Homeboy could be next 'Idol'


By DANNY HOOLEY, Staff Writer
November 8, 2002

RALEIGH -- Even mean ol' "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell had to agree: That North Raleigh boy sure can sing.

Clayton Aiken, who just had a winning audition for the popular Fox show, recalled the words of the infamous "Mr. Nasty."

"Simon said: 'Here's the dilemma: The girl who came in before you had nowhere near the voice you have, but she looked like a pop star. You don't look like a pop star.' "

But then came the words of judge Randy Jackson: " 'OK, Clay, we'll see you in Hollywood.'

"And I just about flipped out," Aiken said.

Cowell was right about one thing: Aiken does not look like a pop star. Tall, clean-cut and bespectacled, he projects the image of the studious, highly religious young man that he is. Still, the 23-year-old special education major at UNC-Wilmington took the advice of friends and ventured down to Atlanta on Oct. 26 to try out for the next "American Idol" competition.

Aiken camped out with 1,800 other hopefuls on the side of the street from that Friday through the following Monday. About 600 people were brought in daily to audition on Sunday through Tuesday.

Five people at a time were taken into the audition room to sing for an associate producer, who would select up to two out of each group. Those few were brought back in for a Wednesday audition with the executive producer.

After those were whittled down to 150, then came Thursday's moment of truth: singing for Cowell and Jackson. (Judge Paula Abdul was absent).

"I was not very nervous, because about 50 people had already been in there, and they had only taken seven out of the 50," Aiken said. "I pretty much sat outside the room, thinking, 'Well, there's no chance at all.' So I just went in there to have fun."

Aiken, who sang "Always and Forever" by Luther Vandross, described Cowell's inscrutable demeanor during the performance.

"He didn't look at me at all. He just kind of sat back, all grumpy," said Aiken, with a laugh.

The final 20 selected in Atlanta will be going to Hollywood to compete against roughly equal numbers of contestants from auditions in six other cities.

Aiken is expecting a package in the mail any day now containing information about when he will be expected in Hollywood. The 120 to 150 competing performers there will be narrowed down to 30, then to 10. As fans of the show know, that is when the real drama begins.

For Aiken though, singing is a passion that he enjoys simply for its own sake, rather than as a career option. He is dedicated to his work in special education.

According to his mother, Faye Parker of North Raleigh, Aiken sometimes needs a little push to audition for shows.

"Clayton has been singing since he was about 2," she said. "Back in about '96, my late husband heard about a show down in Johnston County that was doing a competition. He ... told Clayton about it, and Clayton said: 'I don't want to go to Johnston County. They don't have anything down there.' "

After more encouragement from Parker and her husband, Ray, whom she married when Aiken was 6, Aiken ended up winning a spot in a show at Johnston Community College. He went on to become the host of "The Hometown Music Connection," a bi-monthly concert variety show in Benson.

Parker said Ray, who died of pulmonary fibrosis in July, often encouraged Aiken to sing.

"As far as he was concerned, Clayton was his favorite singer," Parker said.

Ray's brother-in-law had a country band, and Aiken made his stage debut with them at the age of 7.

Since then, he also has performed with the Raleigh Boys Choir, the North Carolina Theatre and in the annual "Pieces of Gold" show that showcases singers from high school choruses across the state. He also sings regularly at his church, Leesville Baptist in North Raleigh.

Aiken also needed a push to try out for "American Idol." As part of his special education curriculum, he works with 12-year-old Mike Bubel of Huntersville, who is autistic. Mike's mother, Diane, a regular viewer of the show, recommended the tryout to Aiken.

"My daughter [Emma] and I had watched 'American Idol' the first time through," Bubel said. "Every time he would come over, we would say, 'Geez, Clay, your voice is a lot better than a lot of people on the show.' "

Still, Aiken said that he needs to work on his image for the show. He is looking for someone to aid him with a "makeover," and he has a friend lined up to help him develop some dance moves.

No matter what the outcome, Aiken, who considers himself shy, feels like it will be a positive experience.

"It's a good way for me to meet people," he said.

Staff writer Danny Hooley can be reached at dhooley@newsobserver.com.

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