soulful notes of delta blues,
jazz, funk, and rock. It is a town rooted
in the sounds that have shaped popular
music in this country for generations. After all, jazz legend Louis
Armstrong gives his name to the
international airport here. This is
a music town – on a very hot and
humid night – hosting the blueeyed soul music of Taylor Hicks.
a time that was more than the place,
the people, and the music – it was an
experience that can only be described as
the best of times when people and places
become something more, and we are
part of an unforgettable memory. New
Orleans is a place of the heart – not just
somewhere you’ve been, but a place you
connect with – a special place and time
with a performer who makes music not
just an exhilarating sound but makes it a
song of the human spirit. These times are
not just memorable, they are what keeps
life from being boring and keeps us
There was hardly standing room
in the Blues theater and bar.
Taylor let everyone know that he
loved New Orleans. His amazing
journey to AI5 and beyond had
begun here with Katrina bearing
down, and he was clearly happy
to be back. He seemed to choke
up several times as he spoke
about his times here.
If “whomp” ever fit the genre
of Taylor music, it fits in New
Orleans where jazz began and
blended with delta blues, mossy
swamp, funk, rock, and sweet
soul music. In a heart-pounding
performance of “whomp” Taylor
held the crowd and the moment
tightly. When he sat on a stool
for his first encore and sang “Louisiana
1927” again, this place tugged at your
heart. Then he led a chant “New Orleans
is back. . . New Orleans is back. . .”
creating a fusion of what had happened,
what was happening, and a hope for the
future. Emotion filled the room. It was
18
Biloxi 8.03.07 concert photo taken and submitted by San Leach
searching for the next moment and place
like this one. After all, it is the special
times and places when life is not boring
and is more than the moment that makes
it all worthwhile. New Orleans was one
of those times and places!
 
 
 
 
Submitted by Karen D’Valentine
What an incredible summer finale it was
for NESP. Members welcomed Taylor
and the band as they came to visit us in
New England three more times in August.
Each show was heart pounding and full
of energy and excitement! New England
definitely loves Taylor’s “soul”!
One of the highlights of Taylor’s visit
was the NESP’s gift of a stool, which was
presented to Taylor by NESP at the Rhode
Island show in August. “It’s a Soul Thing”
and “Property of Taylor Hicks” rims the
seat. The top reads “Soul Patrol” with a
shooting star (NESP’s logo) in gold letters
in the center.
Two caricatures, one of Ray Charles
and another of Taylor, appear in perfect
bluesy style. The custom-made stool by
Michael R. Leyden was taken to airbrush
master Bill Hovis of Hyannis MA for the
design work.
Under the seat of the stool, an inscription
reads “Gift from New England Soul
Patrol” with signatures from the NESP
Board and Members who took part in
this special project for Taylor! NESP
thought that since so many of us have
Taylor’s autograph, we should give him
ours!
Taylor surprised us by asking for the
stool to be brought out to him part-way
through his singing of “The Right Place”
at his Portland ME show in August. He
thanked NESP for the gift and continued
with the song. It simply was an amazing
experience for all. The
audience was energized
by Taylor, and it gave
the energy right back
to him in what was an
obvious exchange of
soulful spirit.
There is yet another
show coming up for
NESP, the Big E in
Springfield MA on
September 29. This will
be exceptionally special
as we will be celebrating
NESP’s first birthday.
(Taylor’s too! Shhhhh!) We
hope everyone will come
out and help us celebrate.
Taylor used his new stool for the first time at the 8.12.07 Portland ME
concert. Photo taken and submitted by Karen D’Valentine.
Please join our website to
keep updated on our news
and events! We welcome
Taylor Hicks fans from all
over and have members
from across the US and
beyond!
The top of Taylor’s stool. Portland ME 8.12.07 concert photo
taken and submitted by DebD.
Visit
newenglandsoulpatrol.org
to join us in all the fun
we have!
19
Submitted by Patti LeMaster
Virgo – The Virgin
August 23 - September 23
Traditional Virgo Traits
Modest and shy
Meticulous and reliable
Practical and diligent
Intelligent and analytical
On the Dark Side
Fussy and a worrier
Overcritical and harsh
Pefectionist and conservative
Famous Virgo Musicians
Patsy Cline, Elvis Costello, Buddy Holly,
John Phillips, Otis Redding
Libra – The Scales
September 24 to October 23
Traditional Libra Traits
Diplomatic and urbane
Romantic and charming
Easygoing and sociable
Idealistic and peaceable
On the Dark Side
Indecisive and changeable
Gullible and easily influenced
Flirtatious and self-indulgent
Famous Libra Musicians
TAYLOR HICKS, Chubby Checker, Linda
McCartney, Julio Iglesias, John Mellencamp
What’s YOUR Sign?
The Soul Connection hopes you have enjoyed
reading and learning about your Sun Sign as
well as those of your Soul Patrol friends during
the past year. Next month we will begin
another new and interesting series to replace
Sun Signs. Be sure to watch for it every month!
Born Under a Wandering Star
“Call Me the Breeze”
Submitted by Susan Truby
Imagine an open road, driving with the
windows down, free to drift like the wind.
The sun is shining and the music inspires
you to move along the highway. It does
not matter where the road is taking you
– the open road itself conveys a sense of
mystery, discovery, and vivid imagery.
Roads have special meaning in our lives.
They are a rite of
passage. They can lead
us to hope, celebration,
reunion, or pain.
Sometimes they don’t
lead us anywhere
at all. The joy is in
the unknown. Life’s
grandest adventures
can be found because
we followed a twist in
the road.
The romance of the
road has long been
celebrated in music,
poetry, and literature.
“Call Me The Breeze,”
written by J. J. Cale,
describes a type of
freedom that is sought by many but
attained by few.
“Call me the breeze,
I keep blowin’ down the road.
I ain’t got me nobody,
I don’t carry me no load.”
For those of us born under a wandering
star, the road beckons to us and is
impossible to resist.
According to Wikipedia, J. J. Cale is an
American songwriter and musician known
for writing two songs that Eric Clapton
made famous – “After Midnight” and
“Cocaine” – as well as the Lynyrd Skynyrd
hit “Call Me the Breeze.” He was the
originator of the Tulsa sound, a genre that
draws on blues, rockabilly, country, and
20
jazz influences. “Call Me the Breeze”
is one of his most covered songs. Cale
has had a longstanding aversion to
stardom; he has remained an obscure
cult artist for the last 35 years.
Taylor Hicks’ own wandering spirit
is well documented. When he
performs this song, you know that he
understands these lyrics. He has lived
this vagabond life.
Biloxi 8.3..07 concert photo taken and submitted by Lanae Brooks
Sun Signs. . .
For the Soul Patrol our inspiration to
travel is the chance to see and hear the
soulful performances of Taylor Hicks.
From all over the world, we travel to
meet our soul brothers and sisters. In
towns large and small, we gather to
celebrate Taylor’s music.
The Soul Patrol has become and will
remain a traveling band of gypsies,
joyously following Taylor to concerts
whenever and wherever they can. We
are his family. We understand his soul
because we too feel the vibe that he
feels. We know that for us, all roads
lead to each other and to Taylor Hicks.
We are Soul Patrol for life.
KOPS in Action!
We can do no great things; only small things
with great love.
~ Mother Teresa of Calcutta
At KOPS we believe one of the greatest gifts
the Soul Patrol has received from Taylor Hicks
is the desire to give something back – to come
out of our own little worlds. . .to understand
the need of others less fortunate and the desire
to do whatever we can to make a difference in
their lives. This is evident from the number of
charities the Soul Patrol supports. It is amazing
to look back over the last year and witness the
generosity of the Soul Patrol. Regardless of the
charity you have chosen to support, you have
opened your hearts to those in the world who
are less fortunate.
The KOPS organization offers our most sincere
thanks to each of you for your support of Kid
One Transport. We also thank all of the web
site owners for allowing us to post on their
sites. And last but not least we would like
to acknowledge support for all the charities
offered to the Soul Patrol. There is not one
more or less important than the other. Each
supports different needs and offers relief to
communities all over the world.
The awareness each charitable organization
has brought to us about the different needs
in our communities is amazing. Whether
we are sending the sounds of Taylor to our
Troops, providing an opportunity to send a
fan to a concert, filling gas tanks for medical
transportation, or helping to rebuild the lives
of others, each of us is showing great love and
support for our fellow man.
In the great words of John F. Kennedy, “As we
express our gratitude, we must never forget
that the highest appreciation is not to utter
words, but to live by them.”
memorable dates relating to Taylor’s life
and musical journey. Not only will you be
able to record all of your important dates to
remember, but you will also have a unique
piece of Taylor memorabilia to display
proudly in your home or office! The cost of
the calendar is $20, which includes shipping
and handling. What a great Christmas gift
this would make for your family and friends,
and of course, you will want one for yourself
as well! Most importantl, as with all KOPS
projects, 100% of the proceeds go to benefit
Kid One.
giving
them the
opportunity
to
encourage
their family
and friends to donate as well. For each person
you find to donate $10 in your name, KOPS
will automatically enter you into a drawing
for an amazing “Live for the Music” prize
pack that will include a Mini iPod, a one-of-akind, custom Mini iPod Cover featuring Taylor
Hicks, and a $50 iTunes Gift Card!
Happy Birthday to YOU!
KOPS is offering a chance for you to celebrate
your birthday with the rest of the Soul Patrol!
For $5 you can add your birthday date to
the calendar. If you would like to include
family members’ birthdays, you can do that as
well, for $5 for every date added. Send us a
message if you are interested. These funds will
help defray publishing costs and allow more
money to stay in Kid One’s pocket! Only so
many names can fit on each date, so if you
are interested in including your birthday on
the calendar, send us your request as soon
as possible. Deadline for birthday requests
is October 22, 2007. For more information,
contact Karen at dkrice @sprintmail.com.
Our goal is to get 10,000 people to donate
$10. By Takin’ It to the Streets, you could
help raise $100,000 for Kid One Transport!
To donate, go to www.kidone.org. As always,
thank you for your support for Kid One
Transport!
Takin’ It To The Streets!
Kid One Transport is celebrating 10 years of
service to the families of Alabama, and we
want you to join in on the fun! By donating
$10 to Kid One you will receive a special
Kid One button created especially for this
celebration! By wearing this button, you will
have the opportunity to tell others about the
services Kid One offers and encourage them
to donate $10 as well. Each person who
donates will also receive this special button,
A Year Full of Heart and Soul
KOPS is excited to announce the creation
of a 2008 Taylor Hicks Calendar, “A Year
Full of Heart and Soul.” This custom wall
calendar will be 11” x 17” (opened) and
will contain 12 pages of full-color pictures
of Taylor! The calendar will also include
21
Kid One Nominated for
My Hometown Helper
Kid One Transport has been accepted as
a nominee for the My Hometown Helper
program, sponsored by General Mills
Corporation. This is a great opportunity to
acquire much needed funding for Kid One
Transport. This program is only in its second
year, so you may not know about it. To
learn more about My Hometown Helper,
check out its web site at
http://www.myhometownhelper.com
All you need to do to help is go to the link
above, then search for Kid One Transport in
Alabama in the search field, then add your
comments supporting Kid One. Feel free to
send an email to your family, friends, business
associates, etc. asking them to do the same.
Last year it was fun to read the wonderful
comments left by other Soul Patrol members
and supporters of Kid One. It’s heartwarming
to see the words of those who have been
touched by Kid One and to learn about this
important program. Make your comments and
help Kid One Transport continue to transport
children and expectant mothers to better
health. Thank you!
September Special Events!
Noteworthy. . .
Soul Patrol Birthdays & Anniversaries
Heaven Knows. . .as of 9/1, is tracking on
the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks Billboard
chart at #19. . .inside the Top 20!
CALTAYFAN
Dixiethings/Betty
J2000LT
Kalleyne~anniversary
9/4
9/6
9/6
9/13
Texanlovestaylor
azgoddess
Jan4Taylor
9/14
9/15
9/24
Many thanks to all for sharing your Soul Patrol birthdays and
anniversaries during the first year of The Soul Connection!
Watch next month for a new feature here!
Quote of the Month. . .
“Do what you feel in your heart
and do that with conviction. . . .
Find the ones who get you and your art
and focus on them. Don’t waste
your time convincing the ones who
don’t understand that they should.”
~ PJ Bloom to Mark Northam, Film Music Magazine, 7:2:2007
Do YOU know of a quote that just seems to “fit” Taylor and/or the Soul Patrol? If so, we’d
love you to share it! Just submit your quote with proper attribution regarding the quote’s
author and publication information to [email protected].
The Little Memphis Blues Orchestra. . .
purchase a copy of its newly released double
CD, Live At The Workplay Theatre (featuring
Taylor Hicks and Elliott Yamin), and receive
a free GOT SOUL? t-shirt to brazenly imply
that you do, indeed, have soul. Only $17.98
at lasersedgecd.com!
Little Buddy Radio. . .Check out a great
interview with Dreama Denver about the
station’s start of at: http://radio.about.com/od/
specialtystreams/a/aa080107a.htm or you can
enjoy Little Buddy Radio at bobdenver.com!
Bluzkat.com. . . has announced its Whomp
Shop is up and running! Check out their cool
merchandise soon!
Auburn. . .kickoff Sept. 15 at 11:30 a.m. Taylor
returns in glory as the halftime entertainer!
Taylor Trivia. . .
Submitted by Susan Truby
1. What can’t Taylor live with
out?
2. What are Taylor’s favorite NFL
football teams?
3. What does Taylor mean when
he says “high impact soul aerobics”?
4. When and where did Taylor
recently perform Bill Withers
“Use Me”?
5. How fast does Taylor drive?
Illustrated and submitted by mammascrush
The Soul Connection can use you! Article ideas and photos to share are welcomed from the Soul Patrol for publication. The Soul Connection e-zine
is published and provided via emailed pdf files to members of The Soul Patrol, Taylor Hicks' official fan base. Its Editorial Board reserves the right
to edit all submissions for content and length. Subscription requests, article and/or photo submissions, questions, and comments should be sent to:
[email protected]. All photos submitted for publication must be the original property of the person submitting and must be accompanied
by written permission granting The Soul Connection the right to publish the photo. Free downloadable PDFs of past issues can be found online at
tay-online.com and at whompswamp.com. Publisher and Managing Editor: Connie Leinicke. Editorial Board: Linda Coke, Patti LeMaster, Susan Truby.
Staff Photographer: Jacque Jones.
TAYLOR TRIVIA ANSWeRS 1. Chocolate 2. Baltimore Ravens and the Chicago Bears 3. James Brown meets Richard Simmons 4. House of Blues, New Orleans 5. The speed limit.
22

It`s All About the Soul Patrol!

Transcription

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