Clay Aiken Co-Hosts on "The View"

Did you see Clay on "The View" today? Did you miss it? Well, good news! Whether you missed the chance to see the show or just want to watch it again... ABC has the full episode online! Just click on the picture below to go to the video page on ABC:

Here is the exit interview video:

And a hilarious behind the scenes video!:

Last Day for the Chase Community Giving Challenge

Today is the last day where you can help the National Inclusion Project receive a donation through the Chase Community Giving challenge. All you have to do is have a Facebook account and go to this page and vote!

This is how the National Inclusion Project can benefit:

Program Overview
From June 15, 2010 to July 12, 2010, users can vote for any Charity that is part of the Chase Community Giving application on the Facebook platform. On July 13, 2010, the votes will be tallied and the 200 eligible Charities receiving the most votes will be considered the top vote-getters of the Program and will share in $5,050,000 in donations from Chase.

Participating and Voting
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO PARTICIPATE OR VOTE. During the voting period, Participants who allow "Access" and "Like" the Chase Community Giving application on the Facebook platform, may vote for Charities. Unless a Participant is the recipient of a Gift Vote, described below, each Participant will be limited to one (1) vote per Charity with a total of twenty (20) votes per valid user profile. Participants will earn an extra vote ("Gift Vote") after casting five (5) votes and a second Gift Vote again when they cast all twenty (20) votes (excluding Gift Votes). Gift Votes may only be sent to and used by another Participant who may use the Gift Vote to vote for any Charity, but may only vote for the same Charity no more than two (2) times.

Donations
Sponsor will donate $250,000 to the Charity receiving the most votes, $100,000 to each of the four runner-up Charities, and $20,000 to each of the remaining top 195 Charities receiving the most votes at the end of the Program; provided each winning Charity meets all eligibility requirements and standards. Sponsor will also donate combined total of $500,000 to the eligible Charity or Charities who have received at least one vote and are chosen by an advisory board designated by Sponsor (the "Advisory Board").

Go now and vote!

Clay Aiken to Co-Host on "The View"

Be sure to watch "The View" on ABC, Tuesday, July 13, 11am – 12pm. Clay Aiken will be the guest co-host. Bret Michaels, Lisa Lillien will also be on the show.

In the meantime, why not watch Clay on "The View" from Wednesday, June 2, where he sat down to talk with the group and then performed "Unchained Melody"? The song is off his new album, "Tried & True", which you can get on iTunes or Amazon now!

reBlog from albumartexchange.com: Clay Aiken reveals retro album cover

I found this fascinating quote today:

The album cover has been designed to look like a worn and torn sleeve from a 1960s era jazz LP. It features a portrait of Aiken wearing a white jacket an a new, slicked-over hairstyle. The album cover seems very appropriate considering that tracks include Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, What Kind of Fool am I?, Misty, Mack the Knife, Unchained Melody, Suspicious Minds, Crying, Moon River and several other standards.albumartexchange.com, Clay Aiken reveals retro album cover, Apr 2010

You should read the whole article.

Tour Announcement!!

Tour dates for the Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard concerts have been posted!

Clay and Ruben "Timeless" Tour Dates Announced
After much anticipation and speculation, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard confirmed today plans to tour North America. Kicking off July 23, 2010 in Asheville, North Carolina, Clay and Ruben will bring their “Timeless” tour to 17 cities including appearances at famed venues such as New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom, LA Nokia Live in Los Angeles, and Pennsylvania’s American Music Theater. This is the first time the two artists will tour together.

“I couldn’t ask for a better tour mate. To be able to share the stage with him again is so exciting,” said Clay Aiken. “He is such a talented artist. He inspires me daily and I think that respect and admiration will truly be reflected in our show.”

“It is truly a blessing and an honor to be on the stage with my friend,” said Ruben Studdard. “The relationship that we have built over these past eight years will definitely translate into a great show for our fans. And I'm really looking forward to singing the timeless classics every night."

Concert goers can expect an entertaining evening as two friends and colleagues blend their talents for an unforgettable show. Clay and Ruben will be performing their renditions of classic hits from the past five decades. Fans can look forward to duets and special surprises throughout the tour.

In 2003, on the second season of American Idol, with over 24 million votes cast by the TV viewing audience, Ruben Studdard won the title, while Clay Aiken was the very close runner up. The two became instant friends and have shared the joys and pressures of their success over the past seven years. Since Idol, both artists have released albums, performed around the country and made multiple appearances on TV.

For more information and to purchase tickets please visit www.clayaiken.com or www.rubenstuddard.com

A LIST OF CURRENT TOUR DATES (AS OF MARCH 28, 2010):

Jul-23 - Asheville, NC - Biltmore Estates
Jul-24 - Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theater
Jul-25 - Melbourne, FL - King Center For Arts
Jul-26 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
Jul-29 - Snoqualmie WA - Casino- Mountain View Plaza
Jul-31 - Reno, NV - Silver Legacy Casino
Aug-01 - Los Angeles, CA - Club Nokia
Aug-03 - Milwaukee, WI - Potowanami Casino
Aug-05 - Windsor, ON - Caesar’s
Aug-06 - Chautauqua, NY - Chautauqua Institution Amphitheatre
Aug-07 - Mashantucket, CT - MGM Grand Foxwoods
Aug-08 - Lancaster, PA - American Music Theater
Aug-10 - Hampton Beach, NH - HB Casino
Aug-11 - New York, NY - Hammerstein
Aug-12 - Verona, NY - Turning Stone Casino
Aug-13 - Hammond, IN - Horseshoe
Aug-14 - Biloxi, MS - Beau Rivage

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, tour, concert, Timeless

UNE Master of Science in Education Program Sponsored 3rd Annual Golfing For Inclusion Benefit Event

National Inclusion Project Announces Over $700,000 of Support for "Let's All Play"

The National Inclusion Project (NIP), co-founded by entertainer Clay Aiken, announces over $700,000 of support to programs nationwide as part of its Let’s ALL Play initiative.

In just three years, the Project has invested over $1.7 million to expand Let’s ALL Play across the country. Let’s ALL Play brings an inclusive recreational experience to children with disabilities by giving them the same experience as children without disabilities. Children with disabilities and their peers without disabilities come together to participate in recreational activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, community service, physical fitness and more. The Project will support over 45 recreational programs in 23 states in 2010.

In 2004, the Project instituted the inclusive recreational experience for children with and without disabilities. Since its inception, the Project has impacted over 20,000 children nationwide. "My son does not have Down syndrome, wear hearing aids, or have difficulty with his speech,” said the mother of a camper. “He is simply a camper."

In 2008, the NIP asked the Center for Social Development and Education at the University of Massachusetts Boston to assess the implementation of Let’s ALL Play. Overwhelming evidence shows that campers with disabilities see improvement in self-esteem, social skills, relationships with campers without disabilities, general engagement in camp activities and sport/motor skills.

The NIP looks to create communities where all children can learn, live and play together.

“Because of the continued support of our volunteers and supporters, the National Inclusion Project gives children the opportunity to experience inclusion for the first time,” said Aiken. “The children's experience will impact generations to come as they increase awareness of the importance of inclusion.”

Source: Press Release

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, National Inclusion Project, Let's All Play

Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard in Concert

A number of concert dates have started to show up for the upcoming limited series of concerts featuring Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard. There are four so far and more sure to show up soon. Here is what we have:

July 23, 2010
Biltmore Concert Series
Asheville, NC

July 31, 2010
Silver Legacy Casino
Reno, NV

August 6, 2010
Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater
Chautauqua, NY

August 10, 2010
Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Hampton Beach, NH

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, concert, Biltmore, Silver Legacy Casino, Chautauqua, Hampton Beach

Clay Aiken Performs Tonight!

Tonight is the big night! Clay Aiken is taping a PBS special concert in Raleigh tonight featuring the songs from his new album "Tried and True." Here are a couple of video interviews and and feature article from the News and Observer:

[Note: Sorry, the WRAL video doesn't seem to want to work in Blogger. You will have to go here to see the video. Don't miss it!]

A classic move
by Matt Ehlers

When Clay Aiken hits the stage tonight at Memorial Auditorium, he will be performing for the couple of thousand people in the crowd, as well a future audience that could be much, much larger.

The concert, which will feature the first live performance of his coming album, "Tried and True," will be taped for a PBS special that will air this summer. It's a one-time-only deal, and Aiken, the Raleigh native and "American Idol" runner-up, will sing each song from the new album.

"Tried and True," scheduled for a late May release, is Aiken's first album for Decca Records. It's also the first in which he didn't feel record-company pressure to go in a pop-friendly direction. Working with Decca, he and longtime manager Simon Renshaw charted a different course for Aiken's career.

"Our idea was always to head toward a Johnny Mathis-y kind of thing," Aiken said recently during an interview in a downtown Raleigh coffee shop.

So the songs on "Tried and True" are lushly arranged classics. Aiken's hard-core fans will hear some familiar tunes, standards that he performed on "Idol." The new album includes "Unchained Melody" and "Mack the Knife."

Aiken, 31, has developed an adult audience over the years that he intends to keep. To that end, the album features a guest turn by saxophonist and label-mate David Sanborn on the Sammy Davis Jr. classic "What Kind of Fool Am I?" Vince Gill performs guitar on Andy Williams' legendary "Moon River."

Decca is known for signing artists who appeal to mature audiences. Bobby McFerrin, Placido Domingo and Ray Davies of The Kinks are among the performers who record for Decca. Aiken feels comfortable there.

"Adult audiences aren't fickle. That's who I've done well with in the past," he said. "This is a chance to do what I want to do, sing songs that I think are great and not try to put a square peg in a round hole."

Aiken will perform tonight with 15 or 20 musicians, a stripped-down ensemble from what was used to record the album. Part of the idea behind the concert is to see how a group of this size will perform the songs. If all goes well, Aiken could hit the road with a similar ensemble.

Whether he tours in the near future will depend largely on the economic atmosphere surrounding the touring business. But he has some ideas of what he'd like to do if an opportunity arises. Aiken and "Idol" winner Ruben Studdard have talked for years about creating a show together.

In the end, it will come down to economics. Tours are expensive to produce, and people don't go to as many concerts as they used to. Acts that aren't at the top of the pop charts can find it more difficult to make a dollar on the road

"I'm not Lady Gaga," he said, laughing.

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, concert, PBS, Tried and True, Raleigh

Clay Aiken Speaks At The 2010 HRC Carolinas Gala

Pam Spaulding from the "Pam's House Blend" blog attended the 2010 HRC Carolinas Dinner and posted a live blog reporting the event. She posted video of Clay Aiken's speech:

Be sure to visit her blog for all the details.

See Clay Aiken Perform Live!

It has been a while since fans have been able to see Clay Aiken perform in concert. Well, here's your chance! Clay will be taping a special concert performance for TV on March 12. Here is part of the announcement from the official website:

We're happy to be able to put an end to the suspense and the waiting by finally letting you know about the exciting "mystery" event happening on March 12! After a long wait for all of you, Clay will be "unveiling" the material from his forthcoming album, "Tried & True" in a live concert in his hometown at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium! This one night only special event will be a full production filmed for national television so seating is exclusive and limited.[...]

There was a fan club presale that ran from Tuesday through Thursday and the tickets have now gone on sale today to the general public. They are selling out fast, so you better get your tickets now!

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, concert, Tried and True, tickets

Clay Aiken at the Mirasol Country Club

Every year before the Golfing for Inclusion event in Florida, Clay performs for the members of the Mirasol Country Club Clubhouse. Usually we hear little about the performance, but tonight the fans were fortunate that a member tweeted about the performance and posted a picture!

@Kuzmanator Soo Clay Aiken is going to be performing at the country club I'm eating dinner at tonight. This will be wierd.

@Kuzmanator @Canuck1949 A few old classics from the 50s! Only 3 songs but he sounds really great.


Click to see full size

Clay Aiken Hints At Possible Tour

Clay has posted his latest blog on the public side of his site. Tour? Maybe. Or not. What do you think? Here is his blog!

Biting my tongue
As you all know.... holding my tongue is not one of my strongest qualities. It's been so tough to keep quiet on certain developments with regard to the album and all thats going on with it. Suffice it to say... we are almost finished with it and I LOVE it. I think you will too. These songs.. the arrangements.. these orchestrations are the most amazing I have ever gotten to record.

But ... how will you first hear it? Through the internet? In concert? On release day? One song at a time?

I can tell you this....that BIG news is coming very soon. And not "soon" as in the "soon" that you guys think I tend to subscribe to. Soon as in VERY soon.

You will want to be checking here EVERY day for the next several days or so. Big news! Big enough to through your lives and schedules and.. yes... maybe even your travel agents' schedules into a frenzy!

Speculate all you want. But... be ready. Things may start moving fast!

;-)

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, blog, News, music

The National Inclusion Project on Youtube

The National Inclusion Project has opened their own Youtube channel. Here is their first video:

The National Inclusion Project works every day to ensure that all children have the opportunity to experience all that life has to offer because the benefits of full inclusion change the world for all of us. To learn more about the National Inclusion Project, visit www.inclusionproject.org. Inclusion - What Are You Waiting For?

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Technorati Tags: National Inclusion Project, Clay Aiken, Youtube

Clay Aiken: Album and PBS Special News!

News is starting to pop up about Clay's new album!

First there was a tweet from Decca:

@deccalabelgroup "Listening to the upcoming @ClayAiken album in the Decca office and it sounds amazing! Fans will definitely not be disappointed!"

Then International Media posted this about the PBS special:

American Idol superstar alumni, NY Times best-selling author and TV personality Clay Aiken sings great romantic favorites in "Classic Memories". Stay tuned for more information on a forthcoming special!

And today the official Clay Aiken twitter announced:

Clay will release his 1st album on @deccalabelgroup in summer 2010! It will be a collection of classic songs from the 50s and 60s :)

Stayed tuned for more news!

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, Decca Records, International Media, PBS, Twitter, Classic Memories

Clay Aiken: Blogs An Update on Somalia

Clay Aiken posted a blog today on the Huffington Post titled: Progress in Somalia Despite Difficult Circumstances.

In it he gives an update on the situation in Somalia.

[...]Last year, in my role as UNICEF Ambassador, I spent five days in northwest Somalia. There's no question that years of civil war and a defunct central government has left much of this nation dangerously unstable. In fact, half the population of Somalia remains internally displaced and in a state of humanitarian emergency.

This tragic reality affects an estimated 3.6 million people, half of whom are children. Over 1.5 million are displaced as a result of conflict, largely between Islamic extremists and government forces. Not only is this population burdened by violence and instability, but also extreme poverty and recurrent food shortages.[...]

However, he informs us that there is hope for the future. Please continue reading here and consider contributing to helping the children in Somalia.

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, UNICEF, Huffington Post, Somalia

Clay Aiken Responds to Allegations of Voter Fraud

Today, Clay Aiken responded to allegations that he was guilty of voter fraud. But before we get to that, I would like to give you a little background about what led up to this response.

On November 12, Clay blogged on his official fan site and among other things, happened to make this comment:

What happened to Wake County Schools?!?1 Now that i have a kid i am so much more invested and I am EXTREMELY disappointed that so many selfish idiots ran and won seats on the school board. i hope we can get rid of them as soon as possible before they ruin my school system. Idiots.

Obviously some strong feelings about an issue that meant a great deal to him. In retaliation, the Wake County Republican Party on Friday challenged Clay's vote in this fall's school board elections - going so far as to actually scheduling a hearing tomorrow in order to challenge his voting registration in Wake County. Do they do this for every resident whom they feel may not qualify to vote in the county?

In any case, here is Clay's response to all the hoopla:

Responding to foolishness
I’ve always considered Wake County “home.” Growing up here taught me values like looking beyond the color of another’s skin and speaking up for those who cannot speak for themselves. I hold Wake County and its values dear.

Recently, I expressed my views and concern about the direction in which the newly elected members of the School Board propose to take Wake County schools. In a private blog, I stated strong opposition to the campaign rhetoric of the newly elected Board members. In response, the Wake County Republican Party has challenged my voter registration in Wake County.

It just goes to show the lengths to which some folks will go to silence an opposing view. I’ve remained registered at the permanent address that I’ve long used here in Wake County because I consider Raleigh home. While I believe my registration is perfectly valid, I’ve decided to change my registration from Wake County rather than get into a technical dispute.

But, rest assured, this attack on my voter registration will not silence me. I may not be able to effect change through my vote, but I will join other concerned citizens in speaking truth to those who would reverse decades of progress in Wake County schools. I stand by my opposition to policies that threaten to resegregate schools and eliminate diversity. These policies will not prepare children for the larger world.

Policies based on campaign rhetoric will leave behind the very children who need help the most. I urge the newly elected School Board members to consider the needs of all Wake County school children, not just a few. Wake County was a special place to grow up, and remains a great American community, because of its diversity, because of its progressive schools, because people take care of each other.

I urge the new board members to slow down, look beyond their own campaign agenda, and begin to govern responsibly with the needs of all children in mind. If they do not, the people of Wake County will hold them accountable. Regardless of my own voter registration, I will continue to speak up for all children of a place I will always consider home.

Help the National Inclusion Project win America's Giving Challenge!

The National Inclusion Project has posted on Facebook about their participation in America's Giving Challenge. Donate now and help them win $50,000! You do not have to be a member of Facebook to donate.

Our cause is in America's Giving Challenge—Let's win $50,000!
Hi everyone,

The National Inclusion Project just entered in America's Giving Challenge, which gives us a chance to win $50,000! To win, between now and November 7th we have to get the most donations to our cause (every person can donate once per day between 3pm and 2:59pm the next day and have it count as a unique donation). We can also win daily awards of $1,000 and $500 if we can get the most people to donate in any 24-hour period. The great thing about this Challenge is that it doesn't matter how much you give, but instead how much you do to encourage friends and family to get involved in our cause. We all need to come together and start promoting the cause if we want to win.

Each of us has tons of friends on Facebook who we can ask to donate to our cause. But let's think big too—can you put our cause in your email signature, can you throw a party and get people to donate through the cause when they enter, can you organize other people to go out and fundraise from all of their friends? As you reach out to your friends be sure to tell them why this cause matters to you. The possibilities are endless so let's talk about what we can do to win on the Wall of the cause or by replying to this bulletin.

I think we can do it! But it's going to take all of us. Check out the Giving Challenge (www.causes.com), then visit our cause to see how we're doing so far and get involved.

Let's win $50,000 for our cause!

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, National Inclusion Project, America's Giving Challenge, Facebook

Clay Aiken and The Christie Cookie $25,000 Charity Giveaway!

Help Win Money For the National Inclusion Project!

Christie Cookie is giving away $25,000 to charities. The charity with the most nominations wins $10,000.

It only takes about two minutes to vote, so click on the link below and nominate National Inclusion Project, Raleigh, NC to Win!

http://www.christiecookies.com

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, National Inclusion Project, Christie Cookie

"Including Samuel" to Air on PBS

The National Inclusion Project and CVS Caremark All Kids Can are bringing the nationally acclaimed documentary, Including Samuel to PBS:

We are proud to partner with the creators of Including Samuel, a nationally acclaimed documentary by photojournalist Dan Habib, 2008 Champions of Change Honoree.

The film comes to public television in September and October (Disability Awareness Month) with support from the National Inclusion Project and CVS Caremark All Kids Can.

BROADCASTS ARE CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR THE FOLLOWING STATES:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin...and the list grows every week!

Go to www.includingsamuel.com for a regularly updated list of broadcasts and public screenings.

FILM SYNOPSIS:
Before his son Samuel was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Habib rarely thought about the inclusion of people with disabilities. Now he thinks about inclusion every day. Including Samuel chronicles the Habib family's efforts to include Samuel in every facet of their lives. The film honestly portrays his family's hopes and struggles as well as the experiences of four other individuals with disabilities and their families. Including Samuel is a highly personal, passionately photographed film that captures the cultural and systemic barriers to inclusion.

HOST A FILM SCREENING PARTY!
The PBS Release of Including Samuel is a hallmark event for our mission of inclusion. Consider hosting a party for your friends and neighbors at your house or a larger venue that you have access to. This is a great opportunity to invite people who may not have a connection to inclusion yet in order to introduce to the concept and benefits.

Go to www.includingsamuel.com to:

• Watch the film trailer.
• Download the “Screening & Outreach Kit” with discussion questions, photos, templates for posters and invitations, and more.
• Download free material from the ‘Resources’ section which features published research, curriculum and articles on inclusion, plus links to dozens of organizations.
• Purchase the DVD. National Inclusion Project supporters and volunteers can receive a 10% discount off the individual DVD, and 20% off purchases of 6 DVDs or more, by using the coupon code IS10IP.

If you choose to host a party, please let us know so that we can send you information that you can hand out about the National Inclusion Project. If you organize a larger party as a community gathering, we will be happy to promote it by including it on our event calendar.

Thank you for your continued support!

Aron Hall
Director Services

National Inclusion Project
www.inclusionproject.org
104 TW Alexander Dr, Bldg 1
PO Box 110104
RTP, NC 27709

919-314-5540
Fax: 919-314-5541

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Technorati Tags: Clay Aiken, National Inclusion Project, Including Samuel, Dan Habib, CVS Caremark, PBS