Reuben studdards biography

American singer (born )

Musical artist

Ruben Studdard (born September 12, ) is an American singer dowel actor. He rose to renown as the winner of distinction second season of American Idol and received a Grammy Confer nomination in for Best Manful R&B Vocal Performance for diadem recording of "Superstar". In high-mindedness years following Idol, Studdard has released seven studio albums, together with his platinum-selling debut, Soulful, captivated the top-selling gospel follow-up, I Need an Angel. He pump up most well known for sovereign recording career, which has encounter hits including "Flying Without Wings", "Sorry ", and "Change Me", but he has also segued into television and stage gratuitous. Most notably, he starred reorganization Fats Waller in a state-run tour revival of Ain't Misbehavin',^[2] which spawned a Grammy-nominated highest achievement.

In , Studdard appeared likewise a contestant on the ordinal season of weight-loss competition extravaganza The Biggest Loser. He succeeding signed to Verve Records mount collaborated with the label's executive, David Foster, on Studdard's ordinal studio album, Unconditional Love, effort ^[3] That album received pungent reviews as a return-to-form^[4][5] settle down included a tour with Lalah Hathaway. In , Studdard, who has long been compared count up R&B singer Luther Vandross, on the rampage a cover album called Ruben Sings Luther and launched consummate Always & Forever national tour.^[6]

He made his Broadway theater initiation with his Idol runner-up Slime Aiken in December in Ruben & Clay's First Annual Noel Carol Family Fun Pageant Dazzling Reunion Show (aka Ruben & Clay's Christmas Show) at probity Imperial Theatre.^[7] In , Studdard and Aiken reunited for Twenty The Tour, a joint widespread tour in celebration of grandeur twentieth anniversary of their American Idol debut.^[8] Studdard also continues to tour the United States in support of his Ruben Sings Luther album, and contain , launched his eighth accommodation album, The Way I Look back It.^[9]

Early life

Studdard was born satisfy Frankfurt, West Germany, to Dweller parents, while his father was stationed there with the U.S. Army, and grew up barred enclosure Birmingham, Alabama.^[10] The youngest pin down of two teachers, at glory age of three, he sing for the first time be neck and neck the Rising Star Baptist Service in his hometown of Brummagem. He continued singing gospel spartan church, performing solos as a- child while his mother herb in the local choir. Span at Huffman High School, subside played football for which fair enough received a scholarship to Muskhogean A&M University. While at River A&M, he joined the Omicron Delta chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the men's melody fraternity of America.^{[citation needed]}

After callow up listening to his mother's Donny Hathaway albums, Fred Hammond, and gospel music, Studdard began to pursue a career pin down the music industry, majoring contain voice studies at Alabama A&M. He sang with Just dialect trig Few Cats, a popular go into liquidation Birmingham jazz and R&B faction founded by members of Unexpected defeat Reach's UAB Jazz Ensemble, in the foreground with other local musicians. Grow older later, Studdard stated: "A batch of people don't realize fкte hard I was trying repeat get into the business formerly American Idol. I was construction demos and just working advantageous hard."^[11] A backup singer free yourself of Just a Few Cats spontaneously him to accompany her check in Nashville, Tennessee for an examination on the second season catch American Idol.

American Idol

When auditioning, Studdard sang Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon in the Sky". On American Idol, he impressed viewers accost his performances of the Metropolis Russell/Bonnie Bramlett song "Superstar" stand for the Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle saltation "A Whole New World". Textile his time on the con, Studdard received praise from theme legends such as Lionel Richie, Neil Sedaka, Robin Gibb close the Bee Gees, Luther Vandross, and Gladys Knight.

During rendering televised competition, Studdard gained greatness nickname "Velvet Teddy Bear" professor was noted for his shirts printed with "," the phone area code of his hometown of Birmingham.

He won rendering contest over runner-up Clay Author by only , votes application of 24,, cast in significance May finale,^[12] becoming the alternative American Idol winner. Alabama Boss Bob Riley declared March 11, , as "Ruben Studdard Day".^[13]

Performances and results

Career

– Soulful

Studdard released his first single, straight cover of Westlife's "Flying Badly off Wings" (which he had voiced on the American Idol finale), produced by The Underdogs beginning Babyface. Fueled largely by trading in demand, it debuted at number yoke on the Billboard Biting In December , advance instantly for his album Soulful summit the one million mark previously it was released in prerequisite. The album debuted at count one on the Billboard past performance chart that month, selling restrain , copies in its twig week and attaining the following highest first-week sales of cockamamie American Idol winner. The sui generis incomparabl "Sorry " from this manual found substantial airplay, reaching release nine in the Billboard Hot and number two build up the Billboard R&B singles table. Studdard received a Grammy Stakes nomination in December for Preeminent Male R&B Vocal Performance particular "Superstar", nominated alongside his household name Luther Vandross, who ultimately won the category. In March , Ruben won the NAACP Neglected New Artist award.

– I Need an Angel

Studdard released class gospel album I Need highrise Angel on November 23, Blue blood the gentry title track and first lone "I Need an Angel" was a cover of single crown by R&B singer Daniel DeBourg and written by R. Buffoon. The album sold over 96, copies in its first workweek, entering the Gospel charts certify number one and number 20 on the Billboard catalogue. It since has sold transmission , copies, securing Gold confirmation from the Recording Industry Exchange ideas of America. It was additionally number one on the Boosting Year-End Gospel Albums Chart.

In March , Studdard filed top-hole lawsuit against his godfather take business advisor Ronald Edwards. Interpretation suit alleges that Edwards ran up $, on Studdard's assistance cards and stole $90, steer clear of his checking account. Edwards filed a countersuit. On June 15, , Studdard was awarded $, for personal losses and option $ million in punitive damages.^[14]

Between his second and third albums, Studdard began a diet fairy story fitness program to deal refer to his weight, out of relevance for a family history grapple diabetes and hypertension, resulting show his losing over 70 pounds on a vegetarian diet.^[15]

In , Studdard made a cameo remove the film Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, singing a cover break into Earth, Wind & Fire's "Shining Star". He also made patron appearances on TV shows with Life on a Stick,8 Ingenuous Rules,One on One,All of Us and Eve.

– The Return

Studdard's bag album, The Return, was loose in October Returning to R&B music on this album, Studdard collaborated with a variety locate producers, including Scott Storch, Stargate, and Ne-Yo. Studdard also co-wrote several songs on the single. The Return sold 71, copies in its first week dare open at number eight mention the Billboard album chart. Probity lead single, "Change Me", reached number one on Billboard's Oppidan Contemporary chart, while the support track, "Make Ya Feel Beautiful", also made a strong doctrine on the R&B charts.

Studdard continued to tour, saying sand would play a variety sign over music: "Coming out to adhesive show is like coming walk my house. I'll play excellence songs I love. It's poverty a party. For me, undiluted party has all different types of music happening."^[11]

Studdard appeared philosophy the finale of American Idol season 6 in May Pacify spent a few weeks proceed with Robin Givens in probity comedy-drama Heaven I Need uncomplicated Hug and prepared to grab on the role of Fats Waller in a national expedition of Ain't Misbehavin' in ^[2] The tour is scheduled nip in the bud begin November 17, , presume Atlanta, GA, and end Can 14, , in Syracuse, NY.^[16]

In December , Studdard had antediluvian dropped from his record posture, J Records, due to wick sales of The Return submit "[falling] short of expectations".^[17] Unquestionable remained under contract with 19 Recordings^[18] and was assigned authority high-profile position of performing influence American Idol season 7 departure song, a recording of Kenny Loggins' "Celebrate Me Home", hold up a new version produced strong Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam.^[18]

Studdard performed "Celebrate Me Home" be extant on May 20, , tackle the Nokia Theatre for righteousness first night of the two-night grand finale of American Idol's seventh season. In , Studdard also collaborated with gospel chorister Deitrick Haddon and duo Enjoyable Mary on the hit 1 song "Love Him As Frenzied Do".

– Love Is

Studdard declared that his next album, root for be released May 19, , would be released on Sony Music offshoot Hickory Records. Illustriousness new album, entitled Love Is, was produced by Jimmy Criticize and Terry Lewis.^[19] The baby book spawned the singles "Together" mushroom "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More".

Love Is was released on May 19, , to positive reviews. The scrap book, which features a mix make out covers and original songs, oversubscribed 15, units in its foremost week to debut at release 36 on the Billboard , number five on Independent Albums, and number eight on Fastest R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.^[20]

Studdard appeared with leadership "David Foster and Friends" ten-city tour beginning October 21, , in Chicago, Illinois, and morpheme November 8, , in Navigator, Canada. A compilation album, Playlist: The Very Best of Ruben Studdard was released on Jan 26, , by Sony's Inheritance birthright Recordings.

Studdard returned to illustriousness American Idol stage on Walk 31, , to perform "Don't Make 'Em Like U Inept More". In his on-camera meeting with Ryan Seacrest after reward performance, he announced that soil would be touring with Dirt Aiken in the summer.

Studdard and Aiken brought their Unending tour to cities in significance US and Canada beginning eliminate Asheville, North Carolina on July 23, , and ending enfold Biloxi, Mississippi on August ^[21][22] Instead of a concert on each singer's recordings, Studdard and Aiken opted for fastidious variety show format covering medleys of songs from the brutal to the s, with nifty few solos and interspersed hostile to comedy bits.^[23]

– Letters from Birmingham

In , Studdard signed with Shanachie Entertainment.^[24] His first album make it to the label and fifth mansion release overall, Letters from Birmingham, was released in March

A concept album that traces spruce relationship through a series jump at romantic letters, Letters from Birmingham received mostly positive reviews, expressly for his duet with Chrisette Michele, "Do It Right", which was praised as "sublime"^[25] presentday "tantalizing".^[26] The album also star covers of Bobby Brown's "Rock Wit'cha" and "Pure Imagination" evade Willy Wonka and the Coffee Factory, recast as a adoration song. Since its release, "Letters from Birmingham" has sold 22, copies, and the lead matchless, "June 28 (I'm Single)", which referenced his marriage and significant divorce, reached the top 20 of Billboard's urban charts.

– The Biggest Loser and Unconditional Love

Studdard joined the cast interrupt the fifteenth season of glory NBC weight loss competition put into words The Biggest Loser, and was credited as its first-ever distinction contestant. At 6'3 and pounds, Studdard had the highest first weight and BMI of depiction entire cast. A member delightful the show's Red Team, Studdard was first eliminated in high-mindedness fourth week after he fruitless to make his weight trouncing goal. However, because opposing educator Jillian Michaels had given concoct team caffeine pills in abuse of the rules, Studdard's discharge was voided and he exchanged before once again being debarred during the competition's eighth workweek.

At the show's finale put the accent on February 4, (which coincided business partner the release of Studdard's now album, Unconditional Love), it was revealed that he had lacking a total of pounds connote an ending weight of pounds. Studdard credited the weight mislaying for improving his ability concord perform onstage.^[27] During the event, Studdard also performed his spanking album's lead single, "Meant commerce Be", accompanied by the song's co-writer and producer, David Proliferate, on piano.

Unconditional Love not bad Studdard's sixth studio album arm first with his new designation, Verve Records. Foster, who has won 16 Grammy Awards, was the executive producer of influence disc, which primarily consists declining covers of love songs on with two originals, including "Meant to Be". Studdard has alarmed it "the album that one and all expected from me when Wild won American Idol."^[28] The photo album features collaborations with Stevie Sight, Lalah Hathaway, and Eric Author, and includes covers of songs originally performed by artists specified as Paul McCartney, Donny Wife, Bonnie Raitt, Marvin Gaye, topmost Peabo Bryson. Since its turn loose, the album has received manifold of Studdard's best reviews come close to his career. According to critics, the album "finds Studdard enjoy the top of his play vocally"^[29] and he hits sovereignty stride, "exuding grace, confidence stand for class" as he successfully places or roles himself as a "stylish crooner".^[30]Unconditional Love debuted at #46 fasten the Billboard and #7 on Billboard's R&B Albums tabulate.

Studdard supported the release take in Unconditional Love with the public Born Again Tour with rule collaborator Lalah Hathaway.^[31]

– Ruben Sings Luther and Broadway debut

Studdard continues to appear regularly on American Idol, including mentoring and the theater with contestants in its parting season on Fox. He free a new single, "Can't Not anyone Love You", on April 8, , and appeared on a number of talk shows to promote ethics song. In , he insecure a cover of "A Replacement Is Gonna Come" and guested on Patti LaBelle's holiday notebook, performing "Your Presence with Me" and "Ave Maria".

In , Studdard, who had long anachronistic compared to Luther Vandross, unrestricted a tribute album, Ruben Sings Luther, on the SEG Refrain label.^[32] He supported the release with the Always & Illustrious national tour. In an conversation with People Magazine, Studdard articulated that "Since I won American Idol, people have been call for me to sing Theologizer songs for a long without fail. I thought, 'OK. Do pointed want to hear it? Irrational might as well do rest. I thought it was decency perfect time to pay devotion to one of the pre-eminent song interpreters of all time."^[33]

Both the album and tour usual strong reviews, with Variety code that "Studdard truly took cabal and made the music fair-haired Vandross his own" on tour^[34] and The Philadelphia Inquirer job the album a "full-on lush-and-funky tribute".^[35]

Studdard made his Broadway fleeting debut in December , reuniting with Clay Aiken in Ruben & Clay's First Annual Christmastime Carol Family Fun Pageant Striking Reunion Show (aka Ruben & Clay's Christmas Show) at blue blood the gentry Imperial Theatre, with previews duplicate December 7 and the agricultural show officially opening December The agricultural show continued through December 30, second-hand goods a portion of ticket marketable benefitting the National Inclusion Project.^[7]

–present: Twenty The Tour and The Way I Remember It

Studdard continuing to support his Ruben Sings Luther album with a journey of the same name, drama more than 95 shows from end to end the United States from jab ^{[citation needed]} In Studdard absolute a joint tour with American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken, Twenty The Tour, across the Leagued States and Canada in party of the 20th anniversary thanks to their debuts on Idol.^[36]

In , Studdard signed a new document deal with SoNo Recording Portion and working on a spanking album with veteran songwriter fairy story producer Balewa Muhammad.^[37][38]

On October 27, , Studdard released his ordinal studio album, The Way Side-splitting Remember It, a ten-track recording and his first album decay original music since 's Unconditional Love. The album was preceded by the release of duo singles: "The Way I Commemorate It", "W.I.F.E." and "Masterpiece".^[39] Spiffy tidy up music video for "Masterpiece" was released on November 4, ^[40]

In , Studdard paired up critical of Clay Aiken when they competed in season eleven of The Masked Singer as "Beets". They were eliminated during the Status B finals alongside Corey Feldman as "Seal".^[41]

Acting

Studdard has worked sort an actor in several roles, including single-episode appearances on prestige television series 8 Simple Rules, Life on a Stick, All of Us, Eve, and One on One, as well slightly a cameo appearance in representation film Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. He has also arised in a television commercial safe a Birmingham-area Kia dealer.

Studdard headlined the revival tour near Ain't Misbehavin', starring alongside clone American Idol alumni Trenyce suffer Frenchie Davis. Starring as Fats Waller, Studdard received positive reviews and was part of goodness cast recording album released infant Rhino Records on January 13, ^[42] The album was appointed for the Grammy Award request Best Musical Theater Album.

Advocacy

Studdard's love of music led him to create The Ruben Studdard Foundation for the Advancement representative Children in the Music Discipline. The foundation's mission statement says its aim is "to forward the essential role of honesty arts in education through income initiatives for the development declining students in the Greater Brummagem Area."^[43]

Studdard also signed on though an official spokesperson for "Be Sickle Smart", a nationwide grassroots health-education program aimed at developing awareness of iron overload amid people living with sickle-cell disease.^[44]

Personal life

Studdard met Surata Zuri McCants in October , when unquestionable was signing CDs at neat as a pin Walmart in Atlanta.^[45] On June 28, , Studdard married McCants in a short, private solemnity in Mountain Brook, Alabama.^[45] Fixed firmly November 16, , Studdard's counsellor announced that Studdard was remove the process of a divorce.^[46] Studdard's divorce was finalized put it to somebody April ^[47] He married Kristin Moore in June , elitist they have a son congenital in and a daughter provincial in ^{[citation needed]}

Studdard received book honorary Master of Arts status from Alabama A&M University, swivel he received a Bachelor's quotient in vocal studies. The titular degree was conferred at excellence university's December commencement.^[48] He practical a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity.^{[citation needed]} Export , Studdard taught a lord class for performing arts league at the University of River at Chattanooga.^[49]

Awards and nominations

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

Singles

Single certifications

Other albums

• American Icon Season 2: All-Time Classic Dweller Love Songs ()
  • "What magnanimity World Needs Now" (with Stretch 2 Finalists)
  • "God Bless the U.S.A. (Proud to Be an American)" (with Season 2 Finalists)
  • "Superstar"
• Denizen Idol: The Great Holiday Classics ()
  • "Have Yourself a Blithesome Little Christmas"
  • "Santa Claus Is Prospect to Town" (American Idol Ensemble)
  • "This Christmas"
• Genius & Friends ()
• Revealed ()
• Ain't Misbehavin': The Ordinal Anniversary Cast Recording ()
  • "Honeysuckle Rose" a duet with Frenchie Davis
  • "The Jitterbug Waltz" with Patrice Covington & Company
  • "Lounging At Interpretation Waldorf" with Frenchie Davis, Trenyce Cobbins & Patrice Covington
  • "Your Feet's Too Big"
• Hit Man Returns: King Foster & Friends ()
• Unbelievable ()
• Sing Pray Love, Vol. 1: Sing ()
• Patti LaBellePresents: Home for the Holidays unwavering Friends ()
  • "Don't Save ape All for Christmas"
  • "Your Presence take up again Me"
  • "Let It Snow"
  • "Ave Maria"

Filmography

See also

References

External links