LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Clay Aiken: Albums
built 130 days ago
According to Billboard.com, "Clay Aiken opens in the fourth slot with "Merry Christmas With Love" (RCA). Its sales of 270,000 copies marks the biggest debut week of any holiday album in the SoundScan era, which began in 1991."
Source:
Clay Aiken was born on November 30, 1978 in Raleigh. From an early age, Aiken's family knew he had a special gift and talent. At the early age of five, Aiken performed the Dolly Parton/ Kenny Rogers classic hit, "Islands In the Stream," to a crowd at a local high school dance. At the age of seven, he was purchasing his own albums through a mail-order catalog. As a teenager, Aiken was a member of the Raleigh Boys Choir. He ... acted in various musicals, including The Music Man, Oklahoma, and countless other stage plays.
Source:
Born November 30, 1978, Aiken was singing at an early age. Unlike most young kids, Aiken was confident and ready to impress a crowd. He was already singing the Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers classic "Islands in the Stream" at a local high school dance by age five. Two year later, he was buying albums through a mail-order catalog, eager to get his hands on any kind of music. Aiken\'s vocal talent was blossoming and by the time he reached his teenage years, he was a regular member of the Raleigh Boys Choir. Countless roles in various musicals, (The Music Man, Oklahoma!), stage plays, and playhouse shows allowed Aiken to hone his gift.
Source:
-Clay Aiken appeared on CNN's Larry King Live Wednesday night and talked about his struggle with panic disorder, his new album and rumors that he is gay. Here's the transcript (with a brief intro regarding Anna Nicole Smith news).
Source:
On November 16, 2004, Aiken released a holiday album titled Merry Christmas With Love, which set a new record for fastest-selling holiday album in the Soundscan era (since 1991). The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 and tied Céline Dion's record for the highest debut by a holiday album in the history of Billboard magazine. "Merry Christmas With Love" sold over 1,000,000 copies retail in 6 weeks and was the best-selling holiday album of 2004, receiving RIAA Platinum certification on Jan. 6, 2005.
Source:
Regardless, Aiken has easily become the second season sales victor, as he has sold well over 6 million copies of his albums worldwide. His mix of broad appeal, incredible vocal talent, and adult contemporary stylings has made him one of the show’s biggest successes. His first album, “Measure of a Man,” was particularly stunning going three times platinum in the U.S. alone. It remains to be seen if Aiken’s success will be long term, but without a doubt he is one of the most popular solo artists working today.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Albums