Clay Aiken Reflects on 2008

SEASON'S GREETINGS -- Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays! Graphic by Amazing_CA.

Kai Discovers Christmas

Clay Relishes Father-Son Time

As December draws to a close, people the world over tend to reflect upon changes in their life during the outgoing calendar year. Sunday Clay Aiken told People that, of the many major developments in 2008, becoming a father was the most memorable.

Upon completion of his run on Broadway as Sir Robin in Monty Python's Spamalot, Clay plans to return to full-time fatherhood, joining son Parker and his mother, Jaymes Foster, in North Carolina.

"At the end of the day, Parker is the most important thing of the year, and of my life, without question," Aiken, 30, tells PEOPLE. "Having a son and that type of responsibility is obviously going to be something that I remember forever."

Still, Aiken, is mindful of the widespread support he received after coming out. "We've been very impressed and my heart has been thoroughly warmed to find people very supportive," he says.

"I want to spend time with Parker. He's still uber-dependent," Aiken says, laughing. "I'm ready for him to start talking. I'm ready for a little action!"

But Claymates need not worry: Aiken will return to his singing roots: "We'll take a little bit of time, we're not quitting or anything, we're just gonna take it slow for a month or so and recollect once I get back," he says. "I may never have any free time once Parker starts walking and talking.

The article can also be read in its entirety at TV Guide, The Insider, Huffington Post, and several other sites.

Graphic by Fountaindawg

Fans have embraced news of Clay's return to his singing career, with celebrations taking form in prolific message board posts, graphic designs, and montages. Fountaindawg's clickable "Living the Dream" graphic highlights events from 2002 - 2008.

Filled with memorable photos, videos, and extensive creative techniques, Gerwhisp's latest montage traces the past six years. On My Way Here can be viewed here and at YouTube.

On My Way Here - Montage by Gerwhisp

Nineteen Minutes

According to fhmmany2 ("Frankie") of the Aiken News Network on the Claymaniacs board, the three-part series about the beginning of the The Bubel/Aiken Foundation can be viewed in 19 minutes, start to finish.

Curl up with a cup of hot chocolate, cider, or java, and view the foundation's fledgling, momentous steps:

Look What Love Has Done, Part 1

Look What Love Has done, Part 2

Look What Love Has done, Part 3

Clay To Appear on Fox Special

On Dec. 27 at 10 p.m. EST, Clay will appear on "The Waiting List", hosted by Geraldo Rivera on the Fox News Channel. The show will be dedicated to the American heroes who live with and care for the 54 million people with developmental disabilities in the US.

According to Aaron Hall, Clay was included because of his work with children with special needs through TBAF and the inspiration it has brought and can bring to people around the country.

"We are excited about the opportunity to be a leading voice in what could turn out to be a groundbreaking program," he wrote to supporters in a newsletter.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: Amazing_CA's holiday graphics extend season's greetings to all stopping by the Carolina corner. Photographers include PermaSwooned, 1, and Kareneh, 2.

Kai Enjoys Holiday Experience

This year Grandson Kai is enjoying Christmas every step of the way. Besides pulling the tree on his head and bouncing the glass balls on the kitchen floor, as reported in the 12/10 entry, he has also discovered the joys of shopping this time of year. So many colorful sights and interesting activities to explore ... and new friends to meet!

After trying to rearrange a holiday wrapping paper display, Kai moved on to a huge stuffed animal, not for himself but for a little girl also discovering the delights of the "playground" that is a superstore.

Man on a Mission

The fun was just beginning, as Kai took several turns on the store's merry-go-round. In addition to remote controls and computer keyboards, he is very much into steering wheels and vehicles of all types.

His mother captured some of the special moments with her camera. Special thnx to Sally for photo editing, 1, and ACA for the Christmas magic graphic, 2. Possible captions for the two clickable photos are "Wow, I wonder if this will fit under my bed!" (1) and "Reckon Grandma Caro's friends can see my new front teeth?" (3). Reader suggestions welcomed.

For this southerner, the snowflakes falling in the Carolina blog are my kind of winter storm. Clay's opening phrase of "Merry Christmas With Love" is coming from the greeting card posted in the 12/10 entry. I suspect he will sing to us all the way down the page.

Below is a clickable of the ACA's opening graphic:

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas Week to all this blog's visitors! Thank you for dropping by throughout the year. It's especially gratifying when you stop and say hello.

The happiest of holidays to you and yours!

Caro

TECHNORATI TAGS: Clay Aiken, On My Way Here, Monty Python's Spamalot, People, Jaymes Foster, Parker Foster Aiken, montage, The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, Aiken News Network, Claymaniacs, Look What Love Has Done, grandson, Merry Christmas With Love, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

Aiken, Students Headline Week

STAGE DOOR FESTIVITIES -- Clay Aiken greets fans in Shubert Alley following a performance of SPAMALOT. Graphic by Amazing_CA, photo by Cloopy. (For clickable, see 12/7 blog entry.)

No Clangs, No Clack!

Recitals Herald Holiday Season

CLANG, CLANG, CLANG went my damper pedal ... almost!

Hours before my string ensemble's holiday performance, the temporary fix my piano technician had put on the pedal the day before just wouldn't hold; so he ended up taking the mechanism home to repair for 2009.

Curious to see what would happen if I forgot and depressed the damper during the concert, I gave it a whirl while practicing my accompaniments.

Sure enough, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG would have been the result. So, added to the intros, downbeats, cut-offs, and varied arrangements the students and I had planned for our program of 14 holiday tunes, I had to remember NOT to put my foot near this important pedal.

Priceless 'Silent Night' Clack

Life is never dull when presenting concerts with young people. For the most part, we were spot on through all 14 selections. However, there is one piece of video clack I wish were availabe. On the first verse of "Silent Night," six students performed consecutive eight-measure duos before the group repeated the carol in three-part harmony.

As the middle duo was concluding their section, I glanced toward the first stand where the inside player was poking her partner with her bow to let her know it was almost their turn. Pan back to the teacher's expression, and that would have been one hilarious piece of clack ... had Scarlett or SLC been in the vicinity, LOL!

With an audience of 15-plus parents and siblings, the seven-member string group played to a packed living room. All available seats -- and floor pillows -- were in use.

Even a stool that once belonged to my late mother was called into duty. A music teacher in her day, Mama Mac would have enjoyed the afternoon.

Piano Duets Rock the House

Wednesday eight of my younger piano students "concertized" in the same living room, sharing their holiday repertoire duet style. Most are in the same books, so we boldly programmed for our family-friendly audience "multiple verses" of such traditional favorites as "Good King Wenceslas," "We Three Kings," "Frosty the Snowman," and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

Special renditions of the less familiar "The Coventry Carol," "The Snow Lay on the Ground," and the finale, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" completed our program. My duet partner for the latter showed amazing control, as for weeks we have awaited his audition results for an upcoming production of "The Music Man."

The final crescendo still filling the air, Joseph turned to me and mouthed, "I got the part." And his older brother will play the music man!

My tow-haired partner is going solo when he accompanies his own "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" vocals at a Christmas Eve service. Brothers Zach and Matt are on tap to perform violin and piano selections for their father's annual office party, and Lauren provided a violin obligato for her school choir program.

All, I hope, will share their Christmas repertoire with family and friends throughout the holiday season.

Blend of 'Mary, Did You Know?' -- Claysidney

One of my favorite Christmas songs is Clay Aiken's version of "Mary, Did You Know?" In this 2007 montage, Claysidney blended several performance videos by SecretlyLovesClay and Scarlett. You can also view MDYK at YouTube.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: Featured in this clickable collection are graphics by Amazing_CA, photo by Claydreamer, 1; Artz11, photo by suzyque, 2; and ACA, photos by toni7babe, 3.

12 Days of UNICEF: 'Inspired Gifts'

In a 12/19 press release, UNICEF outlined "12 Days of UNICEF," a blogging campaign to encourage Americans to give back this holiday season with "inspired gifts" and their impace on children around the world.

Beginning today and running through 12/31, UNICEF celebrity ambassadors and supporters, including Lucy Liu and Clay Aiken, will post daily blogs at the site's Field Notes about inspired gifts. The first blog by Marcus Samuelsson is entitled "Give the Gift of Nutrition."

From nutrient enriched food, medicines and immunizations, to wool blankets, tents and school supplies, UNICEF's Inspired Gifts can mean a world of difference to children living in harsh circumstances due to poverty, exploitation, armed conflicts and natural disasters.

Participants in the program choose an item from the collection of life-saving gifts to be shipped to children in need in one of over 150 countries and territories where UNICEF works. Recipients receive a UNICEF Acknowledgment Card identifying the item that was sent and how it will be used to save children's lives.

For more information, visit Inspired Gifts or call 1-866-237-2224.

Clay Named 'Best Humanitarian'

Between arranging furniture and music, I did take notes on some Clay Train stops this week. A couple of days ago, LALATE NEWS named Clay the Best Humanitarian Celebrity for 2008.

While several celebrities donated proceeds of profitable years to charities, Aiken physically did something, joining forces with UNICEF this summer. Aiken’s field visits, and subsequent blog posts, yielded an incredible $50,000 in donations for the impoverished region just after one report.

Aiken would join UNICEF for efforts battling problems in Kenya and Somalia. His efforts raised awareness, educated a nation, and used his status as a celebrity to improve the lives of others.

OMWH graphic by ABeautiful Mind

OMWH on Top 10 Album List

This week the editors of American Songwriter published their individual lists for Top Ten Albums of 2008, and On My Way Here was the #3 pick by Evan Schlansky:

The contributing editor's honorees include:

1. Miley Cyrus, Breakout
2. Wynton Marsalis, He and She
3. Clay Aiken, On My Way Here
4. Dem Franchize Boys, Our World, Our Way
5. Sixpence None the Richer, The Dawn of Grace
6. Boz Scaggs, Speak Low
7. Cyndi Lauper, Bring Ya To The Brink
8. Tom Jones, 24 Hours
9. Barenaked Ladies, Snacktime
10. My Morning Jacket, Evil Urges

Clay on American Idol

Wild Card To Return to Idol

According to a TV Guide story by Matt Mitovich -- Can Blasts from the Past Amp Up Idol's Future -- AI is "plumbing its past to bolster its future."

Season 8, premiering Jan. 13, will reinstitute the Wild Card round, in which singers who don't make the Top 9 are afforded one last chance to improve their fortune and thus comprise the Top 12.

"We want to change things up a bit," exec producer Ken Warwick tells TVGuide.com. Though the exact process has yet to be cemented, he says, "The judges can pick anybody they like that they thought maybe was better but just off form and then decide on three" from that group. Such a "save" is what kept eventual second-placer Clay Aiken in the Season 2 mix.

Clickable from Tar Heel Blue

Hansbrough Breaks UNC Record

Icing on the cake to this busy week came Thursday night when senior Tar Heel forward Tyler Hansbrough eclipsed a 30-year record held by alumnus Phil Ford, now an assistant coach with the Charlotte Bobcats, to become the new leading scorer in Carolina basketball.

As soon as the record-setting shot went through the net, officials briefly stopped the game to allow Ford, coach Roy Williams and athletics director Dick Baddour to present Hansbrough with the game ball. Students who carried small signs saying "Phil Ford 2,290" on one side turned it around to reveal "Tyler 2,291+" on the other.

I wasn't the only Carolina fan applauding and cheering the events as they unfolded on my den TV. For more visuals, see photos by Jim Bounds and Jeffrey A. Camarati at Tar Heel Blue.

Congratulations, Tyler! Go, Heels!

Have an awesome, musical holiday weekend, Clay Nation!

Caro

TECHNORATI TAGS: Clay Aiken, On My Way Here, Monty Python's Spamalot, holiday recitas, damper pedal, Mary, Did You Know?, montage, 12 Days of UNICEF, Inspired Gifts, Best Humanitarian Celebrity, LALATE NEWS, American Songwriter, Wild Card, American Idol, Carolina basketball, Tyler Hansbrough, Phil Ford, scoring record, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

Aiken Airplay Stops Traffic

O Holy Night - Montage by SueReu

An Unexpected Serenade

Radio Spins Mesmerize Fans

I have read countless message board reports by tremendously excited fans who, upon hearing a Clay Aiken song on the radio, stopped in mid-traffic or blocked a store aisle just to listen.

While driving home from my teaching gig Friday night, the phenomenon finally happened to me. There really is something mesmerizing about hearing the singer's magnificent pipes and song stylings over the air waves. For me, a deer in headlights is quite literally an apt description.

Turning left at a major intersection, I immediately recognized the familiar opening strains of "O Holy Night" and went into full-fledged fan mode facing four fast-approaching lanes of traffic.

Fortunately, the old car got up and went; and Clay serenaded me part of the way home. Thank you, WMAG-FM. Let's do this again soon minus the oncoming cars, of course. How about "Mary, Did You Know?" or "Merry Christmas With Love" next time?

According to Yes.com reports, "O Holy Night" is receiving the most airplay of Clay's Christmas songs with 170 spins on Sunday. Others include "The First Noel," "Mary Did You Know," "Winter Wonderland," "Silver Bells," "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing/O Come All Ye Faithful," "Merry Christmas With Love," "Sleigh Ride," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Joy to the World," and "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day."

SueReu's "O Holy Night" montage, which features the track from Clay's 2004 Merry Christmas With Love album, can also be viewed at YouTube.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: This clickable interlude mixes 2007 Christmas in the Heartland graphics with current Seasons Greetings. Amazing_CA's designs feature photos by toni7babe, 1; nicki503, 2; and SmartyPantsSuz, 3.

Sunday Cantata a Family Affair

Sunday morning, after rising at the crack of dawn and gyrating through the pantyhose shuffle for an 8 a.m. orchestra call, I with my trusty oboe participated in "A Service of Lessons and Carols" at Jamestown United Methodist Church.

A 30-piece orchestra accompanied my BIL's outstanding 88-member choir and handbell ensemble. The anthems and congregational hymns included traditional favorites as well as less familiar offerings such as "Carol to the King," "I Wonder as I Wander," "Rejoice and Be Merry," "The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy," and "Carol of the Bells."

As usual, Sunday's performance was a family affair with my BIL conducting; my sister and niece playing flute, piccolo, and recorder; and yours truly on oboe. As the program progressed, I couldn't help thinking of our mother, Mama Mac, whom some of you "met" through this blog. Not too many years ago, she would have added her robust alto vocals to the mix.

Later, when mobility became a problem, Mama Mac occupied a front pew for all my BIL's special music presentations. She had to be smiling from the heavenly choir because this "high" Methodist church congregation showed their appreciation with a resounding ovation and a few down home "amens" for good measure.

The week's holiday music programs continue, as my piano and string students will be "concertizing" in my living room Wednesday and Thursday. Hopefully, the munchkins are practicing while I work through my cleaning, gift-wrapping, and accompaniment TODO lists.

Have an awesome week, Clay Nation!

Caro

TECHNORATI TAGS: Clay Aiken, On My Way Here, Monty Python's Spamalot, Christmas music, radio play, Merry Christmas With Love, O Holy Night, montage, A Service of Lessons and Carols, orchestra, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

Clay Aiken #1 Man at Lycos

Stage door photo by Dancerdad

Celebrations in Shubert Alley

Clay Preserves Lycos Record

Clay Aiken is the most popular man on the planet and not just to his fans. According to a Lycos press release Tuesday, the singer was the most searched-man for 2008, a record he has held for three consecutive years.

Lycos, a leading provider of social publishing, media and search services, Tuesday announced its 9th annual list of top 50 search terms for the year 2008, based on the Lycos 50, a weekly list of the most popular people, places, and things Lycos users search for every day.

For the third year running, Poker draws the top spot, generating more search activity with Lycos users in 2008 than any other search term. The continued success of the World Poker Tour and year-round televised celebrity poker tournaments pushed online interest in Poker slightly ahead of Paris Hilton, generating only five percent more search activity than the celebrity heiress. [snip]

However, when it comes to leading men online, film stars can't compare to singer Clay Aiken who takes home top honors as the most-searched man in 2008 for the 3rd consecutive year, driven by headlines of Aiken coming out publicly about his sexuality, and being a new Dad.

The Lycos 50 Top 10 Search Terms for 2008

1. Poker
2. Paris Hilton
3. YouTube
4. Golf
5. Sarah Palin
6. Britney Spears
7. Clay Aiken
8. Pamela Anderson
9. Facebook
10. Holly Madison

Among the other headliners are the U.S. economic crisis, which surpassed the presidential election as the most searched news event of 2008; 'The Dark Knight' as top film search, and the Jonas Brothers as the hottest band with web users.

See Lycos 50 for the most popular women, men, news stories, films, fads, television shows, bands, sports stars, and blog sites. Some will surprise you.

'Clay Aiken, Celebrate' by SueReu

Montage Spotlights Stage Door

Clay Aiken fans know that Shubert Alley is the place to be following almost all Spamalot performances, the few exceptions being “gale force winds” and the singer’s rare under-the-weather occasions.

In the “Celebrate Me Home” montage above, SueReu incorporates several favorite video and photo moments from recent stage door gatherings.

The montage can be viewed on You Tube or downloaded with this Sendspace.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: This clickable interlude incorporates graphics and photos from Shubert Alley stage door, Spamalot, and October's TBAF Gala. They include Amazing_CA, photos by Butterflyshine, 1; ACA, photos by PermaSwooned, 2; ACA, photo by Cloopy, 3; ACA, photo by toni7babe, 4; and Fountaindawg, collage of color enhancements by Hosaa, 5.

The colorful comic book collage is included in Year at a Glance 2008 at the Clay Aiken Kids site. Fountaindawg warns you may need to bring sunshades.

Kai Greets Holiday Season

Grandson Kai has welcomed the colorful holiday season with open arms.

Sunday while his mother was buying groceries, he and his grandfather were male bonding and watching football. With Poppy's attention momentarily diverted by a telephone call, Kai drug a chair closer to the sparkling Christmas tree, supposedly safely ensconced on a chest of drawers, and promptly pulled the whole thing down on his head.

Of course, this little maneuver immediately got his grandfather's attention, and the tree was soon righted. Meanwhile, Kai began examining the pretty Christmas balls on the floor. Thinking they would bounce like other balls, he tossed them onto the kitchen floor.

Poppy had a big mess to clean up, but Kai was quite proud of his afternoon adventure.

Depending on your browser, there is a holiday card above. If you are a member of Clayonline, share or send this card at this link: Merry Christmas with Love.

Have a wonderful holiday season, Clay Nation!

Caro

TECHNORATI TAGS: Clay Aiken, On My Way Here, Monty Python's Spamalot, Christmas music, Merry Christmas With Love, Lycos, Celebrate Me Home, montage, Clay Aiken Kids, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

Aiken Albums Infuse Playlists

ABeautifulMind's graphic, photo by fivegoldens, captures the spirit of the season -- Merry Christmas with Love!

CA Songs, Student Rehearsals

Christmas Music Fills the Air

On my corner, holiday music profusely fills the air, the air waves a symphony of the beautiful strains from Clay Aiken's "Merry Christmas With Love" CD, "All Is Well" EP, and seasonal rehearsals for our upcoming piano-string class performances.

The young musicians are preparing for next week's all-Christmas performance classes, so polishing correct notes, musicality, and "living room" stage presence have become bywords of December lessons.

The violin/viola group also participated in finalizing arrangements for their 12/18 performance. We have planned a varied program of 15 songs, mixing solo, duet, unison, and harmony passages; an all-pizzicato "Up on the Housetop"; and a fugal finale with our version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."

The teacher must soon access "serious mode" for cleaning the premises and rounding up every possible seat in the house. A packed living room is expected for both gatherings with the youngest on a set of colorful floor pillows.

Graphic by Claystruck

MCWL, AIW Garner Holiday Spins

Staples of adult contemporary recurrent charts this time of year, Clay's Christmas tracks have become synonymous with the season and are spinning on radio and personal playlists throughout the land, according to fan board reports.

During Wednesday's telecast of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting, I listened to every performer's opening phrase before muting the TV and returning to my MCWL-AIW playlist as accompaniment for the festivities.

Setting just the right tone for Saturday's online holiday shopping were Clay's exquisite stylings of "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day," "Winter Wonderland," "Mary, Did You Know," and "All Is Well."

Cole, Crosby, Aiken, and More!

Associated Content is spotlighting Clay's 2004 Merry Christmas with Love among holiday CDs for less than $11. Here's the site's promo for MCWL:

Clay Aiken-Merry Christmas With Love (2004): Combining one of the most powerful voices heard in recent years with traditional Christmas songs, "Merry Christmas With Love" is the perfect blend of traditional holiday music and pop music.

Clay Aiken delivers a powerful performance on songs like "Don't Save It All For Christmas Day", and on the same turn, offers a more gentle approach to songs like "Silent Night" and combines gentle and powerful on the track, "Mary Did You Know."

At around $9.99, this album is perfect for pop fans and Christmas music aficionados alike!

MCWL is also available at Amazon ($9.97), CD Universe ($9.19), Tower Records ($7.99), and other online sites.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: This Christmas 2007 interlude features clickable graphics and photos from last season's holiday tour, including Amazing_CA, photos by Riversend, 1; ACA, photos by KarenEh, 2; Ashes, photo by fivegoldens, 3; ACA, photos by ClayIzzaQT, 4; and Ambassador of Love, photo by toni7babe, 5.

AIW, GoodShop, TBAF Promoted

American Idol News is spreading the word about Clay's AIW, along with GoodShop and The Bubel/Aiken Foundation.

Clay Aiken has more than proven himself in the Christmas music realm, and fans will be thrilled to know that he's added to his extensive holiday catalog.

He has released an EP, All Is Well-Songs For Christmas, that features the classic "O Come O Come Emmanuel," along with some with a more modern spin, like "All Is Well," "Christmas Waltz," and "My Grown-Up Christmas List".

Care to buy it AND spread goodwill? If you access iTunes via GoodShop, 3.75% of your purchase price will go to Clay's foundation for inclusion, The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, or a charity of your choice.

AI5 Finale Heads Top 40 List

Clay Aiken's appearance on the American Idol 5 Finale ["CA surprises admirer"] tops the list of the 40 Greatest Reality TV Moments 2 Show airing in my area at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18.

Check local VH1 listings for the show, which will include new, exclusive interviews with a plethora of A-list reality stars and the shows' producers and creators, plus an exciting assortment of comedians, writers, and reality TV "experts," all backed by insanely captivating footage.

Moments from American Idol, The Amazing Race, Flavor of Love, Project Runway, Big Brother, America's Next Top Model, The Real World, Deadliest Catch, Hell's Kitchen and many more will be featured.

Whether you missed them the first time around or are just incredibly psyched to see them again, you won't be able to turn away from VH1's 40 Greatest Reality TV Moments 2.

Fans Enjoy Final SPAMALOT Shows

Monty Python fans are flocking to Broadway's Shubert Theatre for the final month of SPAMALOT shows, scheduled to close on Jan. 18. Clay's run as Sir Robin will end Jan. 4.

From this weekend's Shubert Alley stage door gatherings, here are clickable photos by dancerdad and Amazing_CA's graphic of a photo by Cloopy.

Stage door photos by dancerdad


Graphic by Amazing_CA,
Photo by Cloopy

A special thank you to Rosaratana for the handsome surprise in my mailbox this week. I will cherish and put to good use the 2009 Clay Aiken Calendar, which arrived in the midst of five overlapping violin-viola lessons.

A violin mom placed the mail on the end of my grand, and I didn't see the special package until the rehearsal's end. Many thnx!

Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation!

Caro

TECHNORATI TAGS: Clay Aiken, On My Way Here, Monty Python's Spamalot, Christmas music, Merry Christmas With Love, All Is Well, holiday performance class, Associated Content, Amazon, CD Universe, Tower Records, American Idol News, GoodShop, The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, 40 Greatest Reality Moments TV 2, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation

Clay Aiken's 'Amazing Journey'

Clay Aiken, an Amazing Five Year Journey (Redeux)

MOAM Connection Rewind

SueReu's Montage Places 1st

The montage Clay Aiken, an Amazing Five-Year Journey (Redeux) by SueReu has been named winner of the Clay Aiken Birthday Fan Video Contest by LALATE2 and is currently featured at the sponsoring site.

In her description of the video, SueReu wrote, "Clay, it's been an incredible five years. Here's to another 50!" The montage can also be viewed at You Tube, and fans can download it with this Sendspace link.

Other entries included Clay Aiken - That's What It's All About (Luluasst); Can You feel the Love Tonight? (LovesClaysVoice); and Clay Aiken Fan (Lee).

Congratulations to SueReu and all the entrants!

The winning montage inspired a rewind of a blog I wrote in 2005: Nashville Connection to IWCY and ISY. As you watch the video, notice the songwriting credits scrolling across the screen when Clay is presented the double platinum award for his first album, Measure of a Man.

From Nashville to MOAM

During my life I have known lots of musicians, many from the 17 years I called Nashville, TN, home. However, a fateful meeting there led to a "Clay Aiken connection" several years later and proved once again we live in a small world.

My husband and I moved to Nashville when the combination of genes and band directing sent his high blood pressure through the ceiling and his doctor insisted he must change his lifestyle. We visited musician friends in Nashville during Spring Break 1972 and decided to sell our home "lock, stock, and barrel" and make the move.

An outstanding percussionist, Mr. Caro had played everything from 60s rock, R&B, society trios to musical shows and symphonic orchestras -- but never country. This was quite a gamble, but we were young, ambitious, and confident we were taking the right steps.

Of course, both our families thought we had lost our marbles, but we went ahead and moved to Music City, splitting the difference between West Texas and coastal Carolina.

Microcosm of Music City

Our apartment complex was literally a microcosm of Music City. Besides a country singer, our immediate upstairs neighbors were Bill and Linda Cates, who had successfully toured with Up With People and were now trying to start a family and make it in the music business. Linda has a beautiful soprano voice, and Bill was a songwriter.

One of his greatest coups was landing a hymn in the 1975 Baptist hymnal, "Do You Really Care?" Other pre-Finale compositions included several full-length religious music dramas, the recordings for which often involved his new downstairs neighbors on oboe and drums.

Bill composed on an electric piano with headphones. This setup was quite handy for apartment living, as well as the first months of the couple's young son's life. However, as the downstairs neighbors, we could always hear a muffled version of his work along with his habit of singing the melody lines in nonsensical syllables: "na na naa nah nuh naa."

Drummer to the Rescue

When Bill hit a rhythm snag, the routine was always the same: abrupt slamming of door, songwriter running down the stairs, pen and papers flying, followed by a loud knock at our door, mad dash to our piano where the passage in question was played, "na na naa" melody sung, and the drummer asked how best to write the rhythm.

Bill and Linda eventually moved to a home in the Bellevue area, had two more children, and continued working in music. After the birth of our daughter, we also bought a home in the area and continued working in music, the drummer on the road with various country artists and I as a full-time piano/wind teacher in my home studio, working as a freelance musician on the side.

Liner Note Surprise

Fast forward to October 2003 when, as a dedicated Clay Aiken fan, I purchased seven or more MOAM CDs for holiday gifts to friends and family. Judy, a very good friend I met through Bill and Linda, and I raised children, taught piano lessons, and played in a trio together.

A couple of weeks after receiving her MOAM Christmas gift, Judy took great delight in calling me with some info she knew I surely had not noticed -- or I would have told her first.

"Did you realize you know one of the songwriters on Clay's CD?"

"No way!"

"Have you read the liner notes carefully?"

It's a Small World

It was obvious she had, though I later learned my friend had also received a "guess what" type phone call from Linda. "Judy, you've probably never heard of him, but Clay Aiken .... "

After Judy refused to fill in the blanks, I had to promise to call her right back once I checked MOAM's liner notes. Sure enough, big as day (actually the print is tiny), one of the writers of "I Will Carry You" and "I Survived You" is Jess Cates, Bill and Linda's second son.

I knew Jess as a young kid growing up in Nashville, and Judy taught him and his siblings piano. Besides IWCY and ISY, Jess has co-written Nick Lachey's smash "What's Left of Me," the Backstreet Boys' hit, "Incomplete", as well as many top tunes in the Contemporary Christian arena.

He often collaborates with his older brother, Chad, who won a Dove award for the Avalon song, "Everything to Me." Their younger sister, Laurieanne, is a singer-songwriter with collaborations in jazz, R&B, folk, as well as Christian music.

It is indeed a small world!

Photo Interlude: This clickable interlude features a graphics from Clay's career, the A Thousand Different Ways cover by Cindilu2, 1, and Amazing_CA's renderings from the present, 2 and 3. Photographer of the middle graphic is PermaSwooned.

Clay Aiken a Total Hands-on Dad

People magazine is featuring an online synopsis by Jessica Herndon of Entertainment Tonight's Monday piece on Clay and his new "doting daddy" role. If you missed ET, here is a Sendspace download.

Settling into his role as a doting dad, Clay Aiken says he's been a complete hands-on parent.

"It was probably a week before [the baby's mother] had to change a diaper at all!" the American Idol favorite tells Entertainment Tonight. "I'm trying my best to be the one who doesn't always let him get what he wants, but he own us."

Back on Broadway as Sir Robin for the final weeks of Monty Python's Spamalot, Aiken, 30, says returning to the stage will afford him more time with 3½-month-old Parker and good friend – and the baby's mother – Jaymes Foster.

Though the singer says he was "terrified" to take the Broadway stage shortly after coming out, he admits that he went from being "sure I'd get booed off the stage" to feeling comfortable thanks to the crowd's positive reaction.

Aiken says he could no longer be in denial about his sexual orientation once fame took over. "I'm from the South, and we don't talk about our problems," he says. "We sweep them under the rug."

But now, the singer says his life feels "natural."

Clickables of January and cover

2009 CA Calendars Shipped

In a fundraiser for The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, 90 orders were placed for the 2009 Clay Aiken calendars featuring performance photos by toni7babe. Completed orders were shipped Monday, according to Rosaratana, designer and project chairperson.

Ten standard calendars have been posted for bids on Ebay through 12/8. Printed on standard paper rather than the premium glossy cardstock of the original order, the results are still amazing, according to Rosa, and include a "five years at a glance" feature. Upon payment, they will ship via priority mail.

Donations from the project will be sent to TBAF on Jan. 1 as part of the 2009 "Together for Inclusion" fundraising.

At that time, Rosa will provide a final report on the monies earned. She thanks all who participated and hopes you enjoy your 2009 calendars. For previous calendar info, see 11/13 and 11/20 entries.

Have an awesome week, Clay Nation!

Caro

TECHNORATI TAGS: Clay Aiken, On My Way Here, Monty Python's Spamalot, montage, 30th birthday, LALATE2, Measure of a Man,I Will Carry You,I Survived You, songwriter, Jess Cates, Entertainment Tonight, People, calendars, The Bubel/Aiken Foundation, Official Fan Club, Clay Nation