Gospel, soul the foundation for 'American Idol' winner

By Rod Harmon
Knight Ridder News Service

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He weighs 360 pounds. He's soft-spoken and polite, earning the nickname "velvet teddy bear." He prefers comfy athletic shirts and sweats to a flashy wardrobe.

But Studdard adds credibility to the "Idol" competition. The man has a voice that harks back to the golden age of soul. At a time when most black entertainers sing rap and hip-hop, Studdard's retro style seems refreshingly new.

We spoke to Studdard via telephone before a concert in Albany, N.Y.

Q. A lot of people view your win on "American Idol" as proof that you don't have to be a 150-pound pretty boy to be a good entertainer.

A. Right. I mean, if you look at all the world's renowned vocalists, none of them are like that. You have people like Luther Vandross, Solomon Burke, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo — none of those guys are small, yet they are the best singers in the world.

Q. In your online bio for Fox, you cite Donny Hathaway as a big influence, and the '70s as your favorite decade. You really harken back to the golden age of soul, when entertainers like Hathaway, Barry White, Marvin Gaye and Al Green merged R&B with their gospel roots.

A. I grew up listening to the '60s and '70s soul music, and you know, it played a part in the type of music that I want to do and the type of music that I listen to. I believe that what you listen to comes out, and that's just the way it is.

Q. When is your album coming out?

A. I'm still working on it, but it's due to come out Sept. 16. I'm very excited.

Q. You've got some heavy hitters working with you on this thing — Fat Joe, Missy Elliott, R. Kelly ...

A. Yeah, I'm really excited about it. The album is called "Soulful," and I hope that will explain the singing on the album.

Q. All the great soul singers learned to sing in the church. You did too, right?

A. Yeah, I grew up in the church, and before I left, I was the musical director there (at Rising Star Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala.) I've been around church my whole life. That's a part of who I am as well.

Q. Now that the contest is over, what do you really think about the judges?

A. Oh, I love all of them, just for different reasons. I don't have a favorite. I just think all of them brought something different to the table each week.