Download Free Ruben Studdard * Songs

Ruben Studdard music biography continued...

Frankfurt, Germany while his father was stationed there with the U.S. Army. He grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and took an interest in music at an early age, ultimately majoring in voice studies at Alabama A&M University. In 2003, he went to Nashville, Tennessee to audition for the second season of American Idol. Studdard's rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon in the Sky," earned him a golden ticket to Hollywood. On American Idol, he impressed viewers with his performances of the Leon Russell/Bonnie Bramlett song "Superstar" (originally a hit for The Carpenters and Luther Vandross) and the Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle duet "A Whole New World," earning the nickname "Velvet Teddy Bear" for his smooth, soulful voice. He was crowned American Idol in May 2003, beating out runner-up Clay Aiken by a slim margin. Studdard released his first single, a cover of Westlife's "Flying Without Wings" (which he had sung on the show's finale), a month later in June 2003 It debuted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. In December 2003, advance orders for his album Soulful topped the 1 million mark before it was released into stores. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart that month, behind the single "Sorry 2004." Studdard received a Grammy Award nomination in December 2003 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Superstar", cementing his reputation as a star on the rise.



In 2004, Studdard released his first gospel album—I Need An Angel-- which entered the Gospel charts at #1, and opened at #20 on the Billboard 200 chart. Eventually selling over 500,000 copies, it was also #1 on the 2005 Billboard Year-End Gospel Albums Chart. In 2006, Studdard returned to his R&B roots with his album, The Return, but the album did not perform well and Studdard was dropped by his label. He came back in 2009 with a new set of producers and a new record label, releasing Love Is and demonstrating that champions may get knocked down but they eventually always get back on their feet.