ANOTHER NORTH CAROLINA WINNER - Clay Aiken offers insight into finale week for Scotty McCreery, Garner's American Idol hopeful. View video full screen at the WRAL website.
NC Pulls for Scotty McCreey
Aiken Recalls Idol Finale Week
Anyone who publishes a blog on Blogspot will tell you that Friday the 13th got a head start, wreaking havoc in this corner of Cyberspace on May 11-12. Anything posted at the Carolina site during that period -- the May 12 entry, comments in previous/current blogs -- was literally wiped out Thursday afternoon. Supposedly, all will be returned sometime later today.
While some aspects are back to normal, the most recent post is either corrupted or floating around in Cyberspace; so I redid the codes from the parallel version at Clay Aiken's official fan club site. If the blog uploads, we're in business. Thnx for stopping back by ... again! - Caro
In a news segment on WRAL-TV Wednesday night, Clay Aiken offered insight into what 17-year-old American Idol hopeful Scotty McCreery of Garner can expect during Season 10's final flurry of activities.
During the interview with Jason Deans, Clay recalled finale week activities of 2003, long-standing friendships with fellow contestants, and the strong support the Triangle of North Carolina provides its "Idols."
Five albums, millions of albums sold, a stint on Broadway, and it all started on American Idol ...
Enjoy the interview, as well as screen caps of the telecast by Cotton. You can download all her caps with this Sendspace file. The caps below are clickable.
All the best to Scotty! He's got Clay's vote and the state of North Carolina cheering/dialing for him!
Happy Birthday to granddaughter Lia, who is two years old this Friday the 13th! Photos from the festivities will be shared as soon as possible. Meanwhile, this is one of my favorites as played arpeggios last Christmas.
Clay Aiken and his mother Faye Parker. - Graphic by AmazingCA
Mama Mac Remembered
Clay Nation Celebrates Mothers
Faye Parker has long been the "First Mom" of the Clay Nation, fans from every corner of the globe who follow the career of her son, platinum recording artist Clay Aiken.
Readers of the Carolina blog represent 168 countries from all continents but Antarctica. We each have a mother, and today I honor the memory of Mama Mac, the special lady who was mine.
A Mother's Day Remembrance Saturday morning I was running errands, and memories of my mother enveloped me as I unconsciously performed the maneuver our family years ago tagged "the Mama Mac stop." This occurs when the driver arrives at an intersection in a relatively quiet neighborhood and figuratively, almost literally, drags his/her feet instead of coming to a complete halt.
In her later years and much to the horror of her granddaughters, all excellent drivers, Mother perfected the maneuver and employed it at will. On the day before Mother's Day, I drifted into "the Mama Mac stop" at least twice. We used to tease her about this tempered version of a stop, and I just bet she returned the grin this weekend.
Mama Mac, whom many of you have met through blog entries, was a character. This entry is a reprint from Mother's Day 2010.
On July 12, 2005, my mother -- the woman who gave my sister, brother, and me life, introduced us to the wonderful world of music, encouraged us in all life's endeavors -- left behind a tired, weary 93-year-old body and sailed peacefully on to her next portal.
Her family celebrates a joyful life that almost spanned a century with many fond memories, a full heart, and the knowledge that this very special woman is still singing glorious harmony through her offspring and the many students she touched.
Sail on, Silver Girl, Sail on By
As a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, musician, gardener extraordinaire, Alleen McDonald, affectionately known as Mama Mac, worked hard and lived a full life. Her green thumb was legendary, whether she was cultivating gardens of vegetables or azaleas.
An alto in the First Baptist Church-Wilmington Chancel Choir for 42 years, she appreciated good music and was a very enthusiastic fan of Clay Aiken. Some of the most enjoyable moments of the last two years of her life were spent watching and listening to Clay sing. She especially loved his rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and would have embraced his latest Tried & True album.
Our family misses its spirited matriarch. Besides her three children, five grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, Mama Mac was special to a large extended family of friends, former students and co-workers, as well as the caregivers at Wesley Long Nursing Home where she lived following a broken hip.
Even with 35 years in the public schools, the countless operettas and other musical productions she successfully presented, Mother is best remembered in our Wilmington neighborhood as "the beach lady." On any given summer day, we would load up her old 1939 Chevy, which she kept way past its prime just for beach outings.
Picture an old jalopy, of the running board variety, bursting with neighborhood kids in bathing suits, inner tubes, fishing/crabbing gear, picnic lunches, etc., bopping down the 10 miles between Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach. Fond, fond memories.
Sail on, Silver Girl, Sail on By
One of my favorite Mama Mac stories happened during National Caregivers Week in May 2005. A month shy of her 93rd birthday, Mother was very proud of the fact that she was cognizant 99% of the time and that she still had all her teeth.
Awakened from a mid-morning nap with a visit from her granddaughter and then toddler twin great-grandchildren, Mama Mac immediately began insisting she needed to get dressed for a rehearsal.
No one in the family knew that she and her physical therapist had secretly been rehearsing a duet for the nursing home's afternoon talent show, so we just assumed our matriarch was groggy and still getting her bearings.
My sister dropped by after choir practice that evening, and proudly displayed on Mother's door was a huge lst Place Blue Ribbon. She most certainly did know she needed to get dressed to rehearse!
Our mother could sing harmony at the drop of a hat, a talent she shared with Clay and one of the many reasons she admired him so much. That day she and her duet partner were, hands down, the best!
Sail on, Silver Girl, Sail on By
Mama Mac was a character in the best way. At restaurants, she always pocketed several little pink packets of Sweet-N-Low and ketchup "for the church." Annoyed or bored with a discussion, her final word on any subject was "whatevah," delivered with deadpan inflection and any number of hand gestures.
In 2010, my brother spent Mother's Day Weekend with me while his son performed in the two-day commencement ceremonies at Greensboro College. More than once he commented how often he wishes he could talk with Mama Mac or ask her a question.
After Mother's death, our family received countless messages from her former students like this one:
Susan (Sunset Park, 1961-62):Your mother was my beloved 5th grade teacher at Sunset Park Elementary. My year with her was very special. Mrs. McDonald taught us everything from how to do research projects to how to harmonize when we sang.
The Christmas play she directed that year probably raised the bar for not just harmony but also the amount of instruments she had us playing in the background.
She encouraged us to be inquisitive beyond the textbook and rewarded us for creative thinking with extra credit points. She was a fair teacher with high standards. If we pleased her, we felt very good about our efforts.
Until 2005, Mother's Day Weekend was a given on my brother's calendar, as he drove up from Wilmington to visit Mama Mac, staying overnight with his big sis. Our routine was to stop by the Harris Teeter nearest the retirement home and pick up fresh blueberries and boiled shrimp, two of Mother's favorite foods in the whole wide world, for her special day.
Ketchup was an automatic, either a bottle from my kitchen or several of the packets that remain part of her legacy.
PHOTO INTERLUDE- Featured in this special Mother's Day respite are graphics and photos byAmazing_CA, 1, andcindilu2, 2 and 3. The close relationship Clay shares with his mother and Jaymes, mother of his son Parker, are interwoven with the song lyrics Mama Mac dearly loved.
Special Email Salutes All Mothers
Email sometimes yields a most appropriate piece at just the right time. I received this from a friend and reprint it today for all the mothers who read the Carolina blog.
FOR MOTHERS
This is for mothers who sit up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, saying, 'It's okay honey, Mommy's here.'
Who sit in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.
This is for mothers who show up at work with milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.
For mothers who run carpools, make cookies, and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who don't.
This is for mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.
This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.
And for the mothers who freeze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars. And when their kids ask, 'Did you see me, Mom?' they say, 'Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world,' and mean it.
This is for mothers who yell at their kids and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.
This is for all mothers who go hungry so their children can eat.
For mothers who read 'Goodnight, Moon' twice a night for a year. And then read it again. 'Just one more time.'
This is for the mothers who teach their children to tie shoe laces before they start school. And for mothers who opt for Velcro instead.
This is for all mothers who teach their sons to cook and iron and their daughters to take out the trash and change the oil.
This is for every mother whose head turns when a little voice calls 'Mom?' in a crowd, even though their own offspring are at home -- or away at college -- or have their own families.
This is for mothers who have sent kids to school with stomach aches, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away!
This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them. But love them every day.
For mothers who bite their lips when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.
For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.
For mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their children who came home from school, safely.
This is for all mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from war.
This is for you all. For all of us. Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can do. Tell them every day that we love them. Pray and never stop being a mom.
Mothers the world over know about bridging troubled waters. In memory of Mama Mac, here is video of her favorite Clay Aiken song, "Bridge Over Troubled Water."
Clay performing 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' on American Idol.
It would be great if everyone shared a special story about your mom in this blog.
CLAY AIKEN OWNS THE SONG: 'Solitaire' should not only win the Best of Top 5 vote; it could also be named the best American Idol performance ever. Click to expand graphic by cindilu2.
Best of Seasons Past
Vote for Clay in Idol Competitions It's been a while since Clay Aiken fans have put their voting skills into perpetual motion, but this week they are doing just that.
The Final Four Round of Philadelphia radio station Q102's Ultimate Idol competition is in full swing with Clay and Adam Lambert in one semi-final and Kelly Clarkson and David Achuleta in the other. The top two will meet in the final round on May 9.
NEVER MIND BUT THNX ANYWAY: Q102 changed the rules in the middle of the Ultimate Idol Poll, requiring an email address, verification, etc.
The minute this happened the percentages, which were getting closer with every vote, skyrocketed in the Adam-Clay poll from 54-46 to 63-37 to a lead change in the Kelly-Archie contest.
Thank you for your votes, Clay Nation. We don't need a poll to tell us who the Ultimate Idol really is! -- Caro
At press time, Adam was leading Clay 55.23% - 44.77%, but the Clay Nation has been closing the gap by the hour as more and more fans join the voting marathon. Kelly was ahead of David 51.70% - 48.30%.
This contest accepts unlimited votes per ISP, and the more the better. Open several tabs, vote and hit F5 to refresh the page while you work the next tab.
Clay Aiken sings Solitaire' during Sedaka Week. Vote 'Solitaire' the Best Week 5 Idol Performance at Zap2It.
Make 'Solitaire' Best of Top 5
Zap2it has been looking back at the best performances from American Idol seasons past, and this is the week to determine the best Top 5.
Clay's memorable "Solitaire" rendition during Season 2's Neil Sedaka/60s Week is in competition with these performances from Seasons 1-9:
Kelly Clarkson, "Walk on By," Season 1 La Toya London, "Don't Rain on My Parade," 3 Carrie Underwood, "God Bless the Broken Road," 4 Chris Daughtry, "Renegade," 5 Kat McPhee, "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree," 5 Blake Lewis, "You Give Love a Bad Name," 6 David Cook, "All I Really Need Is You," 7 Jason Castro, "September Morn," 7 Danny Gokey, "Come Rain or Come Shine," 8 Allison Iraheta, "Someone To Watch Over Me," 8 Lee DeWyze, "That's Life," 9
If you haven't already done so, cast your one vote for Clay's "Solitaire" at Zap2it and spread the word to other CA fans!
SOLITAIRE IS SPECIAL: Clay Aiken performing 'Solitaire' during Neil Sedaka Week of American Idol 2. Click to expand graphic by Fountaindawg and recall this special week from Season 2.
For Neil Sedaka/60s Week (4/29/03), Singer Man performed "Build Me Up, Buttercup" and "Solitaire." Most CA fans can quote word for word Sedaka's kudos:
Clay, you sing like Andre Agassi plays tennis -- PERFECTION, PERFECTION! -- and I would kill to write and produce your first CD!
Bravo, Clay! I have lost my song forever to you. It will always be a Clay Aiken song.
ICNAFM Declared Top 6 Winner
In the current Zap2it competition, Clay's "I Could Not Ask for More" was declared the best of the Top 6 performances. Previous winning tallies also include:
Top 11: Carrie Underwood, "Alone Top 10: David Cook, "Billie Jean" Top 9: David Archuleta, "Smoky Mountain Memories" Top 8: Adam Lambert, "Mad World Top 7: David Archuleta, "When You Believe"
Dust off your voting technique, and put Singer Man over the top in both of these events, Clay Nation!
Clay Aiken on the Tried & True Tour trail. Double click to expand graphic by queen.
YouTube Round the Clock
Past Performances in Full Swing Clay Aiken may not be on tour, but videos and montages of his past performances definitely are as round the clock traffic to the singer's incredible vocals and humorous concert banter is in full swing at YouTube.
The varied selection of videos and montages are entertaining, funny, moving, and highly addictive; so be sure to block some time for a YouTube adventure. Because of the "research" required for this entry, I am speaking from personal experience.
Selections in this blog link to performances from 1999 to American Idol 2 and subsequent tours. Some of Clay's vocals are combined with current events or TV shows while others feature concert clips and the singer's charitable endeavors with the National Inclusion Project and UNICEF.
Dancing With the Stars Season 12 'Suspicious Minds' by Clay Aiken View montage by LCV full screen at YouTube.
Dancing With the Stars seems a natural fit for Clay's songs. In the montage above, LovesClaysVoice partnered DWTS Season 12 dancers Lil' Romeo and Chelsie Hightower, Hines Ward and Kym Johnson, Kirstie Alley and Maksim Chmerkovskiy and "Suspicious Minds" from the Tried & True album.
DWTS Season 11 - Viennese Waltz 'Unchained Melody' by Clay Aiken. Montage by LCV can be viewed full screen at YouTube.
In the second DWTS montage, LovesClaysVoice combined the Viennese waltz routines of Season 11 contestants with Clay's signature version of "Unchained Melody" as performed on The View.
Dancers include Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough, Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke, Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
Montage Spotlights Royal Wedding
Montages frequently blend newsworthy events with Clay's tracks. An excellent example from the On My Way Here CD is "Something About Us," which accompanies visual art from the upcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Prince William and Kate - Something About Us 'On My Way Here' Vocals by Clay Aiken View LCV's montage full screen at YouTube.
Another popular "Something About Us" montage is Hotshortie's compilation featuring images of the First Family set the Clay's OMWH track. To date, An Obama Love Storyhas registered 766,166 views.
Clay Aiken, a Retrospective, Part 1 - The Music See four-part montage series by SueReu at YouTube.
Encompassing 2003-2009, SueReu's retrospective videos of Clay's career are subtitled "The Music," "Small Screen Fun," "A Special Guest," and "Photographs & Memories."
Clay Aiken's AI5 BUZZ View montage by zimarazi full screen at YouTube.
AI5 Appearance Epitome of BUZZ
A fan favorite since it was uploaded in 2007, zimarazi's montage presents an overview of the hoopla surrounding Clay's surprise performance at the AI5 Finale.
As the video shows, there was much more buzz about Clay Aikn around water coolers the next morning than the announcement of the Season 5 winner.
If You Don't Know Me By Now - Clay Aiken Montage by Aspiegirl can be viewed full screen at YouTube.
Set to a bonus track from Clay's A Thousand Different Ways album, Aspiegirl's 2006 montage features video clips by gerwhisp, Scarlett, canfly172, and SecretlyLovesClay with photos/graphic art by Sally, AmazingCA, ABeautifulMind, and fivegoldens.
Here are more montages you may enjoy. Suggested in the comments will be added to the list.
As Long As We're Here by Aspiegirl. From the OMWH CD, this song incorporates Clay's charitable endeavors with the National Inclusion Project and UNICEF.
Solitaire Then and Now by SueReu features Clay performing the Neil Sedaka hit on American Idol 3 (2004) and during the 2011 Tried and True Tour.
TRIED & TRUE MAGIC-- AmazingCA lived up to her screen name when she took several of Scarlett's T&T ~ LIVE screen caps from the previous entry and produced this handsome graphic. There's another one at the bottom. Both are double-clickable.
National Inclusion Grant 'Official' Clay To Sing SSB for NHL All-Stars
Clay Aiken will take a break from Tried & True Tour preparations to sing the American National Anthem at the National Hockey League All-Star Game Sunday at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC. The Canadian Tenors will perform their country's anthem.
A longtime hockey fan, Clay has sung the "Star-Spangled Banner" to open numerous hockey games since the Carolina Hurricanes arrived in Raleigh in 1997.
Like most residents of the Triangle area, he is excited that his hometown is hosting the all-star game. "We built a brand-new airport. It specifically opened Sunday to be ready for the all-star game," he said.
AP Photo by Karl DeBlaker
In addition to Sunday's festivities, Brian Mansfield's story for USA Today also includes previews from Clay about the T&T Tour:
"I like being relatively laid-back and casual," he says. "This is Moon River, Unchained Melody and What Kind of Fool Am I. These songs don't need a lot of flashy light stuff. I like to come out and sing the songs, and I like talking to the audience."
Most of Clay's set will focus on tunes from his recent albums of standards, but he says he has a few surprises up his sleeve.
"Most of these songs are big-band types songs," he says. "I think we're going to do a medley of songs that are on the radio today, but we're going to do them in a big-band style."
Such as? Lady Gaga's Poker Face is on the short list. So is Kenny Chesney's She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy.
"They're definitely songs you would not expect to hear in big-band style."
WKNO: A Conversation with Clay Aiken View Pierre Kimsey's interview full screen at YouTube.
Memphis PBS Chat Covers Bases
WKNO producer Pierre Kimsey's interview with Clay Aiken was a hit when it first aired on the Memphis PBS station last fall. Already on YouTube, the interview has this week begun airing on other stations throughout the PBS network.
Kimsey's chat with Clay covers all the bases -- performing, sudden fame, the National Inclusion Project, UNICEF, family, fans, connection with former teachers, the Tried & True PBS Special, Broadway -- and much more.
Promo for the interview provides an excellent overview of the chat between Clay and the WKNO producer:
WKNO Producer Pierre Kimsey talks with singer Clay Aiken. The North Carolina native was beginning a career as an educator working with special-needs children when he took an opportunity to audition for the TV show American Idol, then in its second season.
His life was transformed as a finalist, and he has emerged as one of the most successful singers to have been launched by the show.
Aiken has used his celebrity on behalf of the international charity UNICEF and has traveled to Somalia, Afghanistan, and other countries where children have been impacted by war.
IT's OFFICIAL! The National Inclusion Project has been informed that December's $50k Pepsi grant win was certified Friday. Double click on the NIP Pepsi banner to view full size.
NIP Pepsi Grant Win 'Official'
Throughout Clay Cyberspace, fans are "dancing in the streets" with news that the National Inclusion Project's December $50k grant win has been declared official.
Jerry Aiken, executive director of the foundation, received word of the certification on Friday and shared the news with supporters via Facebook:
Thanks so much to everyone that helped us win. We will hold the drawing for the iPad early this week!
Most Inclusion Project supporters are still voting -- for the alliances and partners who helped bring home the $50,000 grant. As this sampling from the NIP Pepsi page shows, the daily votes have not gone unnoticed:
SHENAN ARTS: Hello, National Inclusion friends! Shenan Arts appreciates your continued support! You're the best. Thanks for any additional votes you can send. Congrats again, and thanks for all the support!
CRAVEN ARTS COUNCIL: Craven Arts Council thanks you, thanks you for your support!!! We so appreciate you continuing to vote for us. We need it!
VOMA: The Venue of Merging Arts can't thank you enough for remembering us and continuing to support our efforts.
LONG ISLAND RIDING for the HANDICAPPED: Hello, National Inclusion Project! Thanks so much for your continued support of LIRHA. We're now at #11!!
ROBERT MORRIS ELEM SCHOOL: On behalf of Robert Morris, I would like to Thank all who have been coming back and voting for us. You guys are the BEST!!!
Double clickable graphic by AmazingCA, caps by Scarlett.
Unlimited Clack Now on Facebook There's a new "face" at the popular social networking site that should keep fans rolling in videos of the singer's performances. Visit the growing Unlimited Clack wall at Facebook, and join the fun.
Scroll through the Unlimited Clack widget in the Carolina sidebar that continuously reflects the latest additions with a page refresh.
Widget features slide show of screen caps from 'Clay Aiken: Tried & True ~ LIVE!' by Scarlett.
Mailbag Spotlights Readers
Clay Nation Anticipates T&T Tour
Tried & True Tour mania has taken over Clay Aiken's slice of Cyberspace and is constantly inspired by the latest updates from Decca Records and the Official Fan Club site, as well as a myriad of T&T videos/visual art shared by fans. An atmosphere charged with excitement is evident at the singer's message boards, Facebook/Twitter networks, and fan blogs. All who frequent these sites know there's nothing like being present for the spontaneity, great vocals, and sheer entertainment of a "live" Clay Aiken performance.
Scarlett's opening slide show of screen caps from the PBS Special Clay Aiken: Tried & True ~ LIVE! not only graces this blog but is also decorating countless Facebook walls with abundant links on Twitter. Below is the first of two sets of clickable stills from the slide show:
According to Krule Music's Front Stage blog, Clay has something special planned for the 2/14 Valentine T&T Concert in Houston. Stories and YouTube promos abound. Here is one for the 2/12 Miami concert: Clay Aiken Comes to the Van Wezel.
The opening of a new Idol season always produces headlines centering around previous finalists and their subsequent careers. From Extra, see American Idols: Where Are They Now?.
According to USA Today, Clay is rooting for 16-ear-old Victoria Huggins from Lumberton, NC, in the 2011 edition of Idol. Don't miss Victoria's AI audition that sent her to Hollywood. (Yo-Yo, Dawg!)
T&T Tour Talk Hot Mailbag Topic
One of the best indications of the growing excitement are the comments fans leave in Carolina entries. It's been a while since I assembled a mailbag blog, and here is a sample of what readers have been writing back during January.
Headlining are the well-deserved celebrations for the National Inclusion Project's $50k Pepsi Refresh grant win in December, continued "thank you" voting during January for the charity's partners and alliances, lots of Tried & True Tour talk, as well as thoughtful remarks RE the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Marlyne: I loved SueRue's "Clay Aiken: 2010 Recap" It is awesome! Awwwww the memories. Looking forward to the memories of 2011.
SueReu: WONDERFUL graphic by AmazingCA featuring the very expressive face of one Mr. Clay Aiken.
Hooray for the National Inclusion Project! Whether it's #1 or #10, it matters not to me - in the hands of National Inclusion Project $50K can do an amazing amount of good.
AmazingCA: Awesome video from SueRue! What a good way to end the year and see the 2010 Recap.
Sandy: A big congratulations to The National Inclusion Project for their first place finish in the Pepsi Challenge! A job well done by everyone involved!
What a fantastic job Sue did in making the "Clay Aiken: 2010 Recap." Loved the Jacquie Lawson "Auld Lang Syne" card.
MissSally: The Inclusion Project's thrilling first place finish is a fantastic way to start this new year. Kudos to all of the voters, and the worker bees; Royalle, Scarlett and you, Caro. As your friend I know about the countless, hours, days weeks and even months the three of you devoted to this project.
ACA's 2011 graphic is gorgeous! I'm so happy that she continues to delight us with her unique creativity. SueRue's "Clay Aiken: 2010 Recap" is pure joy to watch. Clay Nation is blessed to have so many talented artists.
Katy: Looking forward to a wonderful 2011 for Clay Aiken and his fans. Loved the 2010 Recap.
Puteri: Thank you for all your blogs which help keeping me updated on all about Clay. Sue please keep feeding us with your clacks... that's the only way I can relieve my thirst of Clay performance. Hugs from Indonesia ...for all Clay fans & for a wonderful 2011 to come! 1/5/11: Clay, Fans Applaud Pepsi Win, Broadway Event
Graphic by AmazingCA, photos by Invisible926.
ImGranny: I love that you have the Widget on the side to make it easier for those that want to continue voting for our alliances and partners that helped us win. Hopefully some of them will win this month. I will be voting every day!
I'm excited about Clay performing on Broadway Feb. 7 and can't wait to see what he is going to sing. It won't be long now till the Tried & True Tour starts! Fun times ahead!
Marlyne: Yeah, we did it!!! It is now time for us to help others. Thank You for the wiglet, you make it so easy for us.
Sandy: Looks like 2011 is getting off to a good start! First the NIP getting the $50,000 and now Clay performing at the Great White Way again. Should be interesting to hear what he is going to sing! Hope we get Clack!
anaturegirl: Thanks for having the Widget on your site. Makes it easier to vote for all those who helped get NIP to Number 1 in December. MissSally: The "Thank You" widget speaks volumes about the kind and considerate nature of Clay's many dedicated fans. I think it will forever be remembered by the helpful groups who participated in December's amazing win. Thank You for "Playing it Forward."
Donna in WI: Hope the concerts go well and Clay enjoys singing to everyone soon! Loved your blog and the videos get me in trouble; but, hey, love them!!
Lois: I just got done watching some of the old tapes I had on clay when he was first on Idol, and now I come here to see some more of the early clay. How wonderful. It was hard to pull myself away from u-tube, and all the old videos.
Marlyne: I just love watching those old Clay videos from the American Idol days. Now I have to get some of my old DVD's out and curl up this evening and watch them. I can't believe T & T Tour is about to begin! Finally!!!
ImGranny: It won't be long now till Clay Aiken is on tour to entertain and delight us as only he can. I can't wait!!!!
lovinclay: I can't get enough of the Video of Prince William and Kate. SAU has always been one of my favorite songs from OMWH and it just seems to fit this montage so well. I also loved the montage from DWTS . UM goes so well with it. LovesClaysVoice: Caro, there is so much fun stuff in this blog! Thanks for including my montages! I love the graphics and have one of them as my background already! 1/16/11: America Marks King with Service Day
The Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
MissSally: Our First Lady Michelle Obama, the direct descendant of slaves, now lives in a house that was built by slaves. This morning I downloaded the e-book version of "How Michelle Obama Leads", and look forward to reading it. Dr King's "Dream" lives on, and our nation will forever be enriched.
Sandy: I was watching Piers Morgan interview Oprah last night and when Piers reminded her that the most powerful woman and the most powerful man in the USA today are both black, Oprah was close to tears!
She holds Dr. Martin Luther King with the highest reverence, knowing that in all probability, if it were not for him, she most likely would not be where she is today.
Reneti46: Enjoyed the look back. Loved the 'Grace of God' montage!
Newspaper: Truly inspiring and very thought provoking. Strange, there are people still who can't understand this great man's concept of what life is all about.
Hope you enjoyed reading the thoughts of the Carolina's readers, some of whom post at the OFC.
Below is a short preview of the Tried & True Winter Tour concerts slated for Feb. 10 - March 11. The itinerary is posted in the Jan. 11 blog, as well as at Decca Records.
CHARLOTTE CONCERT - Clay previews the Tried & True Tour for his Feb. 23 home state concert at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte, NC.
According to the sidebar's Tried & True Tour countdown widget, the Miami opener is under three weeks away. Have a wonderful weekend, Clay Nation!
The National Inclusion Project serves to bridge the gap between young people with disabilities and the world around them. Click to enlarge photo.
Pepsi Refresh Challenge
Vote for Inclusion in September
It only takes a minute to cast a daily vote for the National Inclusion Project to win $50,000 in September's Pepsi Refresh Challenge and help children with disabilities experience life with their peers.
Every day through Sept. 30, go to the Pepsi link and click on "Vote for this idea." If you opt to sign in through Facebook, be sure to click on "Vote for this idea" again. You will know that your vote counted when your daily allotment changes to nine. You can also vote by texting 102308 to Pepsi (73774).
The Pepsi Refresh Project is open to US residents, 13 years and older. Fans who are citizens of other countries are asking friends and relatives in the US to cast daily votes for them. The emblem below links to the National Inclusion page for the Pepsi Challenge.
Only one vote per charity is allowed daily; however, there are organizations vying for funds in $5k, $25k, and $250k you can support with the remainder of the day's allotted 10 votes. In turn, people whose charities are supporting the National Inclusion Project are leaving comments on the NIP Pepsi page.
Charities Support Each Other
When you assist a cooperating charity, include in your comment the National Inclusion link/text number and the fact that you voted for their organization so they can return the favor.
Below are two lists of cooperating charities. Those in the first group are "tried and true" and voting for the Inclusion Project regularly. Charities in the second listing have reciprocated less regularly, and you can choose accordingly.
In order to secure the $50,000 grant, a charity must be in the top 10 at the end of the month. Currently, the Inclusion Project is listed at #28.
To enlist other voters for the Inclusion Project, email friends and relatives the Pepsi Refresh page, the foundation website, and/or a link to this blog. A handy voting widget will remain in the sidebar throughout the month.
Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel, Inclusion Project co-founders.
Project Parallels Singer's Career
The year 2003 not only marked the beginning of Clay Aiken's professional singing career but also the inception of a charity that helps children with disabilities experience life with their peers.
In July while still on tour following his American Idol season, Clay, a special education major at UNC-Charlotte, and Diane Bubel, mother of a child with autism, co-founded the Bubel/Aiken Foundation.
Last year the organization changed its name to the National Inclusion Project, Inc., to better describe its agenda -- bridging the gap that exists between young people with disabilities and the world around them.
In seven years, the foundation has become highly respected in its field, training programs on best practice inclusion techniques, partnering with inclusive programs in communities, and creating awareness about the possibilities inclusion can bring.
This week Charity Navigator, America's premier charity evaluator, awarded the National Inclusion Project the coveted 4-star rating for the second consecutive year. Only 21% of charities evaluated by the organization have ever achieved back-to-back four-star ratings.
A $50,000 Pepsi Refresh win by the National Inclusion Project would fund the following programs:
Train staff across the country on best practice inclusion techniques.
Provide training supplies.
Give scholarships to children unable to afford programs.
INCLUSION: What Are You Waiting For? View full screen at YouTube.
The information below is provided on the Inclusion Project's Pepsi Challenge page and may prove helpful in enlisting others to vote for the charity throughout September:
The National Inclusion Project gives children with disabilities the opportunity to experience all life has to offer.
Through Let's ALL Play, children with disabilities have the same experiences as those without by participating together in recreational activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, community service, physical fitness and more.
Children of all abilities participating in Let's ALL Play have seen dramatic development in motor skills as well as improvement in social skills, self-esteem, compassion, and understanding.
The Project will bring Let's ALL Play to community programs nationwide by providing training on best practice inclusion techniques and scholarships so that no child is left on the sidelines.
This training will expand the capacity of programs to offer inclusive experiences for generations to come.
National Project supports Let's ALL Play camps nationwide.
A mother said, "At camp, my son does not have Down Syndrome, wear hearing aids, or have difficulty with his speech. He is simply a camper."
Let's get to work. Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation!
Caro
Thank you for your blog comments and props for the contributing artists. To leave a remark, scroll to the bottom of that section, click on the "Post a Comment" link, and write in the box provided. Many thnx for stopping by today! - Caro
Clay Aiken helps bring Broadway home. - Graphic by Fountaindawg
Bringing Broadway Home
Clay Nation Celebrates Clack!
Ankle recuperation in the slow lane and a full teaching schedule Tuesday have me arriving late to Clay Aiken's performance at Bringing Broadway Home, benefit concert for NC Theatre in Raleigh Monday night.
If you read this blog, you are no doubt a Clay Aiken fan, have absorbed countless message board recaps, and are in the process of downloading all available clack.
Clay Cyberspace went into temporary stress mode when it was reported that Scarlett's luggage failed to arrive in Raleigh the same time she did. There was a collective sigh of relief when the report was amended that the "clack goddess" did, however, have her camera!
Donate to CU as Clack Downloads
Between Scarlett, toni7babe, deborah760, and others, the Clay Nation is basking in audio and video clack from Monday's performance. If you download at Clack Unlimited, be sure to make a donation or sign up for a subscription in support of the site's fund drive. BBH is under "Special Appearances."
Below is a double clickable of Monday's BBH program:
In addition to Clay, BBH performers included Lauren Kennedy, Terrence Mann, Sharon Lawrence, and Quiana Parler.
The Terrence Mann fans have discovered Clack Unlimited, and this LiveJournal blog -- Bringing Broadway Home - OMG Yay! -- provides an excellent recap of the evening.
Toni has uploaded some of her video to her YouTube Channel. Don't miss "Those Magic Changes" and "Home." Her photos will eventually be stored in the BBH album of her SmugMug account, so bookmark this link.
For the record, Scarlett's luggage arrived at the hotel at 1:30 a.m. Monday. Many thnx to all all who shared the concert with the thousands of fans who could not attend.
'Moments' Montage Fuses Past, Present
One of my favorite videos from the Broadway performance is the "Moments" montage by Fountaindawg in which she incorporated audio pieces from the 1997 "Pieces of Gold," Wake County talent showcase in which Clay received accolades his "This Is the Moment" performance; the Durham Herald-Sun review of the show; an "early Clay" clip from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in 2004; plus Toni's video of Clay singing the song at Monday's benefit concert.
There is probably no better gauge of Clay's performance at the Broadway benefit concert than these random tweets:
I don't care what you think of Clay Aiken's sexuality, he can sing his face off in Showtunes!! Damn. He stood his own against Tony winners!
Oh My God. I know I'm annoying with this stuff, but Clay Aiken was AMAZING!!!! Saw Bringing Broadway Home.
I wasn't a Clay Aiken fan until tonight. But, I heard him sing live, and he truly has #thevoice.
Below are clickables of Fountaindawg's BBH graphics with photos by toni7babe:
Clay Aiken Ready for Tour, Idol
Gary Graff's Billboard article (June 23) features the Tried & True CD, the PBS Special, the Timeless Tour with Ruben Studdard, and Clay's notion that he would be the best replacement for departing judge Simon Cowell.
American Idol's" second season runner-up Clay Aiken has his own idea of what the show should do to replace departing judge Simon Cowell. [snip]
Aiken, however, has plenty of singing to do before having that discussion. The North Carolina-based singer released his fifth album, "Tried & True," on June 1; the collection of pop standards -- including "Unchained Melody," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," "Misty," "Mack The Knife" and "Moon River" (with Vince Gill) -- marks his first release away from the "American Idol" enclave of 19 Recordings and Sony Music (he's now with Decca), and Aiken feels it shows the measure of the man better than his previous releases.
Keeping an injured ankle elevated and walking gingerly through the house for the bare necessities is a whole lot different from the way I spent my first day back teaching six violin and piano lessons on Tuesday.
No matter how careful I was leaning over the tub to wash my hair, I thoroughly soaked my dress and the all-important ankle wrap. Fortunately, three hours later, the wrap was dry when I stuffed my enlarged left foot into a tennis shoe for the 30-minute drive to teach six students.
Earlier I had pared down the books, student info sheets, etc., that I carry into the academy. Since the ankle sprain, I do most of my carrying by pushing all in the seat of a wheelchair. Walking to the car wasn't so bad, and I took along my late mother's cane for support.
Dr. Mike Jarrett, head of the Wesleyan Studios, couldn't have been more accommodating. First, he unlocked a side door, greatly shortening the walk to my room. He even produced an abandoned wheel chair, so I loaded my music bags and followed routine.
WV Grandmother a Clay Fan
During the two violin lessons, I accompanied students at the piano and could not prop up my ankle. Dr. Jarrett supplied several variations for me to try during the piano lessons, and a drum case worked really well as a footstool.
When my fourth student (Jay) arrived with his grandmother, I learned that she is from Morgantown, WV, and a Clay Aiken fan from way back. We talked briefly about the new "Tried & True" CD, the upcoming PBS Special, and a good friend,xxx4clay, who shared the West Virginian's love for Clay and the Moutaineers until her untimely death last summer.
After six hours, my ankle and knee were screaming for frozen corn and elevation. Recovery came slowly, but I am finally back in my groove. Next Tuesday is six days way, and I hope to be in a faster lane by then.
This blog is about my passions: family, friends, music, teaching, journalism, Carolina basketball, and Clay Aiken. Since 2007, visitors have dropped by from 170 countries, the most recent being Cuba, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Nicaragua, and Aruba. Hope to see y'all again soon! - Caro
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