Taylor Hicks set to perform an intimate concert at OWA Theater in Foley

By MELANIE LECROY
Lifestyle Editor
melanie@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 4/28/23

FOLEY — Taylor Hicks has graced many stages over his long career in the entertainment industry: the Flora-Bama, "American Idol," Broadway and television and movie sound stages. On May 20, Hicks …

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Taylor Hicks set to perform an intimate concert at OWA Theater in Foley

Posted

FOLEY — Taylor Hicks has graced many stages over his long career in the entertainment industry: the Flora-Bama, "American Idol," Broadway and television and movie sound stages. On May 20, Hicks will take the stage at OWA Theater.

The Birmingham native will always be known for winning season five of "American Idol" in 2006 but his music career started long before his trip to Hollywood. One of the stages he credits with turning him into an entertainer is right here on the Gulf Coast.

"I was playing the Flora-Bama when I was 18," Hicks said. "It is funny. There are some of the same characters in there that I grew up with performing and I love it. It will always have my musical heart because it taught me how to be an entertainer. It is a very integral part for entertainers that play there to learn how to entertain as opposed to playing music. There is a difference."

Over the past four or five years, Hicks has returned to the Flora-Bama for the Back to the Bama Bash and he will be performing there July 15, at 4 p.m.

Hicks released his first single in 14 years, "Porch Swing" in February on the "Bobby Bones Show." A full album, his first in 10 years, will be out later this year. When asked why it has taken so long, Hicks laughed and said that if he hadn't had so many opportunities outside of music over the years, he probably would have 10 albums by now.

What has been keeping him so busy? Over the years Hicks has opened a restaurant, SAW's Juke Joint in Birmingham, starred in three seasons of the original television series "State Plate" which is now on Amazon Prime, performed in the Broadway revival of "Grease," performed "Porch Swing" in Samuel Goldwyn Films' 2021 movie "Stars Fell on Alabama," and appeared in an episode of "Law & Order: SVU."

"I wanted to put together the best songs I possibly could. I am not getting any grayer so the idea of putting a great album together was more appealing to me than just spitting songs out," Hicks said. "I wanted to make sure the songs were right, and I wasn't artistically compromised which was an important thing to me."

Hicks describes the music on his upcoming album as timeless and that is evident after a listen to his single "Porch Swing." The song has a very soulful feel.

"I call it Southern soul. It's funny, I have always enjoyed the problem of not being pigeonholed into a genre but just creating really good music," Hicks said.

In May, Hicks is playing two shows in Alabama; May 19 at Samford University's Wright Center and May 20 at OWA Theater.

Why OWA?

"I love the town of Foley. My mom and stepdad live there," Hicks said. "It (OWA Theater) is a perfect venue for me to work on some new music from a live perspective, play some oldies and play some songs off "American Idol." Those kinds of rooms I love because I think my jokes have more probability of landing than in a bigger venue."

The OWA Theater has less than 500 seats and provides an up-close, personal and intimate experience for those in attendance. Hicks said he enjoys doing smaller acoustic shows because it allows him to have a one-on-one musical and speaking conversation with a small audience. Expect jokes, music and some good Paula Abdul stories.

Hicks is also scheduled to make his Grand Ole Opry debut Friday, June 16.

"I have always dreamed about it, but I never asked," he said. "I feel like the invitation needs to be organic and that is exactly what has happened. It is a really special moment for me to say I got invited so I am extremely excited, and I can't wait to go."

After checking the Grand Ole Opry off his bucket list, Hicks said one thing that remains on his list is a serious main role in a feature film.

"I am excited to see where the music takes me," Hicks said. "I have some great songs on this record that I am excited to release and let everyone hear. I have spent a lot of time, energy and money on this record, so I am excited to see where the music goes."