Season 2 winner headlines International Beach Party on Sept. 15
Ruben Studdard loves birthdays, which is good, since he turned 34 on Sept. 12.
“It’s the only holiday I get really excited about,” Studdard says. “I usually do a party and all that stuff, but this year, I just want to chill.”
Not that Studdard doesn’t have plans for a late birthday celebration when he arrives in Savannah for a free concert on Sept. 15. “I’ll get to go to Lady & Sons,” he says. “That’s party enough for me right there.”
The Savannah Ocean Exchange is bringing the "American Idol: Season 2" winner in to headline the free International Beach Party on Tybee Island’s North Beach stage. Also performing will be recording artist Trevor Hall.
Studdard’s also known as the Velvet Teddy Bear, a nickname bestowed on him by none other than Gladys Knight. And even though Wikipedia lists his real name as Christopher Theodore Ruben Studdard, don’t you believe it for one second.
“I don’t know where they got that,” Studdard says. “My name has been Ruben Christopher Studdard since day one. I’ve asked Wikipedia to change it, and they won’t.”
Studdard is touring in support of his fifth album, “Letters From Birmingham,” a concept record he takes great pride in. “It’s the first album I’ve had complete control over,” he says.
“When you start off in the business, you never have true autonomy on projects,” Studdard says. “You really don’t know what you’re doing.
“On this album, I had the opportunity to work with songwriters Harold Lilly and Elvis Williams,” Studdard says. “The concept is a relationship progression -- it traces a relationship through letters.”
The title sometimes throws people, Studdard says. “They think it might be a civil rights album,” he says. “Martin Luther King Jr. had this famous ‘Letter from a Birmingham Jail’ and being from Birmingham, I’ve read it so many times.
“We were going through the Atlanta airport one day and they have this display for Martin Luther King Jr. and it just struck me to do the album as letters,” Studdard says. “Harold said he thought that it would be a tight concept. So after that we kind of made all of the songs into a letter concept.”
'Letters from Birmingham'
The record is autobiographical in some parts. “I got married in 2008 and was divorced three short years later,” Studdard says. “I guess for me, the great thing about being an artist is having an outlet for the way I felt in the good times and the bad times.
“In relationships, you have the highest heights and the lowest lows,” he says, “I tried to be as transparent as I could and do the best I could.”
While the album has received a lot of great reviews, there also have been some critical ones. “Everybody is entitled to their opinion,” Studdard says.
“I’m an artist now, but when I was young, I was on the debate team, so I understand people having opinions on certain things,” he says. “I never take it personally.”
Instead, Studdard takes the reviews and tries his best to give people exactly what they’re looking for. “I’m releasing an EP for free on my birthday that’s going to be on my website,” he says.
“It’s the songs I wrote prior to starting this album project,” Studdard says. “People can actually feel how I felt when I was in love. I want my music to evoke a certain kind of emotion.”
In addition to singing, Studdard writes songs and wrote several on the new album. He also does some acting, although he claims he doesn’t do it very well.
“I love it, actually, but I’m like a fish out of water with it,” Studdard says. “It’s something really new to me.”
He has toured with Robin Givens in the comedy-drama “Heaven I Need a Hug.” In 2008, he began playing Fats Waller in a national tour of “Ain’t Misbehavin.’”
“When I was younger, I did plays, but that’s nothing now,” he says. “I did pretty well with ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’’ and I’m going to keep doing it.”
'It stuck with me'
While Studdard’s parents loved music and his mother sang in the church choir, the family wasn’t particularly musical. “For some reason, it stuck with me,” Studdard says.
“My mom and dad had a huge record collection and as a child, I was given the opportunity to listen to all different kinds of music,” he says. “I would sit at home for hours just listening to music. It most definitely impacted and made me who I am.”
Studdard was only 3 when he sang his first solo in church. “I remember the song, I just don’t remember the day,” he says.
“I used to have terrible stage fright as a kid. I was always afraid to be onstage, but having all those years in church singing in the choir and doing solos really prepared me.”
An English teacher decided Studdard should be in oratorical competitions. “She helped me get over the stage fright,” he says.
“She threw me in the fire. From then on, I never had to have any security things onstage with me.
“People who don’t perform can’t really tell when people onstage are nervous,” Studdard says. “I can always tell. I do things like grab my pants leg or put my hands in pockets.”
Studdard has a vivid memory of his teacher saying, “It’s not cute to have your hands in your pocket.”
'I threw myself into it'
An athlete as well as a scholar, Studdard played football and got a scholarship to Alabama A&M University because of it. “When I think of all the things I got involved in, it kind of baffles me now,” he says.
But music won out. “My band teacher in middle school let us know if we wanted to be professionals, we’d have to study music,” Studdard says.
“I grew up with that mind set,” he says. “I’ve got to pay attention to the craft. I threw myself into it and was always trying to practice to get better.”
Studdard dropped out of college his senior year to pursue a career in music. “I didn’t realize you can’t pursue a music career in Birmingham, Ala.,” he says. “My mom was absolutely right in telling me not to leave school.
“In my mind, I felt I could become a star in Birmingham,” Studdard says. “I was in a group at the time and thought we would be the next Winans.”
But something very big was headed Studdard’s way. “I started singing with a jazz band called Just a Few Cats,” he says.
“A young lady who was a background singer decided she wanted to audition for 'American Idol.' She kept at me and kept asking me to go with her. The rest is pretty much history.”
Studdard’s experience with "American Idol" before auditioning was pretty limited. “At the very end, I started watching it a week before Kelly Clarkson won,” he says.
But a lack of experience was no problem. “From start to finish, 'American Idol' was all first class, other than sleeping on the ground in Nashville,” Studdard says.
'They throw you in the fire'
“Everything about that show is at the highest level. Most definitely it’s like a training ground for the music industry.
“They throw you in the fire,” he says. “You don’t get the opportunity to have a class on how to speak to people during interviews, but you definitely get a lot of practice at it. It’s very intense and very rewarding. Everything about the experience was great.”
Studdard won over runner-up Clay Aiken by only 134,000 votes out of 24 million. To celebrate, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley declared March 11, 2003, “Ruben Studdard Day.”
Being an "American Idol" has opened doors, Studdard says.
“I’ve been able to meet pretty much the people I grew up looking up to. -- Lionel Ritchie, Stevie Wonder."
To help others, he has founded the Ruben Studdard Foundation for the Advancement of Children in the Music Arts, which promotes the role of arts in education through learning initiatives for the development of students in the greater Birmingham area.
He also is an official spokesman for “Be Sickle Smart,” a nationwide health-education program aimed at increasing awareness of iron overload among people living with sickle-cell disease.
Studdard also created and recently held the Ruben Studdard Celebration Weekend in his home state of Alabama, in which he participated in a half marathon. A vegan who eats no meat or animal byproducts, he has lost about 80 pounds since his "Idol" days.
“Because so many people have given to me, the only way that can be fulfilled is to give back,” Studdard says. “We work with young people who have the desire to be professional musicians, who want to go to school and be music majors, to have an outlet and be successful at the next level.
“A lot of young people don’t know what it takes to make it in a college music program.” he says. “It’s been a blessing to meet these young people and do something that will impact their lives in a positive way.”
The foundation has given several scholarships, helping students matriculate to major colleges and universities. “I’ve been pleased with everything we’ve been able to do,” Studdard says.
“Hopefully, we can do more. We could never go overboard for enough kids.
"You never know who the next 'American Idol' might be.”
IF YOU GO
What: International Beach Party with Ruben Studdard and Trevor Hall
When: 6 p.m. Sept. 15
Where: North Beach stage, Tybee Island
Cost: Free
Info: www.oceanexchange.org
OCEAN EXCHANGE EVENTS
All events are free unless marked with asterisk*
Saturday, September 15, 2012
On-the-Water Experiences, Various locations across Tybee Island, GA 31328
- Ranges from inshore light tackle fishing trips to kayak trips through the marsh.
- 6:00 am – 7:00 pm
LEAP to ZERO+ Juried Art Exhibit, Cockspur Island at Ft. Pulaski, US 80 E, Tybee Island, GA 31328
- A juried art exhibit made from found objects.
- 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Festival de Ocean-Take a Child to the Beach Day, Tybee Island Pavilion, 1401 Strand Avenue, Tybee Island, GA 31328
- A variety of individual ocean sports and art exhibits.
- 10:00 am- 4:00 pm
The International Beach Party, North End Parking Lot 33 Meddin Dr. Tybee Island, GA 31328
- Featuring American Idol winner Ruben Studdard, with special guest national recording artist, Trevor Hall at 6:00 pm.
- 4:00 pm – 11:59 pm
Sunday, Savannah 16, 2012
On-the-Water Experiences, Coastal GA, Tybee Island, GA 31328
- Ranges from inshore light tackle fishing trips to kayak trips through the marsh.
- 6:00 am – 7:00 pm
Coastal Cleanup, North Beach Grill, 33 Meddin Dr. Tybee Island, GA 31328
- Leave nothing behind but our footprints; an early morning stroll from North to South Beach.
- 7:30 am – 10:00 am
LEAP to ZERO+ Juried Art Exhibit, Cockspur Island at Ft. Pulaski, US 80 E, Tybee Island, GA 31328
- A juried art exhibit made from found objects.
- 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Children’s Pond Yacht Building*, Ships of the Sea Museum, 41 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Savannah, GA 31401, $7.50 fee for museum entrance and building materials.
- Young ship builders create small boats to sail in the reflecting pond.
- 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Festival de Ocean-Take a Child to the Beach Day, Tybee Island Pavilion, 1401 Strand Avenue, Tybee Island, GA 31328
- A variety of individual ocean sports and art exhibits.
- 10:00 am- 4:00 pm
Children’s Ocean Film Festival, Tybee Island Marine Science Center, 1509 Strand Ave., Tybee Island, GA 31328
- A selection of films with entertaining ocean stories.
-1:00 pm- 5:00 pm
International Ocean Connection Picnic, Forsyth Park Band Shell, 621 Drayton Street, Savannah, GA 31401
- Picnic with Flags and Music, hosted by the Army Band,
- 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Monday, September 17, 2012
On-the-Water Experiences, Coastal GA, Tybee Island, GA 31328
- Ranges from inshore light tackle fishing trips to kayak trips through the marsh.
- 6:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saltwater Geechee Cultural Celebration, Savannah State University- Hubert A Building, Rooms 109&111, 100 South Tompkins Road, Savannah GA
- Celebration of rich African cultural history and a special food tasting.
- 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
On-the-Water Experiences, Coastal GA, Tybee Island, GA 31328
- Ranges from inshore light tackle fishing trips to kayak trips through the marsh.
- 6:00 am – 7:00 pm
Up in the Air & On the Water, SCAD Museum of Art, 601 Turner Blvd. Savannah, GA 31401
- Engineers and architects discuss how aircrafts and ships are designed and built.
- 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
On-the-Water Experiences, Coastal GA, Tybee Island, GA 31328
- Ranges from inshore light tackle fishing trips to kayak trips through the marsh.
- 6:00 am – 7:00 pm
Board of Governors LEAP to ZERO+ Exchange and Opening Reception*, Ships of the Sea Museum, 41 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Savannah, GA 31401, Ticketed with Fee of $100.
- Savannah Ocean Exchange Board of Governors present food, drinks and interesting discussions.
- 4:00- 8:00 pm
Thursday, September 20, 2012
On-the-Water Experiences, Coastal GA, Tybee Island, GA 31328
- Ranges from inshore light tackle fishing trips to kayak trips through the marsh.
- 6:00 am – 7:00 pm
Gray’s Reef Ocean Film Festival, Trustees Theatre, 214 E. Broughton St. Savannah, GA 31401
- A variety of ocean films.
- 4:00 pm- 10:00 pm
Friday, September 21, 2012
On-the-Water Experiences, Coastal GA, Tybee Island, GA 31328
- Ranges from inshore light tackle fishing trips to kayak trips through the marsh.
- 6:00 am – 7:00 pm
Gray’s Reef Ocean Film Festival, Trustees Theatre, 214 E. Broughton St. Savannah, GA 31401
- A variety of ocean films.
- 4:00 pm- 10:00 pm
Ocean Awards Gala*, Savannah International Trade & Convention Center, One International Drive, Savannah, GA 31401; Ticketed with fee of $120.
- Celebrates and highlights the 2012 Solutions Exchange.
- 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm
Saturday, September 22, 2012
On-the-Water Experiences, Coastal GA, Tybee Island, GA 31328
- Ranges from inshore light tackle fishing trips to kayak trips through the marsh.
- 6:00 am – 7:00 pm
Gray’s Reef Ocean Film Festival, Trustees Theatre, 214 E. Broughton St. Savannah, GA 31401
- A variety of ocean films.
- 4:00 pm- 10:00 pm