New Artist Spotlight: Bo Bice
By Gary Voorhies
© 2006 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc.
Bo Bice was born in Huntsville, Ala., and grew up in a musical family in the South. He assumed everyone was into music.
"I remember how weird it was the first time I realized not everybody could sing," Bice said.
Bice's parents gave him his first guitar for his 9th birthday, an electric Squire Telecaster. "It cost $500 and that was a lot of money for my parents," he said. "I had that guitar around my neck all the time."
The same year, he performed in public for the first time, singing "God Bless the U.S.A." in a talent contest at the Atlanta Civic Center.
Bice was 13 when his father's work took the family to England. There he attended an American school on an Air Force base, met other students who were into music and joined his first band. At 17, Bice moved back to the United States and attended college.
Bice was playing gigs with a trio and managing a guitar store in Pelham, Ala., when he decided to audition for "American Idol." He drove to the Orlando Convention Center, arriving at 1:00 AM. By the time auditions started, he was one of 17,000 hopefuls. "It was an incredible experience, sleeping head-to-foot on the floor with thousands of other people," he said.
After a round of auditions, judges Paula Abdul, Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson sent Bice to Hollywood to appear on "American Idol." It was good news, with one hitch - the guitar store in Pelham fired Bice because he was going to miss their annual sale.
Bice excelled on the show and survived the entire season, coming in second to Carrie Underwood on the final episode. He signed to RCA Records and his first single, the combo "Inside Your Heaven" and "Vehicle" debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Singles Sales chart. Bice's debut album, The Real Thing, was produced by Clive Davis and released Dec. 13, 2005. Bice, who counts Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams as prime musical influences, co-wrote two of the tracks on the album.
IN HIS OWN WORDS:
Who is your musical hero?
"Jim Croce."
What is your pet peeve?
"Clutter."
What actor would portray you in a biopic about your life?
"Mini-me."
What moment in your life would you relive if you could?
"The Jim Croce Award ceremony."
What word or phrase do you find yourself saying over and over again?
"Much love."
Do you have a lucky charm?
"Jesus Christ."
Which mode of transportation do you prefer - planes, trains or automobiles?
"Automobiles, I love fast cars . and mopeds."
Who is your dream duet partner?
"Stevie Nicks."
If you wrote an autobiography, what would the title be?
"Any book about me would be a short magazine."
When they look back on your life in 50 years, what do you hope people say about you?
"When that time comes, I want everyone to remember me as genuine, honest person who loves people."
On the Web: www.bobice.com
February 28, 2006
© RCA Records
