Keeping Up With Bo

[ACcountryFan]

Last week "The Real Thing" was #13 Hot AC and this week it's #15.  Does anyone know if it got higher than #13!? If not, it's a good chart finish.

R&R HOT AC

[Claymaniac2000]

Thanks for posting tht information Jerry. I know Bo will never come close to Clay but I think him and Chris are the best things to come from AI besides our man. and even tho' Chris should have won this year I am so glad he didn't because now, like Bo, he can do his own thing when he finishes this tour he is on.

[KSChristian4Clay]

Bice promises the real thing

By Jane Dunlap Norris
MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
Friday, July 21, 2006

You’ve seen That Guy. Maybe you’ve even been That Guy. Either way, That Guy is one of Bo Bice’s favorite fans.

Bice, the second-place finisher in the fourth season of "American Idol," describes the fun of seeing That Guy at just about every show.

He’s the man who walks into the concert venue with his girlfriend but without a lot of enthusiasm. He’s here to please her, not to enjoy the show - it’s a chore, not something to cheer. That’s why his arms stay folded across his chest.

But then Bice and his band start to play, and to his amazement, That Guy discovers a solid rock ’n’ roll show with strong vocals, bold instrumentation, tight teamwork. The fluff and nonsense he’d dreaded never materializes.

Before he realizes it, That Guy’s in the groove.

"By the end of the show, he’s screaming and yelling and pumping his fist in the air," Bice said cheerfully.

Bice, who’ll be performing Saturday at the Charlottesville Pavilion, said he loves to give his fans a rewarding show. But he relishes making new fans, too, by winning over "the doubters - they didn’t buy the album, they aren’t singing the songs," he said.

"We want them to be singing along. We want them to be pumping their fists,’’ he said. "It’s almost like having a communication problem with someone, and then, suddenly, you’re speaking the same language."

Bice, his band and their road crew have been together for 12 years, so they understand how important it is to speak the same language.

When Bice finished second to winner Carrie Underwood in May 2005, many wondered if he’d end up leaving his own band behind to pursue pop stardom, but he stuck to his guns. He entered the contest with a clear-eyed perspective because he’d already been a professional musician for years now and he’s not one to chase quick fixes.

"It’s almost like nothing’s changed," the Huntsville, Ala., native said. "Now we have arrived at what we have been reaching for."

What they wanted, Bice said, was to reach audiences with the best music and most satisfying shows they could come up with as a team effort. Instead of tearing the team apart, the "American Idol" experience expanded their opportunities, Bice said.

"The Real Thing,’’ the CD that Bice released in December, was produced by music industry legend Clive Davis. Fans have embraced the album and are turning out for Bice’s shows.

When asked what reservations he’d had about joining the "Idol" fray and what changes he’d seen since, Bice said, "The biggest way, I guess, for me, is, I thought, what if I’d sold my proverbial rock ’n’ roll soul to ‘American Idol?’ ’’

He didn’t want the team he relied on to get broken apart and his loyal friends left behind, because they’d built their success the hard way - one road show at a time. Before he left to compete in "Idol,’’ Bice worked seven days a week, juggling band gigs, solo shows, work shifts in the guitar shop he managed and teaching private guitar lessons.

Since his stint on "American Idol," Bice has married his wife, Caroline; welcomed their baby son, Aidan; undergone gastrointestinal surgery; and broken his foot. All the while, the show had to go on, and he relied more than ever on the powers of friendship, teamwork and family.

"Not only my wife, but all my family and friends have been here to hold me up," Bice said. "You don’t want to let ’em down. It’s also inspiring when they all join together to let you know you’re not alone.

"There’s no cure for any ailment like love."

It’s safe to say that Bice hasn’t let success spoil him. He’s a grateful man these days.

"It’s an honor to get to do this," Bice said. "I still love it as much every single day. Every mile is a mile further to our destination - to go out and put on a good, clean rock ’n’ roll show every night."

The perfectionistic streak in his personality has served him well, so he isn’t about to toss it aside now.

"We have to pitch everything to the record label like everyone else," Bice said.

"That’s the vacation - on the road. In the studio is where I put my work hat on. At the end of the day, I’ve got to win over Clive Davis, so I want it to be immaculate."

Bice, 30, admits he gets "kind of anal" in the studio, but he wants his work to stand up to Davis’ scrutiny.

"One thing I’ve always tried to be is open to constructive criticism," he said.

"I trust his opinions. He’s been doing this a lot longer than I have."

The Culpeper Star Exponent

[Claymaniac2000]

Thanks for posting that article Meesa. I think Bo is a wonderful person and I wish  him lots of success.

[garuu2d]

There is a new video out for "Valley of Angels" - one of the songs that Bo wrote on the album !!   


Here is a link to check out the video for "Valley of Angels"


http://revver.com/video/53407/23452

[aikenseeker]

American Idol Visits Youree Drive Middle School
 Video High
An American Idol came to Shreveport Thursday to kick off what could be the ultimate school music room. Bo Bice made a surprise visit to Youree Drive Middle School as part of a $10,000 donation of new equipment.

Bice, the music show runner-up, arrived after the students were told their teacher, Krista Fanning, had won new musical instruments and equipment in a contest sponsored by Intune magazine, a music educator publication.

The new amps, drum set, guitars and keyboard will mean more students will be making more music and learning more about it. Fanning was one of 200 music teachers across the country who wrote essays telling why they needed to equipment for their students.

The musical equipment and instruments were donated by some well- known names in the music industry like Peavy and Rolland. Fanning is also a KTBS 3 "One Class at a Time" winner.
Story Created: Sep 7, 2006 at 6:43 PM EST
Story Updated: Sep 7, 2006 at 7:46 PM EST

http://www.ktbs.com/news/local/3865157.html

[garuu2d]

'Idol’ star surprises teacher with musical makeover
September 7, 2006


By Jane Bokun
The Times

Krista Fanning was definitely surprised.

The Youree Drive Middle School music teacher was treated to an unannounced visit by long-haired "American Idol" star Bo Bice this morning. The star sang an original tune, played an acoustic guitar and informed the awestruck music class that Fanning had won more than $10,000 worth of musical instruments and equipment for their school.

“I’d say it’s one of the most exciting things that’s ever happened to me,” Fanning said. “The kids I teach are so creative and it just takes one spark to get them going.”

Fanning, 40, who has been a teacher for 17 years, put the plan in motion when she entered an essay contest sponsored by In Tune Monthly, a music magazine targeted to teenage music students, and Peavey Electronics, an instruments manufacturer that has partnered with Bice to speak to students about music and the arts.

The two companies wanted to award one middle or high school an Ultimate Music Room Makeover. School music teachers and principals around the country were asked to submit an essay about why their school deserved a music room makeover.

Hundreds of entries were submitted nationwide and when the smoke cleared, there was one winner: Youree Drive Middle School in Shreveport.

“Isn’t this great?” said Bice, who cheered on the crowd of mostly eighth-graders. Instruments the school received include a high-tech drum, guitars, synthesizer, amplifiers and keyboard -- all the makings of a rock band.

Bice filmed the room on his laptop, telling the children to look themselves up at www.bobice.com. Then, picking up his guitar, he asked, “What do you all feel like hearing?”

“Lil’ Jon,” called out one of the students.

Bice smiled and then sang a song he wrote that characterized him as a poet without a pen.” Bice said he hoped some of the children would write music, too.

“Now you have great equipment to do it with,” he said.

“I’ve been hiding Bo in my office all morning until the official presentation,” said excited Youree Drive Middle School Principal Arleen Hague. “We’re so pleased to have won this award.”

Irwin Kornfield, CEO of In Tune Monthly, said he chose Fanning’s essay because he knew she was committed to teaching the arts.

In her essay, Fanning wrote that she would use the instruments for other area students as well and open the music room to area schools and young music groups.

“We had some schools that had no music program at all and we wanted to give them instruments, but they had nothing in place,” Kornfield said. “Krista Fanning loans students her own instruments and even has music classes in her home. We knew she would make good use of this award.”

Kornfield said both companies plan to have an Ultimate Music Room Makeover contest for middle and high schools each year.

With the new instruments, many area schools also will profit. Caddo Parish has a jazz band called Little Kids Rock that will use the new instruments.

Students, for their part, enjoyed Bice’s appearance along with winning the musical instruments.

“It’s awesome,” said 13-year-old Justin Alexander.

By clicking on the link to the article you can see a picture of Bo with some of the students.

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060907/BREAKINGNEWS/60907010

[garuu2d]

Concert dates for Bo Bice


9/15  Bloomington, IL - The Last Lap. Sponsored by B104 FM.Tickets are $20 in advance; $25 the day of the show. 
                                               http://www.lastlap.info/index.html


9/16  Cape Girardeau, MO - S.E. MO District Fair - 8:00PM   Seats $35 & $ 28 Advance  Concert Ticket Purchase  Include Gate Admission.      http://www.semissourian.com/story/1152444.html


9/23 - Huntsville, AL  - Big Spring Jam  Downtown   http://www.bigspringjam.org/


9/27  St. Charles, MO - Ameristar Casino/Bottleneck Blues Bar - Shows start at 7:00 PM, Ticket prices: $45/$50   On Sale 7/18
                                           http://www.ameristarcasinos.com/stcharles/sc_et_event_detail.asp?id=3002


9/28  St. Charles, MO - Ameristar Casino/Bottleneck Blues Bar - Shows start at 7:00 PM, Ticket prices: $45/$50   On Sale 7/18


9/30  Wichita Falls, TX - FallsFest -   Bo will play the main stage that evening.  http://www.fallsfest.org/


10/1  Dallas, TX - State Fair of Texas     http://www.bigtex.com/

[Claymaniac2000]

Bo in Hospital Last Night!!
« on: Sep 27th, 2006, 2:08pm »  Quote  Modify 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BoBice.com just reported that Bo was admitted to the hospital last night with a relapse to his intestinal problem.  He has been released and is going to perform the show tonight but the M&G was canceled.
 
Bo please take it easy!  Your health is so important.
 
You are in my prayers!!! 
 
 

[aikenseeker]

10 October 2006
Emergency surgery for ex Idol star Bo Bice
Former 'American Idol' star Bo Bice has undergone emergency surgery for an intestinal problem.

According to People magazine, the 30-year-old singer is now recovering at a hospital in Nashville after his operation.

Bice's publicist Roger Widynowski said: "Bo is still in the hospital, and he's stable. He had tests in the morning and after review of said tests it was determined that surgery should be performed immediately."
"Everyone is hopeful that this surgery will correct the condition, but there is no way to know for certain. He already has changed his diet (and) lifestyle over the last few months."

According to the report, the singer was diagnosed with intussusception, a intestinal condition which usually occurs in children.

http://www.rte.ie/arts/2006/1010/americanidol.html

[Claymaniac2000]

THE BICE SQUAD would like for everyone to go here and light a candle for Bo.

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=Bice

[Prissy]

Hello,

I hate to hear that Bo is still having intestinal problems.  Hopefully, this surgery will solve the problem.  Special prayers for Bo.

Prissy

[aikenseeker]

MAKING THE BRAND: BO BICE PASSES GO
The Time Has Come For 'American Idol' Runner-up's Monopoly Campaign
By MICHAEL PAOLETTA
September 30, 2006
BillboardMagazine

Bo Bice acknowledges that he didn't pay too much attention to the first offer from Hasbro. But once he looked it over a couple times, he says he began smiling. "I got excited. I felt quite honored," he says. "I liked that the concept represented the past and the present—that it was putting a new twist on something old and familiar."

Bice is referring to a just-launching ad campaign surrounding Hasbro's new board game, Monopoly Here and Now. The RCA Records artist is central to the multiplatform campaign (TV, Internet, in-store play), which features him singing a rockin' cover of the Chambers Brothers' 1968 hit "Time Has Come Today."

A full-length version of the remake is available for sale at iTunes and other digital stores.

Hasbro's agency Grey Worldwide in New York was given the mandate to search for a major artist to put a new spin on the classic piece of psychedelic music. After fielding many suggestions, Grey and its client settled on Bice.

"Everyone at Grey thought he could really bring this song to its knees," Grey music supervisor and director of licensing Amy Rosen says. "We all remembered how he tore it up on 'American Idol' with the [Ides of March's] song 'Vehicle.' "

RCA Music Group VP of soundtracks and film/TV music Karen Lamberton worked closely with Grey creatives to bring this deal to fruition.

Lamberton's RCA Music Group colleague, senior VP of A&R/staff producer Stephen Ferrera, produced the track with Grey senior VP/director of music Josh Rabinowitz.

Which helps explain why Bice is identified in the ads. "Our creatives usually don't want to distract from the message, the visuals," Rosen explains. "But in this instance, we were the instigators, the matchmakers. This recording wouldn't exist if not for us. It's the perfect example of extending a brand into people's lifestyles."

Rosen calls the arrangement a straight-up licensing deal with RCA that includes all production costs. "We have the song exclusively for the ad cycle, but the label owns it," she notes.

The 15- and 30-second spots are airing on TV. They are also receiving in-store play at Target and Kmart stores nationwide—with other retail chains to follow. Additionally, the spots will be used as "online roadblocks" on pogo.com, foxnews.com and other sites.

Rosen puts the media buy for the campaign, which runs through the holidays, in the "multimillions." Such exposure has the potential to boost sales for Bice's debut album, "The Real Thing." Released late last year, the disc has sold 651,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Those who now purchase a physical copy of the CD at the Sony Music Store online will receive a free digital download of "Time Will Come Today."

Lamberton says that whether the label will promote the track to radio remains uncertain. "But if we hear rumblings around the country, we'll act on it," she says. "It would be cool to see a song created for an ad campaign become a huge hit."

For the uninitiated, Monopoly Here and Now is an updated, branded version of the original board game.

The new version, which does not replace the classic, still-popular original, features branded content as tokens: a Starbucks coffee cup, a New Balance running shoe, a Motorola Razr phone, McDonald's french fries. Get the picture? It also features new high-end properties from around the world and updated Chance/Community Chest cards. (A visit to a spa, anyone?)

The properties were voted on by 3.6 million people on the Monopoly Web site, with some cities holding press conferences to get their landmarks placed among the 22 in the game.

It all comes back to voting, Hasbro director of marketing Tracy Hogan says. "Americans voted for Bo Bice on 'American Idol,' and they voted on Monopoly Here and Now."

In the end, she says, "A classic game and a classic song have been brought into the here and now."

http://www.insidebrandedentertainment.com/bep/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003155402&imw=Y

[Pamela]

Bo Bice Fans Petition RCA For Original Songs

Finishing second on American Idol 4 was supposed to mean that Bo Bice would be able to record the kind of album that he wanted to make and wouldn’t be pigeonholed into recording a commercial pop album.  However, anytime a record label puts up major money to produce a record for a new artist there are always strings attached.  The strings attached to Bo Bice’s first album seemed to be a focus on songs written by professional songwriters instead of Bo Bice originals.

While Bo Bice’s The Real Thing has done respectable well for a first album from a new artist, it hasn’t been the runaway hit that many were expecting.  Bo Bice’s fans did their best to support the album, but many were disappointed that the album did not contain very many Bo Bice original songs.  The highlight of the album for many fans was the Valley of Angels song that was co-written by Bo Bice and the three Bo Bice originals that only appeared on the dual disc version of the album.

Wanting to insure that RCA doesn’t make a similar mistake on Bo Bice’s second album, some fans have started an online petition to express their opinion.  The petition has over 1,110 signatures and asks RCA to support Bo Bice’s “aspiration to become an original recording artist.”  The petition also asks for “Bo Bice’s original music to make up the majority of songs on his next CD.”

[Pamela]

Meridian hosts former ‘Idol’

“American Idol” star and Peavey endorser Bo Bice will be a guest judge today at the Afterschool (Not) Idle singing contest as part of the Lights On Afterschool rally.

The event, which will be open only to kids enrolled in the local Boys & Girls Club and 21st Century after-school programs, is part of a national movement to support after-school programs.
<snip>

Jim Beaugez, marketing director for Peavey, said Bice confirmed Monday that he would be in Meridian today. He said Peavey has been working with Bice to develop a custom model Peavey Custom Shop guitar.

“We had worked with him on educational promotions before, and as soon as he heard what we were going to do with after-school programs, he was on board,” Beaugez said.

Afterschool (Not) Idle

“The talent was really great. I was really surprised by the age of these contestants,” said “American Idol” star and Peavey endorser Bo Bice, a guest judge for the competition.

[Pamela]

Atlanta Journal's Rodney Ho's American Idol Blog

Bo's Agent Disses Me

Bo Bice, season four runner up, really has some ornery people representing him. In recent days, fans were wondering: is he still with RCA? His name has been wiped off the RCA web site. His supposed publicist at RCA, Roger Widynowski, isn’t returning my calls or emails. So i decided to try his agent.

He signed up with Strategic Artist Management, which also reps Clay Aiken and the Dixie Chicks. I called them on Tuesday and left a message with Kat Darnell, who handles his account. She didn’t return my calls so I left a second message yesterday. No response. I called her today and she finally deigned to pick up the phone. She proceeded to say she had nothing to say and then told me not to call her again because she’s NOT his publcist. She also felt I was “harassing” her with phone calls. One call a day is harassment? And I told her if she had simply returned my call the first time around and said no comment, I wouldn’t have any reason to call her again for now. Case closed. Sheesh!

This is apparently how Bo’s “people” are defining “public relations.”

[Pamela]

Bo has a song on the upcoming Will Ferrell movie "Blades of Glory."   

Bo Bice Gets Back in the Studio
By Jed Dreben

Just because Bo Bice has been laying low doesn't mean that the season 4 runner-up hasn't been hard at work on new material. PEOPLE caught up with Bice, who says he's enjoying spending time just being a dad, at a Playboy Mansion party for the E! show The Girls Next Door and the launch of the new Ryan Seacrest-produced reality series Paradise City. Bice opened up about a new in-the-works album (the follow-up to his gold-selling debut, The Real Thing), this year's Idol hopefuls and the continuing scandal over racy pictures of contestant Antonella Barba.

What are you working on right now?
Well, we started on the new album. I've been demoing songs for that for a while and we're getting in the studio. We're doing a cut for the movie Blades of Glory with Will Ferrell – so that's going to be great. I'm just grateful to be able to be out here and doing some fun stuff.

What do you think about this year's Idol hopefuls?
The girls are really shining this year. They seem to have several girls that are really doing well. I think they might be the one who takes it home this year. But you never know, man. It's funny how you can pick somebody at the 12 (contestant) mark and then you never know how they're going to react under pressure. They might be a great singer, but they might crack under pressure.

What's your best advice for those people?
Song choice is very important. But just practice hard, and if you practice hard enough, you're not going to be nervous. You'll fare well in front of the judges.

Do you think the photos of Antonella Barba will affect her standing on the show?
Those are private images (and) private images are a different thing than being out on the red carpet or doing things, and I think people understand that. Everybody's got something in their closet, dude. It doesn't matter who you are.

People.com

[Pamela]

Here are some bootleg fan videos of Bo singing some new songs.  They are just snippets, but he sounds great.

BonafideBice.com. 

[Pamela]

Bo's video for the Blades of Glory soundtrack is up on YouTube!!!

He sounds goooood.....

BoTube

[HavinaClayAffair]

Thanks Pamela... I really enjoy Bo!

Lora