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Ruben Studdard - Biography
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Ruben Studdard Biography
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| Name : | Ruben Studdard |
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Profession :
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Singer
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Birth Details :
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born September 12, 1978
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Birth name :
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Christopher Ruben Studdard
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Height :
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6' 4" (1.93 m)
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Nickname :
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Ruu The Velvet Teddy Bear Chris
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Personal quotes :
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"I want to be around for a long time. I don't want to be a one-hit wonder. I want to make sure I continue to make good music that my mom and every
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Trade mark :
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His 205 jersey which represents Birmingham area code
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Ruben Studdard Trivia
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- 2003 American Idol Winner!
- Attended A&M University in Alabama, where he was a football player.
- Got a record deal with J records
- Runs three times a week on a treadmill to build endurance.
- Currently signed to with J Records.
- At his first audition for "American Idol" he sang Luther Vandross' "Superstar"
- In Ricky Acker's 2003 film "Night and Day", there is a scene where the bum is harassing Craig and this was shot carefully around the arrival of Ruben's guests for his 25th birthday party at the Birmingham Museum of Art. A multi-colored "RS" is visible several times in the background of the scene on the museum wall.
- Beat Clay Aiken to win American Idol 2003.
- Was considered for the role of "Fat Albert." He was later passed over in favor of Keenan Thompson.
- Recognized by the 2004, 46th Annual Grammy Awards held on February 8, 2004 at the Los Angeles Staples Center and broadcast live on the CBS TV Network. He was nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Superstar", but lost to Luther Vandross for "Dance With My Father".
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Ruben Studdard Detailed Biography
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Ruben Christopher Studdard (born September 12, 1978) is an American pop music singer who rose to fame as winner of the second season of the American Idol television program.
Studdard, the youngest son of two teachers, sang for the first time at the Rising Star Baptist Church in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama at the age of three. He continued singing gospel in church, performing solos as a child while his mother sang in the local choir. While at Huffman High School, he played football and received a scholarship in that sport to Alabama A&M University.
After growing up listening to his mother's Donny Hathaway albums, Fred Hammond, and gospel music, Studdard began to pursue a career in the music industry, majoring in voice studies at Alabama A&M, graduating in 2000. A backup singer from Just A Few Cats, a popular local Birmingham jazz and R&B band with whom Studdard sang, asked him to accompany her to Nashville, Tennessee for an audition on the second season of Fox Broadcasting Company's American Idol.
When auditioning, Studdard sang Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon In The Sky" and he ended up as one of the local finalists. On American Idol, he impressed viewers with his performances of "Superstar" (originally recorded by the Carpenters and later covered by Luther Vandross) and the Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle duet "A Whole New World"; during his time on the show, Studdard received praise from music legends such as Lionel Richie, Neil Sedaka, Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, Luther Vandross, and Gladys Knight.
During the televised competition, Studdard gained the nickname "Velvet Teddy Bear" and was noted for his shirts printed with "205", the telephone area code of his hometown of Birmingham. Studdard also did a cover version of "For All We Know", originally recorded by Donny Hathaway, whose music he grew up with.
He won the contest by just a few thousand votes over runner-up Clay Aiken, becoming the second American Idol winner and the first and only male to hold that title as of 2005. However, after the season ended, Clay Aiken proved to be more popular in record sales.
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