1978-

by Emily Horton, 2012.
Government & Heritage Library

Related Entries: Fantasia Barrino [2]; Kellie Pickler [3]; Chris Daughtry [4]; Bucky Covington [5]; Scotty McCreery [6]; Anoop Desai [7]

Singer Clay Aiken was born November 20, 1978 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, but grew up in nearby Raleigh [8]. His parents are Faye Aiken Parker and the late Vernon Grissom.  As a youth, he was a member of a local boys choir. During his teen years, Aiken was a member of the local theater community and performed in school theater productions at Leesville High School [9], including a production of Oklahoma! [10]Aiken also sang several times at Raleigh IceCaps and Carolina Hurricanes [11] hockey games. In addition to pursuing his musical interests, Aiken worked at the local YMCA in Raleigh [12].  

Clay Aiken rose to fame in 2003 during the second season of the television series American Idol [13], taking second place. In the same year, Aiken released his debut album, Measure of a Man [14] (2003), and also earned his bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte [15]. Measure of a Man sold over 613,000 copies in the United States in only its first week of release and garnered him a nomination for Male Choice TV Reality/Variety Star by the Teen Choice Awards [16].

[17]

Since his Idol [13]beginnings, Aiken has released six full studio albums: Measure of a Man [14] (2003), Merry Christmas with Love [18](2004), A Thousand Different Ways [19] (2006), On My Way Here [20] (2008), Tried and True [21] (2010), and Steadfast [22](2012). In the same week Merry Christmas with Love [18]was released, Aiken published a non-fiction book, Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life [23], which quickly climbed to the number two spot on the New York Times bestseller list.

Aiken has undertaken several humanitarian projects. In 2004, he was named a UNICEF [24] Ambassador, assisting in improving the lives and ensuring the education of children in unstable nations around the world. He was also a partner in creating the National Inclusion   [25]Project [25],which provides support for children with disabilities in adapting to the outside world. Aiken is an also active supporter of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network [26].

In 2008, Aiken had a son, Parker Foster Aiken, with Jaymes Foster, a close friend. He continues to pursue his career in music.

 

Sources:

Biography, A&E Television Network, Clay Aiken. Last modified 2012. Accessed March 22, 2012.  http://www.biography.com/people/clay-aiken-10084400 [27]

Clay AIken Official Page, Biography. Last modified 2012. Accessed March 22, 2012. http://www.clayaiken.com/bio [28]

The Internet Movie Database, Clay Aiken. Last modified 2012. Accessed March 22, 2012.  http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1341750/awards [29]

Image and Video Credits:

Bill S. "Clay". Photo taken July 31, 2007. Available from http://www.flickr.com/photos/billselak/966395593/ [17] (accessed March 22, 2012).

Video courtesy of Ejaymu. "Clay Aiken- Bridge Over Troubled Water". Posted on October 6, 2006. Available from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC9SKjdoTXg [30] (accessed March 23, 2012).