Ruben Studdard

Artist Image: Ruben Studdard
Attribution
Image Credit: Jyle Dupuis (Flickr), CC BY-SA 2.0

Biography

Christopher Ruben Studdard (born September 12, 1978), best known as Ruben Studdard, is an American R&B, pop and gospel singer. He rose to fame as winner of the second season of American Idol and received a Grammy Award nomination in December 2003 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Superstar". In the years following Idol, Studdard has released five studio albums, including his platinum-selling debut, Soulful, and the top-selling gospel follow-up, I Need an Angel. He is most well known for his recording career, which has produced hits including "Flying Without Wings", "Sorry 2004", and "Change Me", but he has also segued into television and stage work. Most notably, he toured with Robin Givens in the comedy-drama Heaven I Need a Hug and in 2008 starred as Fats Waller in a national tour revival of Ain't Misbehavin', which spawned a Grammy-nominated soundtrack. Studdard most recently appeared on the fifteenth season of The Biggest Loser. He is signed to Verve Records and released his newest album, Unconditional Love, on February 4, 2014.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 2003
Number of Albums 20
Record Label Hickory Records
Website
Wikipedia Ruben Studdard on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Genres

Pop R & B

Trivia

How many viewers voted for American Idol in 2003?

24 million

...ol, but he eventually won first place in May 2003 thanks to more than 24 million viewers who cast their votes. Dubbed The Velvet Teddy Bear by guest j...
What was Studdard's nickname?

The Velvet Teddy Bear

...nks to more than 24 million viewers who cast their votes. Dubbed The Velvet Teddy Bear by guest judge Gladys Knight, he crooned to triumph over his ri...
What was Studdard's first album called?

Soulful

...our with his fellow competitors, he returned to record his first album, Soulful . Advance orders for the album topped the 1 million mark before it was ...
How many studio albums did Studdard release after his debut album?

six

... December 2003. In the years following his debut album, Studdard released six studio albums, including his topselling gospel followup, I Need an Angel...
What gospel album was the top selling gospel follow-up to?

I Need an Angel

...leased six studio albums, including his topselling gospel followup, I Need an Angel . He is most well known for his recording career, which has produce...
When did he pursue music as a career?

college

... He sang at his parents' Baptist church as a child, but it wasn't until college that he seriously pursued music. Abandoning a promising career in foot...
In what year did Studdard receive his bachelor's degree?

2000

...or and study voice at the school, eventually graduating with a degree in 2000 . He then launched his professional career as a singer for Just a Few Cat...
In what city is Just a Few Cats based?

Birmingham

...n launched his professional career as a singer for Just a Few Cats, a Birmingham based jazz and soul band. During 2002, Studdard joined one of the grou...
What is the name of the Birmingham-based jazz and soul band?

Just a Few Cats

...e in 2000. He then launched his professional career as a singer for Just a Few Cats , a Birminghambased jazz and soul band. During 2002, Studdard joine...
When did Studdard audition for American Idol?

2002

...singer for Just a Few Cats, a Birminghambased jazz and soul band. During 2002 , Studdard joined one of the group's backup singers at an audition for th...
Who christened Studdard a velvet teddy bear?

Gladys Knight

...ce and easy confidence. Partway through the competition, guest judge Gladys Knight christened him a velvet teddy bear, a nod to his smooth, Luther Van...
What was the nickname given to him?

velvet teddy bear

...hrough the competition, guest judge Gladys Knight christened him a velvet teddy bear , a nod to his smooth, Luther Vandross styled voice, warm stage pr...
How many studio albums has Studard released?

seven

...cording of Superstar. In the years following Idol, Studdard has released seven studio albums, including his platinumselling debut, Soulful, and the to...
What role did Studdard play in a national tour revival of Ain't Misbehavin'?

Fats Waller

...so segued into television and stage work. Most notably, he starred as Fats Waller in a national tour revival of Ain't Misbehavin', which spawned a Gra...
What was the name of the soundtrack for the national touring revival?

Ain't Misbehavin',

... notably, he starred as Fats Waller in a national tour revival of Ain't Misbehavin', which spawned a Grammynominated soundtrack. In 2013, Studdard app...
How many seasons did The Biggest Loser air?

fifteenth

...ominated soundtrack. In 2013, Studdard appeared as a contestant on the fifteenth season of weightloss competition show The Biggest Loser. He later sig...
Who was the chairman of Verve Records?

David Foster

... signed to Verve Records and collaborated with the label's chairman, David Foster , on Studdard's sixth studio album, Unconditional Love, in 2014. That...
What was Studdard's sixth album called?

Unconditional Love

...label's chairman, David Foster, on Studdard's sixth studio album, Unconditional Love , in 2014. That album received strong reviews as a returntoform an...
What was Studdard's cover album called?

Ruben Sings Luther

...ared to R&B singer Luther Vandross, released a cover album called Ruben Sings Luther and launched his Always & Forever national tour. The youngest son...
How old was Studard when he sang for the first time?

three

...& Forever national tour. The youngest son of two teachers, at the age of three , he sang for the first time at the Rising Star Baptist Church in his ho...
What did his mother encourage him to do?

sing

...local Baptist Church along with his mother. His mother encouraged him to sing and often made him participate in plays, choir competitions and musicals...
What did he often participate in?

plays, choir competitions and musicals

...ncouraged him to sing and often made him participate in plays, choir competitions and musicals . He attended Huffman High School and was a part of its ...
What was he a part of at Huffman High School?

football team

... and musicals. He attended Huffman High School and was a part of its football team . After high school, he received a sports scholarship to Alabama A &...
What was the major of his major?

music studies

...ma A & M University. However, upon enrolling he changed his major to music studies and graduated from the university in 2000. You May Like Top Actress...
What band did he begin his career with?

Few Cats

... Veterans Career He began his career by singing with a local jazz band Few Cats . Eventually, he heard of American Idol from a companion and travelled ...
In what city did the contestant audition for the reality show?

Nashville

...ventually, he heard of American Idol from a companion and travelled to Nashville to audition for the reality show. He claimed fame on the second seaso...
What song did he release after his second season?

Flying Without Wings

...of Superstar and A Whole New World and was referred to as the Velvet Teddy Bear. After the show, his first single Flying Without Wings aired on radio....
What was Velvet Teddy Bear nicknamed for on American Idol?

his smooth, soulful voice and large stature

...Nicknamed the Velvet Teddy Bear on the show for his smooth, soulful voice and large stature , he quickly became a fan favorite, winning the talent comp...
In what year did he win a talent competition?

2003

... he quickly became a fan favorite, winning the talent competition in May 2003 . He earned a Grammy Award nomination that year for Best Male R&B Vocal P...
Which Birmingham native won season five of American Idol in 2006?

Taylor Hicks

...ne of which went platinum and another gold. Fellow Birmingham native Taylor Hicks won season five of American Idol in 2006. Studdard was born on Septe...
When was Studdard born?

Frankfurt, West Germany

... on September 12, 1978, to parents Kevin and Emily Studdard, in Frankfurt, West Germany , where his father was stationed while serving in the U.S. Army...
What church did he sing at the age of three?

Rising Star Baptist Church

...is singing career at the age of three performing solos at the Rising Star Baptist Church in Birmingham. He continued performing and played football wh...
In what field did he earn a degree in?

voice studies

...end Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Madison County, but focused on the performing arts and earned a degree in voice studies , graduating in 2000....