[Harp-L] Re: Taylor Hicks

["jazmaan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <dmf273@xxxxxxxxx>]

Bobbie, 

I wasn't planning to write about Taylor Hicks anymore but I feel I have to respond to you.

You ask how many of us Harp-L'ers would like Hicks if we didn't know he played harp?   I, for one,
liked Taylor from the first audition, before I had a clue he was a harp player.  At that first
audition he sang an a cappella version of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come".   That song choice
was already a breath of fresh air compared to almost every other audition up to that point (except
Paris Bennett's "Take Five" which was also outstanding.)

But next, when they asked him to sing one more he broke into "Swanee River"!   What a gutsy choice
that was!  When other contestants were auditioning with Top 40 material, he picks a Ray Charles
cover of a Stephen Foster tune that's obscure even to most Ray Charles fans.  And he did a
wonderful job with it.

I just watched the clip someone posted of Taylor on a news show reprising "Jailhouse Rock" with
harmonica intro and solos.   Ok, he's not an amazing harp player like some of the players on this
list.   But dang it, he is exciting to watch and he holds my interest a lot MORE than some of the
virtuosos here.  He's a natural and I knew it from the first note that came out of his mouth at
the first audition.   Taylor is the only contestant who is truly spontaneous. Even while competing
he is still making real music, not just regurgitating an over-rehearsed routine.  I've seen him do
"Jailhouse Rock" three times now and every performance was musically different.  I don't think he
could repeat himself if he wanted to.

Taylor deserves to win!