Clay Aiken Fans Celebrate Easter

NEW BIRTH -- This beautiful tiger lily graphic by Sally commemorates Easter and the rebirth of Spring.

Rebirth and Renewal

Easter Celebrates Resurrection

Sunday Christians all over the world celebrate Easter, an occasion commemorating the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The day also honors the rebirth of Spring and, for many, the renewal of faith, hope, and new life.

Coincidentally, the 2010 season of renewal falls when Clay Aiken fans are anticipating "Tried and True, the singer's first album with a new label, Decca Records. Released Thursday, the high resolution retro album cover is making a splash throughout the Internet. The track list is viewable on the double clickable below.

Double clickable TNT cover

Since its conception as a holy celebration in the second century AD, Easter has had its non-religious side and, like most Christian holidays, was originally a pagan festival.

The ancient Saxons celebrated the return of spring with an uproarious festival commemorating Eastre, their goddess of offspring and of springtime. When second-century Christian missionaries encountered the tribes of the north with their pagan celebrations, they attempted to convert them to Christianity, but in a clandestine manner.

To save lives, the missionaries cleverly decided to spread their religious message slowly throughout the populations by allowing them to continue to celebrate pagan feasts, but to do so in a Christian manner.

Pagan Eastre Becomes Easter

The pagan festival of Eastre occurred at the same time of year as the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ. It made sense to alter the festival itself and make it a Christian celebration as converts were slowly won over. The early name, Eastre, was eventually changed to its modern spelling, Easter.

Both the rabbit, Eastre's earthly symbol, and the exchange of eggs, a celebration of springtime's rebirth, were centuries old customs of the pagan festival that eventually merged with the religious Easter season.

More about the history of Easter and the parallel pagan festivities can be read at Wilstar.

Photos Extol Spring Blessings

This blog's pictorial celebration takes place in four stages -- the glorious landscape photographs by my friend Sally; clickable blends of Clay Aiken photos by the fandom's graphic artists; and Sally's beautiful floral graphics signifying the rebirth of the spring season; and the latest on Kai and Lia.

Many may remember the featured artist as Sally888, who in the past shared many of her stunning photos and graphics in a Clayonline blog.

Even though I have played for countless Easter sunrise services, I have never been to Canada. Sally's beautiful photo of a sunrise along the Ice fields Parkway transports one to the heart of the Canadian Rockies.

Lake Louise near Banff, Alberta, reportedly the most photographed lake in the world, was once recorded by Sally.

In this photo, Sally captured springtime morning in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, a state I called home for 17 years.

Fans Applaud Clay's Voice, Heart

Clay Aiken fans first followed the exceptional voice from Carolina. During the past seven years, they have also become enthusiastic supporters and participants in his charitable causes, inspiring the motto: "We came for the voice but stayed for the man."

In 2003, the singer and Diane Bubel co-founded the National Inclusion Project to bridge the gap that exists between young people with disabilities and the world around them.

Appointed a UNICEF ambassador in 2004, Clay has made several international trips and participated in numerous projects for the world relief organization.

'Dancing Like the Stars' Benefit Set

In an annual benefit for the Foundation, the National Inclusion Project and A Step to Gold International Ballroom will co-host Dancing Like the Stars at Raleigh's Southern Women's Show on April 25.

Local celebrity participants are busy practicing with their professional dance partner to provide great entertainment for the show attendees. You can read about the dancing celebrities here where a practice video of each couple will be activated soon.

With a click, supporters can vote for their favorite couple and make a donation to the Inclusion Project.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: Looking back, these handsome clickables feature Invisible926's 2006 Easter design (1); Clayquebec1, photo by Invisible926, (2); cindilu2, photo and screen cap by Galrow and Spotlightlover, (3); AmazingCA's JNT05 blend, photos by Renee4Clay, (4); and A Beautiful Mind's Easter graphic, photo by Scrpkym, (5).

Flowers a Canvas for Nature

Nature's splendor resonates throughout Sally's floral photos and graphics. My special affinity for the first is the annual North Carolina Azalea Festival celebrated in my hometown of Wilmington. The 63rd "best party in the South" will occur next week, April 7-11.

The Festival is a celebration of Wilmington's exceptional artwork, gardens, rich history and culture during its five days of entertainment that includes a parade, street fair, circus, concerts, pageantry, and all that is Southern.

For more information, see Upcoming Cape Fear Coast and Wilmington, NC Events, or call 910.794.4650.

Joining the pink azalea in this springtime gala are sweet-fragranced freesia and a lovely apple blossom.

Grandchildren Welcome Spring

In March, grandchildren Kai and Lia enjoyed a visit with a new friend, Twyla, whose mother captured many moments of the weekend with her camera. The weekend was filled with lots of "girl talk," eats, kiddie play, and, of course, shopping sprees.

Below are four clickables from the weekend. Lia is in light purple, Twyla in stripes, and Kai in white.

Wednesday Kai and Lia visited the dentist and received excellent reports. In addition, we learned that Lia has the makings of a "social animal" while her brother may be joining the teaching ranks within our family.

Apparently, the minute they entered the dental office, Lia "abandoned" her family and made a beeline to the other children in the waiting room for some interaction. A little later, Kai also joined the group. Soon his mother heard him teaching the other kids how to count in English and in Spanish.

LOL, must be in the genes!

Below are clickable graphics celebrating Kai's previous Easters, one by Sally (2008) and the other by Ashes (2009):

Happy Easter ~ Blessed Passover ~ Joyous Spring, Clay Nation!

Caro

Aiken, Studdard Together Again!

TOGETHER AGAIN - Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard have announced venues of this summer's 17-city "Timeless Tour." Collage by Fountaindawg.

TNT Cover, Tracks Released (NEW!)

Clay, Ruben Announce 'Timeless Tour'

No fooling, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard confirmed in an April 1 announcement on their respective fan club sites that they will hit the road together for three weeks this summer, taking their "Timeless Tour" to 17 cities throughout North America.

UPDATE: Scroll down for the "Tried & True" cover, track list, and Movers & Shakers ranking at Amazon.

In their first tour together, Clay and Ruben will kick off the "Timeless" agenda in Asheville, NC, July 23, and perform at such famed venues such as New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, LA Nokia Live in Los Angeles, and Pennsylvania’s American Music Theater.

"I couldn’t ask for a better tour mate. To be able to share the stage with him again is so exciting,” said Clay Aiken. “He is such a talented artist. He inspires me daily and I think that respect and admiration will truly be reflected in our show."

"It is truly a blessing and an honor to be on the stage with my friend," said Ruben Studdard. “The relationship that we have built over these past eight years will definitely translate into a great show for our fans. And I'm really looking forward to singing the timeless classics every night."

Concert goers can expect an entertaining evening as two friends and colleagues blend their talents for an unforgettable show. Clay and Ruben will be performing their renditions of classic hits from the past five decades. Fans can look forward to duets and special surprises throughout the tour.

In 2003, on the second season of American Idol, with over 24 million votes cast by the TV viewing audience, Ruben Studdard won the title, while Clay Aiken was the very close runner up.

The two became instant friends and have shared the joys and pressures of their success over the past seven years. Since Idol, both artists have released albums, performed around the country, and made multiple appearances on TV.

Wednesday night Ruben appeared on American Idol 9 to sing his current single, "Don't Make 'Em Like You No More." He also plugged this summer's "Timeless Tour."

Ruben Plugs Tour on Idol

The singers plan to perform separately and in tandem. They also promise surprise guests at different tour stops. Listed below are tour dates as of March 28:

CURRENT TOUR DATES:

Jul-23 - Asheville, NC - Biltmore Estates
Jul-24 - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theater
Jul-25 - Melbourne, FL - King Center For Arts
Jul-26 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
Jul-29 - Snoqualmie WA - Casino- Mountain View Plaza
Jul-31 - Reno, NV - Silver Legacy Casino
Aug-01 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia
Aug-03 - Milwaukee, WI - Potowanami Casino
Aug-05 - Windsor, ON - Caesar’s
Aug-06 - Chautauqua, NY - Chautauqua Institution Amphitheatre
Aug-07 - Mashantucket, CT - MGM Grand Foxwoods
Aug-08 - Lancaster, PA - American Music Theater
Aug-10 - Hampton Beach, NH - HB Casino
Aug-11 - New York, NY - Hammerstein
Aug-12 - Verona, NY - Turning Stone Casino
Aug-13 - Hammond, IN - Horseshoe
Aug-14 - Biloxi, MS - Beau Rivage

Clay at March 12 PBS Special concert taping. (Jim R. Bounds).

The Timeless Tour, which has also been tagged "Time to Soar" and "The Cluben Tour," is already receiving media buzz. Wednesday night The Marquee Blog (CNN) included this blurb:

I forgot that Ruben Studdard was performing tonight. He sings his new single, "Don't Make Them Like You," and he looks good. He's still the Velvet Teddy Bear, but now there is less stuffing.

He's going on tour with Clay Aiken, and I can't wait to see them on stage together again.

A few of the many websites featuring the Timeless Tour story include:

Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard To Tour Together (Billboard)
Clay Aiken & Ruben Studdard's 'Timeless' Tour (Pollstar)
Aiken, Studdard to hit road together (USA Today/includes poll)
Clay Aiken Tour 2010 (lalate)
Ruben Studdard to tour with Clay Aiken (celebs.gather.com)
American Idol's Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard Reunited! (eOnline)

Ruben performs at Wednesday's AI9 show. (Fox Photo)

The Speakeasy blog (Wall Street Journal) about Season 9's Top 10 elimination opened with the Ruben-Clay tour news:

First off, Season Two champion Ruben Studdard paid a visit to the set. How long does Idol hold on to these former contestants! Tough to say whether the slimmer Velvet Teddybear was going for R&B, pop or gospel this time.

Like a lot of returning heavyweights, he was polished. Wow, Ruben is going on tour with Clay Aiken. Those two deserve a buddy comedy.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the singers' websites: Ruben Studdard and Clayonline.

Below are clickable Clay-Ruben wallpapers by Fountaindawg. The first two are the regular and widescreen versions of the opening art.

TNT Cover, Track List Set

Breaking news continued into Thursday night when the Tried & True 50's retro cover and track list were released at Amazon.

Clay Aiken: Tried & True tracks include:

Can't Take My Eyes Off You, What Kind of Fool Am I, It's Only Make Believe, Misty, Mack the Knife, It's Impossible, Unchained Melody, Suspicious Minds, Crying, There's a Kind of Hush, and Moon River.

With all the tour and CD news, April 1 seemed a bit like Christmas Day. At 10:30 a.m. Friday, TNT was #6 in Amazon's Movers & Shakers list. Within a couple of hours, it was #1.

Have a wonderful weekend, Clay Nation!

Caro

Clay Aiken Fans Design CD Covers

TRIED & TRUE - Mock CD cover by ClaysSTO.

'Tried & True' Potpourri

Fans Try Hand at Cover Design

When Clay Aiken's new Decca CD starts spinning off store shelves the first of June, the cover probably won't look anything like the mock jackets designed and posted by fans on message boards this week.

The creative speculation, however, is a fascinating way to spend the days until Tried & True drops.

Many fan designs feature promo shots taken after the singer's March 12 PBS Special taping in Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium. Others favor photos from tours, TV appearances, and shoots from seasons past.

During this entry's three-day ride, other mock TNT cover designs will no doubt be added. Hopefully, designers will direct me to their posts. Decca and Amazon sites are bookmarked and checked regularly for the "real" thing.

Meanwhilte, enjoy ... and definitely check back for updates!

TNT cover by Fountaindawg


TNT cover by elana i am


TNT cover by elana i am


TNT cover by elana i am


TNT cover by elana i am


TNT cover by elana i am


TNT cover by LovesClaysVoice


TNT cover by LovesClaysVoice


TNT cover by LovesClaysVoice


TNT cover by LovesClaysVoice


TNT cover by Cotton


TNT cover by LovesClaysVoice


TNT cover by Fountaindawg

Have an awesome week, Clay Nation!

Caro

Diary Details Clay Aiken Shoot

BACK IN TOWN -- Clay Aiken returned to his hometown of Raleigh, NC, for the concert taping of a PBS Special Friday, March 12. Graphic by Fountaindawg, photos by Jim R. Bounds/AP.

'Tried and True' CD

Photo Shoot Spotlights Triangle

The March 12 taping of Clay Aiken's PBS Special/Concert in Raleigh was just the beginning of a jam-packed weekend that also included the all-important photo shoot for his upcoming Decca release, "Tried and True."

Saturday Randy Hamilton, writer-photographer for the Durham Photography Examiner, filled in many details of the March 13 photo shoot with his piece, Diary of a professional photography shoot for Clay Aiken's "Tried and True".

The reprint here includes photos from several of the article's linked sites in the Raleigh-Durham area. Naturally, the lunch menu was Eastern syle North Carolina barbeque.

Local fans of Clay Aiken surely know he was in the area recently, recording a concert in Raleigh’s Memorial Auditorium that featured songs from his new album, Tried and True. The album is scheduled for release on June 1, 2010, and broadcast of the concert is set for sometime this summer on PBS.

Private train car, American Tobacco
Photo by Randy Hamilton

What fans may not know is that, while visiting his home town, Aiken searched for locations for the art for the CD package of his new album.

Driving around Raleigh and Durham, he photographed locations that fit the theme of the upcoming album, the 1950s and the Rat Pack [Peter Lawford, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin].

Among the locations in his pictures of Durham are a bar, a diner and several street shots. Others show parts of the American Tobacco Campus, including Bay 7 and the train car at the North end.

These Bay 7 photos will expand to a larger size.

Aiken also favored the Mecca Restaurant in Raleigh, a nearly perfect location for the images he had in mind for the package art.

Using his photographs to go by, it was necessary to scout the locations, to take additional photographs for determining their suitability and availability for the shoot.

With photographs of the interior of the train car at American Tobacco, the Mecca and others from a newly recommended site, the locations for the one-day shoot were set.

The Kenan Bar, Treyburn Country Club
Photo by Randy Hamilton


18th green at Treyburn
Photo courtesy of Treyburn Country Club

The day would begin at Treyburn Country Club in Durham, with shots in the bar and on the golf course.

Afterward, the crew would head to American Tobacco before finishing in Raleigh at the Mecca.

The Mecca - Photo by Jason Hamilton

Upon arrival at Treyburn at 7am, NY photographer Vincent Soyez began setting up for the first shot in the bar. Soyez, who uses the Norman lighting system, said, "You’ll be disappointed if you’re expecting an elaborate lighting setup. I just set up the lights where I think they should go, take some test shots and adjust the lights until I get the effect we want."

For the Aiken shoot, the desired effect derives from the dramatic light and shadow sometimes associated with celebrity photographs of the 1950s.

Following Aiken’s arrival and wardrobe preparation, the shooting began with work around settings at the bar. After a couple of hours, the crew moved out to the golf course. Luckily, the preferred location was at the 18th green, making it relatively easy to transport equipment and set up the shot.

Mt. Bethel Methodist Church in Bahama, NC

After completing the shots, Aiken bought lunch for the crew. One could easily see he was happy to be home and to introduce his NY colleagues to North Carolina barbecue, Eastern style of course. (And as it happens, his grandmother lives nearby. He described his visits to Bahama while growing up, with many Sunday mornings spent singing in Mt. Bethel Methodist Church.)

Following lunch, the crew finished with a few publicity shots, packed up and headed to American Tobacco.

Rain threatened the afternoon, but the crew managed to set up in the train car before the rain began, and by the time they had finished, the rain had stopped. They packed up again and headed to the Mecca in Raleigh, the final location of the day. The shoot wrapped up around 11pm.

While Aiken fans anxiously await the new music of his next album, photography fans might look for a copy to see how these locations, and Clay Aiken, are transformed by the work of Vincent Soyez.

In addition to providing some of the location photography, Jason Hamilton also contributed information for this article. By clicking on his link, readers can view examples of his photography.

American Tobacco Campus posted the following on Facebook Sunday:

American Tobacco Campus plays a big part in Clay Aiken's upcoming album and the photo shoot to illustrate his love of the Triangle!

You can read about the author of the diary, Randy Hamilton, here. Below is a clickable of Fountaindawg's concert graphic:

Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation! Is it June yet?

Caro