I Am a Proud Member of the Soul Patrol

It all began back in early 2006. Something that I never thought would happen to me. I became entranced with a man named Taylor Hicks. All it took was for the silver haired guy to do was to walk in the room and tell Simon Cowell that he had a voice, and I was hooked. He then opened his mouth and the smoothest, most soulful sound came out, and all I wanted was for this man to win "American Idol".

Let's go back a year. I was working at a local health club, and this woman used to come in and alway wore a Clay Aiken t-shirt. I began talking to her and she would tell me how she would travel all over the United States to watch him perform. In the back of my mind, I thought, "This lady is a freakin' nut house! Why would anyone follow a performer that rocketed to fame on a silly reality show?" My viewing of American Idol only went as far as the end of auditions and I was done watching it every year. The fun part was over.

Then, Taylor Hicks showed up and I vowed to watch until he was voted off. We all know that never happened. When Taylor won, I felt like the world was finally embracing something different. I was so sick of what Hollywood thought was beautiful, glamorous, or "right". Finally, someone who truly knew music and wrapped himself up into it fully. The Soul Patrol had been formed. That is what his fans call themselves.

After he won "American Idol", the Soul Patrol was a well known group of Taylor Hicks followers. When the top ten Idols went on tour in the summer, they came through my small territory to Peoria, Illinois. After spending countless hours on www.theofficialsoulpatrol.com and making friends, we all got together in the parking lot hours before the concert to have a "Tayl-Gate Party". We had Taylor's favorite sweet tea and just listened to his music and gabbed about the man we loved.

The Soul Patrol ranges in ages from toddler to grandmother and in class from homeless to filthy rich. Taylor seems to pluck a chord with every type of person. I have met some of the sweetest people in the world and some of the most crazy, obsessed fans ever, but every celebrity has some of those.

The Soul Patrol has done many good deeds to those around the world, especially for soldiers in Iraq. Those soldiers are near and dear to Taylor Hicks, so the Soul Patrol has been buying up copies of his music and and sending them overseas to deserving men and women who fight everyday for our freedoms. The Soul Patrol has even formed a group called "Taylor's Angels". What that group does is give out fan club memberships and concert tickets to those who want to go and cannot afford it. Their website is listed as a link on this article if you'd like to donate or read more about them.

As a member of the Soul Patrol, I have gone to seven concerts and met Taylor twice. He is a really down to earth guy who just loves music. His live performances, man, I always equate them to taking a dose of heroin. Just one hit, and you're addicted. Every show is different, that is what I love about Taylor. He brings something new to each and every performance. No matter how close or far away you sit from the stage, you feel the same amount of power and intensity coming from him.

Taylor Hicks' Soul Patrol is a family. That is the only way to describe them. They know each other, embrace each other, and share a wonderful adoration for a man with great talent. Any person is a welcomed addition to this group, so feel free to come check them out!