Artist:Clay Aiken
Song:This Is the Night
Album:Super Hits
Clay Aiken was runner up on season two of American Idol (AI) in 2003. His popularity at the time transcended AI and his debut single This Is the Night topped the charts. After that he had success as an album and touring act and in the Adult Contemporary market. In recent years he has been politically active in his home state of North Carolina. He was born Clayton Grissom Nov. 30, 1978 in Raleigh, NC. He grew up singing in choirs. He was lead singer of the local band Just By Chance. He took his mother's maiden name of Aiken at age 19. He attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with the intention of becoming a special education teacher. Aiken worked at the YMCA. He made some demos so he was still interested in singing. Aiken was going to apply for the reality show The Amazing Race. But a friend suggested he audition for American Idol instead. And he made the show. Aiken was not typical of an AI contestant. He looked like a nerd. His singing voice is OK but more suited for Broadway or 50s pop vocal than contemporary music. This underdog perception is probably what made AI fans go crazy for him. Aiken was cut from AI's round of 32. But he returned in the Wild Card round and got back in the round of 12. During the show, Aiken started wearing contact lenses and had the show give him a makeover so he looked less nerdy. Aiken ultimately lost in the final fan vote to Ruben Studdard. Most thought he would win. He signed with RCA Records and sang his debut single This Is the Night on AI. Not surprisingly, it topped the charts. RCA released it as a double A side with Aiken's recording of Bridge Over Troubled Water. This Is the Night was written by veteran songwriters Chris Braide, Aldo Nova and Gary Burr and produced by Westlife producer Steve Mac. Braide says he wrote the song after 9/11. Aiken released his debut Album The Measure of a Man Oct. 2003. It was certified 2XPlatinum. Half the album was produced by Clif Magness who produced Avril Lavigne. Though This Is the Night was on the first pressing of The Measure of a Man, it was yanked in 2004. But you can get it on this comp. After his initial success, Aiken was successful mostly on the Adult Contemporary chart. After four RCA albums, Aiken signed with Decca. His 2010 album Tried and True was all standards and so was his 2012 album Steadfast. Both albums were produced by Alex Christensen for the Adult Contemporary market. That is Aiken's latest album. In 2008, Aiken appeared on Broadway in Monty Python's Spamalot. In recent years Aiken has unsuccessfully ran for Congress in North Carolina. He did this most recently in 2022 so he may continue to pursue that. It doesn't look like he's a singer anymore. Here's the video for This Is the Night by Clay Aiken.
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