Sold-out crowds greet 'Idol' winner Taylor Hicks

The 'American Idol' winner still thinks of himself as an underdog.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Five years into the "American Idol" phenomenon, it's safe to say that no other winner has generated as much controversy from winning the reality television show than Taylor Hicks, who from the start was an underdog. In fact, Hicks will tell you it's been a David-vs.-Goliath struggle his whole life.
"Yeah, I definitely was an underdog and still am to a certain degree," said Hicks, calling from New Orleans. "It's always good to feel that way. You have to feel like that, carry that around with you. It makes you work harder."
From the start of the fifth "American Idol" season, the then 29-year-old Alabama native, whose prematurely gray hair made him look more like an aging lounge singer at a local Holiday Inn than an up-and-coming musical talent, was the center of attention when it became public that Hicks had released two solo albums. However, due to the fact he never had a recording contract, he remained eligible for the show and eventually beat out Katharine McPhee for the title of American Idol last May.
Playing sold-out dates
Love him or hate him, Hicks is making his victory lap around the country touring his platinum self-titled album to one sold-out show after another. This includes a Cleveland date Saturday and a Greensburg, Pa., date Sunday. In talking to Hicks about his image -- that being a white guy singing blues and soul -- he points out his current show is aimed at solidifying his style.
"I don't think I've been pigeonholed in a genre yet," Hicks said. "There were different genres for each week [of 'American Idol'], so I think they tried to pigeonhole you each week considering whatever genre you're supposed to be singing in."
He added, "A big difference is I'm a musician. I play harmonica and guitar, and you really don't get that opportunity on 'American Idol.' I've got an eight-piece band, including myself, and the music is not lacking. My musicality leans towards the Dave Matthews Band, jam-band type of format so there's more exploring and jamming in the music as opposed to just having two minutes on television."
So far his musical talents have allowed him to share the stage with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Widespread Panic and Willie Nelson. Without disparaging past "American Idol" winners, Hicks said he feels he's the real deal as a singer-songwriter. He co-wrote a few songs on his major label debut and he plans on writing more for his next album.
To some extent, Hicks has been a star for years. It's only now that the spotlight finally caught him.
"I think I'm the blue-eyed soulful guy and think that's still accurate," Hicks said. "I went on the show whoever I was and I left [the same person]. Luckily, America picked up on that."