Studdard, Ruben

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Ruben Studdard

Singer

Gospel/R&B singer Ruben Studdard first came to the public's attention when he became the winner of the talent contest show American Idol during its second season. His vocal style has been compared to the velvety sound of Luther Vandross.

"I Wanted to Be an Opera Singer"

Studdard, the son of two teachers, was born in Frankfurt, Germany, while his father was stationed there with the U.S. Army. However, he grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and sang from an early age. At the age of three he sang for the congregation of the Rising Star Baptist Church in Birmingham. As he grew older he continued to sing in church, and performed solos for the choir in which his mother sang. Studdard told Michael A. Lipton in People, "Growing up, I wanted to be an opera singer."

He attended Huffman High School, where he played football and won a football scholarship to Alabama A&M University. While at college he majored in voice studies, and graduated in 2000. Studdard sang with the local group Just a Few Cats, a Birmingham jazz and R&B band, and a backup singer for the band invited him to come with her to the auditions for American Idol 's second season in 2003.

For his audition Studdard sang a Stevie Wonder song, "Ribbon in the Sky." He became a local finalist and was invited to compete on the show. On the show he sang "Superstar," and was widely praised, earning the nickname "The Velvet Teddy Bear," given him by fans for his smooth voice and rotund physique. He won the title, beating runner-up Clay Aiken by 134,000 votes. He and Aiken became friends while performing on the show, despite the competition between them, and have remained friends to this day.

In June of 2003 Studdard released a single, "Flying Without Wings." It debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. His debut album, Soulful, sold over one million advance copies before it even hit the stores, and it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. In 2004 Studdard received the NAACP Outstanding New Artist Award.

Also in 2004, Studdard released his second album, I Need an Angel, a collection of gospel songs. It hit the gospel charts at the number one spot, sold over 96,000 copies in its first week, and debuted at number 20 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Studdard's success was tempered by personal and financial disappointment. In March of 2005 he filed suit against his business advisor and godfather, Ronald Edwards, alleging that Edwards had used Studdard's credit cards to run up a $156,000 bill and had taken $90,000 from Studdard's checking account. Although Studdard had sold over 2.2 million records, he alleged that Edwards had damaged his credit to such an extent that he could not purchase a home. Edwards filed a countersuit, but Studdard won the case and in June of 2006 was awarded $500,000 for personal losses and $1.5 million in punitive damages. Studdard told Scotty Ballard in Jet that the theft and the ensuing lawsuit were difficult "because he was a very close family friend. I've known him my whole life." However, he noted that he was glad he had found out about the theft early in his career so he could learn from it, recover, and move on.

"I'm Done with Meat for Now"

Studdard, who has always been large and who had gained over 100 pounds since American Idol, had reached a peak weight of 455 pounds. In 2006 he embarked on a program of vegetarian eating and exercise in order to lose weight and improve his health. His brother, who was also heavy, had experienced some health problems, and his family had a history of high blood pressure, heart problems, and diabetes. The two brothers decided to lose weight together, and Studdard lost over 70 pounds. He told Ballard, "I'm done with meat for now. I plan on sticking with it for as long as I can." Instead of meat, he began eating stir-fried vegetables, tofu, and soy milk. In an interview in People he jokingly told Michelle Tan, "The people at the vegetarian store in Birmingham are like, ‘What's he doing in here?.’" He told Tan that his ultimate goal was to reach a weight of about 250 and build more muscle.

Studdard released The Return in 2006. It had more of an R&B sound than his previous album, and although it opened at number eight on the Billboard 200, its sales did not hold up after that. Studdard told Ballard that the album reflected "the growth I've been through as a person—and as a singer. I've had a lot of personal tests during this past year and I've learned some great life lessons."

Studdard has appeared as a guest on several television shows, including 8 Simple Rules, Life on a Stick, All of Us, and Eve. He also made a cameo appearance in the film Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed and appeared in a television commercial for Sierra Kids.

In 2007 Studdard became a spokesperson for Scale Back America, an eight-week weight loss campaign, and asked 25 percent of Alabama residents who were obese to lose ten pounds in eight weeks-a total of ten million pounds. The event was sponsored by Alabama hospitals, the Alabama Department of Public Health, and Barber Diaries. Studdard has also started his own foundation, the Studdard Foundation for the Advancement of Children in Music Arts, which provides scholarships, after-school programs, and summer camps for music students. His mother, Emily, told Ballard, "It's something that he had dreamed to do to help keep other kids out of trouble." He has also worked with Magic Moments, an organization that fulfills the wishes of children with serious medical conditions. According to Ballard, Studdard said, "Anytime I'm able to bring some joy into a young person's life, I'm glad to do it."

Selected discography

Flying Without Wings (single), 2003.

Soulful, J Records, 2003.

I Need an Angel, J Records, 2004.

The Return, J Records, 2006.

For the Record …

Born Christopher Ruben Studdard on September 12, 1978, in Frankfurt, Germany, to American parents. Education: Alabama A&M University (voice studies), 2000.

Awards: Winner, American Idol television talent contest, 2003; NAACP Outstanding New Artist Award, 2004.

Addresses: Record company—J Records, 745 5th Ave., New York, NY 10151.