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Taylor Hicks returns to Birmingham for Bama Rising, plus weekend concert in Linn Park

http://blog.al.com/mcolurso/2011/06/taylor_hicks_returns_to_birmin_1.html

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — When trees topple and houses splinter, tornado survivors are slow to forget the damages done to their neighborhoods.

Taylor Hicks says his family members were no different after they experienced a 1973 tornado in Center Point.

“This is not something you get over,” Hicks says. “I’ve heard my family discuss how the landscape where they lived was changed forever.”

The singer, 34, didn’t experience the storms firsthand. But he’s seen the psychological aftermath, and he knows how long it can linger.

That’s partly why Hicks is coming back to his hometown this weekend, performing two shows for tornado relief.

Hicks, a Birmingham native and former “American Idol” winner, is teaming with another “Idol” kingpin, Ruben Studdard, for a 6 p.m. concert on Sunday, June 12, in Birmingham’s Linn Park. Admission is free; those who attend are encouraged to bring canned goods for food banks helping tornado survivors.

On Tuesday, June 14, Hicks is on the lineup for Bama Rising, a 7:30 p.m. benefit at the BJCC Arena. More than a dozen stars will perform at the show, including the country group Alabama, Brad Paisley, Martina McBride and Sheryl Crow.

Tickets are sold out, except for $1,000 VIP packages, but organizers continue to collect donations for the Bama Rising Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. All proceeds will go to tornado recovery throughout the state.

“I want to do as much as I can to help the victims in my home state,” Hicks says. “I’ve been asked to do numerous (benefits) and I would love to do them all, if possible. With Bama Rising, I thought I could make as much of an impact as possible. When I was asked to be part of it, I was honored. This could be one of the most historic concert benefits Alabama has ever had.”

The Sunday concert, although smaller in scope, appealed to Hicks because it was designed to help tornado survivors with one of their immediate needs.

“We know they’ll have food, and we know it will go straight to the tornado victims,” Hicks says.

On Monday, June 13, he’s planning to meet with tornado survivors in some hard-hit areas near Birmingham, but Hicks says his agenda hasn’t been confirmed yet.

“I plan on visiting people and letting them know we’re thinking of them,” Hicks says. “I’ll do whatever I can to make their lives better. We as Alabamians need to band together and see the recovery effort through.”