AIKEN NEWS NETWORK JULY 25

[clayMaine-iac]

Good Morning, everyone!!

Today is the day we get our new, more secure forum!!

This is the week Clay starts touring again !!  

From 'Idol' to icon
Runner-up to perform Thursday at Toms RiverFest
BY ADAM TALIERCIO
STAFF WRITER

Clay Aiken performs on "American Idol" May 20, 2003, in Los Angeles. Aiken will perform at 8:30 p.m. Thursday during Toms RiverFest.

Toms River will be host to a lot of famous faces when Toms RiverFest runs from July 28 through 31, and Clay Aiken, who will be performing at 8:30 p.m. Thursday night on the Pine Belt Stage, is one of them.
As most probably already know, Aiken was runner-up on the second season of Fox's "American Idol" competition in 2003. Born in 1978 and a native of Charlotte, N.C., Aiken sang in public by age 5, was a member of the Raleigh Boys Choir, and performed in several local musicals and plays long before making his television appearance.

Having studied special education, he had wanted to attend the College of William and Mary and earn a master's degree in administration. "American Idol," obviously, changed a few things.

Aiken's original intent was to try out for another reality series, but he went out for "American Idol" for the sake of a friend who encouraged him to do so. Although he came in second place after Ruben Studdard on the show, Aiken had a record deal with RCA weeks after the show's finale.

His first single, "This Is the Night," sold over 392,000 copies in its first week, breaking a record previously held by Elton John for "Candle in the Wind 1997" and reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Aiken's debut album, "Measure of a Man," released in October 2003, topped the Billboard 200 chart in its first week. He followed up with a holiday album, "Merry Christmas With Love," in November 2004, which topped Billboard's holiday albums chart.

The performance at Toms RiverFest will kick off a new tour for Aiken, the fifth of his career. Rather than promoting a new album or sticking to songs from previous releases, Aiken will be performing songs from the past five decades of pop and rock.

"I thought it would be cool to sing a bunch of covers and relate to everybody," Aiken said, according to his official fan site, www.clayonline.com. "There will be songs my mom likes and my grandparents like, and there are a lot of people who love the music of the '70s. I like the '80s, and we're going to have a lot of fun with songs from the '90s."

Aiken will also perform material from his own album, preview songs from an upcoming CD he will start recording shortly, and do his well-known covers of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and Neil Sedaka's "Solitaire."

The tour will be Aiken's first since the Joyful Noise tour that followed his "Merry Christmas" release during the 2004 holiday season. He will play 26 shows in 25 cities throughout the country. The day after his Toms RiverFest performance, Aiken will be performing again on ABC's "Good Morning America." The tour concludes with a return to New Jersey and a performance at the Borgata in Atlantic City Sept. 1.

During each show of the tour, attendees are invited to bring cell phones with text-messaging capabilities. Fans will be able to send text messages to Aiken before each show and register to receive a message from him afterward.

"This started out as a show just to have some fun with, and as I got more excited about singing these songs, it became a bigger show," he said. "It's a summer tour, and the production will be simple because the real story is the music; it's a chance for people to remember where they were when they heard certain songs.

"I make a prediction that everyone will be able to sing along to at least five songs, no matter when they grew up!"

Clay Aiken isn't the only "American Idol" contestant to be appearing at Toms RiverFest — Kelly Clarkson, the winner of the show's first competition, will perform at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, on the Pine Belt Stage also.

Other nationally known acts performing at Toms RiverFest include Keith Urban, Jesse McCartney, Billy Ray Cyrus, Phantom Planet, Fuel and Maroon 5.

OCOBSERVER

[clayMaine-iac]

Aiken, Clarkson and others

Among the musical acts booked for Toms RiverFest are "American Idol" alumni Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Josh Gracin, country star Keith Urban, teen idol Jesse McCartney, Disney Channel fave Brie Larson, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, Gary U.S. Bonds, the rock bands Maroon 5 and Phantom Planet, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Billy Ray Cyrus and polka king Jimmy Sturr.

Max Cruise Entertainment began scouting for the festival in March and encountered several lucky breaks. The agency booked Jesse McCartney for Toms RiverFest before Jesse-mania set in. In June, McCartney played Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson to overwhelming response.

Likewise, Max Cruise landed Keith Urban before the star was named 2005 Male Vocalist of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards and before he took home multiple awards at the CMT Music Awards.

Urban is one of several country artists scheduled at Toms RiverFest — others include Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Billy Ray Cyrus.

"Country is the strongest market there is," D'Esposito said.

Not surprisingly, Nashville's initial reaction to the festival was something along the lines of, "Where's Toms River?"

"It took a couple of trips to Nashville and many conference calls to get some of these artists," D'Esposito said. "They needed some persuading. It's only because we're in Toms River, New Jersey. If this were a festival in Texas or Chicago, there'd be so much media attention. This would be the pop culture Bonnaroo."

Bonnaroo — an annual, four-day, multi-stage, music and camping festival — has lured music fans from around the country to a farm in Manchester, Tenn.

APP.COM

[clayMaine-iac]

Proceeds from the festival, which is cosponsored by Dover Township and the Toms River-Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, are to be used for arts and music education in the school district, and to benefit recreation programs in Dover as well as Ocean County.

The festival, which will feature top-shelf entertainers like Keith Urban, Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson and Maroon 5, as well as a fine art and crafts show, amusement rides, extreme sports exhibitions, kids' shows, a variety of food and nightly fireworks, is the latest ambitious project launched by the school district and its long-time superintendent, Michael J. Ritacco.

"Mike likes to think outside the box," Toms River Regional Board of Education member Richard Longo said as he toured the festival grounds on a warm summer afternoon. "The board has supported his ideas and shares his vision. We're really excited to have something of this caliber come to Toms River."

APP.COM

[clayMaine-iac]

From the Clayboard:

OLDIE BUT GOODIE PHOTOS

[clayMaine-iac]

Interesting "promotion":

Next Sunday
Clay Aiken didn't win "American Idol," but he won a recording contract and is touring in support of his CD "Measure of a Man." Still think he got ripped off? Show your support at 8 p.m. at the Chevy Amphitheater at Station Square. $25-$49.50. 412-323-1919.

POST-GAZETTE

[clayMaine-iac]

While I was searching for Clay news, I came across an article about contestants singing for a chance at the next American Idol.

This line caught my eye:

Deanna Satcher had on a pin-striped fedora, which had been given to her by a friend.

[clayMaine-iac]

47  Clay Aiken
Allergic to Nuts  #46  111
 
Coming up on Tuesday, The New Lycos 50...

This is a reminder to go do some searching on Lycos for Clay today!!

50.LYCOS

[clayMaine-iac]

I have been searching Billboard for Clay's Tour schedule regularly.

The schedule is finally there now!!!  

Clay Aiken July 28, 2005
 Toms Riverfest Toms River New Jersey United States
Clay Aiken July 29, 2005
 Bryant Park / Good Morning America New York New York United States
Clay Aiken July 29, 2005
 Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino - Sun Arena Uncasville Connecticut United States
Clay Aiken July 30, 2005
 Six Flags Darien Lake - Performing Arts Center Darien Center New York United States
etc

BILLBOARD

[clayMaine-iac]

Have a great day, everyone!!!

See the next installment of the ANN on the brand new forum!!!

Here ya go:

       

  Deanna

[Her]

Good morning M.B.!!!!  Hope you had a fantastic weekend.  See you on the new forum in the morn'!

[HavinaClayAffair]

Thanks for the news and see you on the new forum too!!

Lora

[lorraine]

GOOD MORNING DEANNA AND FRIENDS.

HECK THE ONLY NEWS I READ WAS ABOUT CLAY.  WERE OTHER PEOPLE BEING MENTIONED. :duh  :duh  :duh  :duh IN MY BOOK IT IS ALL ABOUT MY HONEY.

WILL CHECK BACK LATER BEFORE THE SITE GOES DOWN.  I AM SO WORRIED I CAN'T FIND MY WAY.        

OUR HONEY IS FINALLY COMING BACK TO US.  I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.                                    


HUGS
MRS. RAINEY AIKEN

[Mary]

Thanks for the news, Deanna!

Finally the week that we have waited for so long is here.

[ANGELA]

HELLO EVERYONE, BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS SITE & HEAD OFF TO A NEW SITE I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ESPECIALLY THANK PAMELA & DEANNA & ALSO EVERYONE ELSE WHO COMES ON THE ANN & OFFERS  COMMENTS, OPINIONS & OTHER CLAY NEWS.
YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!

THANKS SO MUCH FOR TODAYS NEWS--SEE YOU TOMORROW IN OUR NEW HOME.

TAKE CARE,
ANGELA

[claydevotee]

HELLO EVERYONE, BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS SITE & HEAD OFF TO A NEW SITE I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ESPECIALLY THANK PAMELA & DEANNA & ALSO EVERYONE ELSE WHO COMES ON THE ANN & OFFERS COMMENTS, OPINIONS & OTHER CLAY NEWS.
YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!

THANKS SO MUCH FOR TODAYS NEWS--SEE YOU TOMORROW IN OUR NEW HOME.

TAKE CARE,
ANGELA

Well said, ANGELA.  DITTO!!!!!!

[ILClaymate]

Monday July 25, 12:10 pm ET
Aiken Witnesses the Phenomenon of 'Night Commuters'

NEW YORK, July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to bring attention to the plight of children in northern Uganda, UNICEF Ambassador Clay Aiken traveled to the conflict affected region to witness the phenomenon of "night commuters," children who trek from the countryside into slightly more secure towns and UNICEF supported shelters every night to avoid being abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

The conflict in northern Uganda has displaced approximately 1.4 million people -- 80 per cent of them children and women -- as the rebel (LRA) seeks to overthrow the Ugandan government. Each evening, the threat of LRA attacks and abductions drives over 40,000 child "night commuters" to leave their homes. An estimated 12,000 children have been abducted by the LRA in the conflict-affected districts since June 2002, to be forcibly recruited as child combatants and sex slaves.

"Northern Uganda is one of the most dangerous places in the world for children," said Aiken. "Children are being forced to commit appalling acts of violence. Children are being killed and raped. It was all too clear that those living in the conflict-affected districts of Uganda deserve much more. The global community must act now with utmost urgency to put an end to these atrocities. No progress will be made until there is peace throughout the country."

Aiken toured UNICEF supported projects in northern Uganda, including internally displaced peoples' (IDP) camps, night commuter shelters and reception centers for formerly abducted children in Kitgum, Gulu and Katakwi districts. There are currently more than 200 IDP camps scattered across the eight conflict-affected districts.

"In the UNICEF supported reception centers for formerly abducted children, I witnessed children receiving psychosocial counseling," said Aiken. "These children spend anywhere between a few days to several months in these centers."

The child-centric conflict has wrought unprecedented violence and poverty to a region once famed as Uganda's "food basket," because of the abundance of natural resources in the north. As a result, the local populations of mostly women and children are deprived access to basic healthcare, clean water, education, nutrition, protection and shelter.

UNICEF and its partners are providing rapid, high-impact humanitarian assistance to populations affected by conflict in northern Uganda. These interventions are in the areas of health and nutrition, water and sanitation, education, child protection and emergency shelter.

In March, Aiken witnessed UNICEF in action during his first field trip, which took him to the tsunami stricken region of Indonesia. Aiken visited primary school students and camps for the internally displaced survivors in the tsunami ravaged province of Aceh.

ABOUT UNICEF

Founded in 1946, UNICEF helps save, protect and improve the lives of children around the world through immunization, education, health care, nutrition, clean water and sanitation. UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority. For more information, please visit http://www.unicefusa.org or call 1-800-4UNICEF.


Source: UNICEF

YAHOO

[lorraine]

ANGELA - COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE ON THAT.  THESE GUYS ARE THE BEST.  COULDN'T EXPECT LESS FROM SUCH A WONDERFUL BOARD.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

HUGS
MRS. RAINEY AIKEN

[ILClaymate]

"Learning to Sing" on sale for $3.49 and audio book on sale for $9.99.  Click below!!

BOOKCLOSEOUTS

[heater]

Thanks for today's news ladies!!