George Huff
Encyclopedia
George Clayton Huff, Jr. (born November 4, 1980 in New Orleans, Louisiana
) is an American
singer. He placed first among male contestants and overall fifth-place finalist on the third season
of the reality/talent-search television series American Idol
.
; he is currently a student at the University of Oklahoma
. Huff auditioned for the third season of American Idol
in Houston, Texas
; he was a member of the fourth group of semifinalists. He was actually not among those originally chosen for the semifinal round, but was put through when contestant Donnie Williams
was disqualified for a drunk driving arrest.
. During this period, New Orleans Fox
Affiliate WVUE
would hold specials including Huff's family cheering George on during the latest episodes.
On May 5, 2004, Huff was voted off in fifth place after two renditions of Fred Astaire
's "Cheek to Cheek
" and Louis Armstrong
's "What a Wonderful World
" during big band
week.
, on October 11, 2005. The first single off that album was "Brighter Day". It sold 18,000 copies.
In 2005, his Louisiana home was affected by Hurricane Katrina
. He left New Orleans and stayed at his brother's house in Dallas. His recent performances have included an October 2006 concert at West Virginia University
and a December 2006 Christmas show in Salinas, California
. He also had a recent brief performance at New York's Dr. Susan S. Mckinney Secondary School For The Arts on November 10, 2008.
In 2007 Huff's song "Brighter Day" was briefly featured in Tyler Perry's movie "Why Did I Get Married?" starring Janet Jackson
.
On April 7, 2009 George Huff will be releasing his self-titled sophomore effort. Songs include "I Belong To You(Yours)", "Victory", "Free", "Destiny" (featuring Coko of SWV and Tasha Collins from the first season of BET's Sunday Best) and the lead single "Don't Let Go".
On March 24, 2011, George Huff performed as a back-up singer to Jennifer Hudson during the 3rd week of finals on the 10th season of American Idol, where she performed her current album's lead single, "Where You At." Huff has been singing background vocals for many of Hudson's live performances in 2011.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer. He placed first among male contestants and overall fifth-place finalist on the third season
American Idol (Season 3)
The third season of American Idol premiered on Monday, January 19, 2004 and continued until May 26, 2004. The third season was won by Fantasia Barrino, who defeated Diana DeGarmo by an approximate margin of 2% ; the vote total was the highest recorded vote total in the show's history until the...
of the reality/talent-search television series American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
.
Biography
Huff is originally from New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
; he is currently a student at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. Huff auditioned for the third season of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
; he was a member of the fourth group of semifinalists. He was actually not among those originally chosen for the semifinal round, but was put through when contestant Donnie Williams
Donnie Williams
Donnie Williams is an American soul, gospel and jazz singer-songwriter who in 2004 became a Top 32 Finalist in Season 3 of American Idol. He currently resides in the Bay Area, California.-Early life:He comes from a family of vocalists...
was disqualified for a drunk driving arrest.
American Idol
Huff was not voted through to the final round from his group of semifinalists, but got another second chance when he was brought back for the wildcard round and put through as a finalist by contest judge Simon CowellSimon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
. During this period, New Orleans Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
Affiliate WVUE
WVUE
WVUE-DT, broadcasting on virtual channel 8, is a TV station in New Orleans, Louisiana, affiliated with the Fox Broadcasting Company. WVUE is owned by Louisiana Media Company, with studios in the Gert Town section of New Orleans and transmitter in Chalmette, Louisiana.- Digital television :WVUE-DT...
would hold specials including Huff's family cheering George on during the latest episodes.
On May 5, 2004, Huff was voted off in fifth place after two renditions of Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
's "Cheek to Cheek
Cheek to Cheek
"Cheek to Cheek" is a song written by Irving Berlin, and first performed by Fred Astaire in the movie Top Hat . Astaire's 1935 recording with the Leo Reisman Orchestra was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000....
" and Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana....
's "What a Wonderful World
What a Wonderful World
"What a Wonderful World" is a song written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released as a single in 1968. Thiele and Weiss were both prominent in the music world . Armstrong's recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999...
" during big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
week.
American Idol performances
| Week/Theme | Date Sung | Song Sung | Artist | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semifinals [N/A] |
March 2, 2004 | "Always and Forever Always and Forever (Heatwave song) "Always and Forever" is a R&B song written by Rod Temperton and first recorded by the British-based multinational funk-disco band Heatwave in 1976... " |
Heatwave Heatwave (band) Heatwave was an international funk/disco musical band featuring Americans Johnnie Wilder, Jr. and Keith Wilder of Dayton, Ohio, Englishman Rod Temperton , Swiss Mario Mantese , Czechoslovak Ernest "Bilbo" Berger , Jamaican Eric Johns and Briton Roy Carter .They were known for their successful... |
Eliminated |
| Wild Card [N/A] |
March 9, 2004 | "Lean on Me Lean on Me (song) "Lean on Me" is a song written and released by Bill Withers in 1972.It was his first and only number one on both the soul singles and the Billboard Hot 100. It is ranked number 205 on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Numerous cover versions have been recorded, and it is one of... " |
Bill Withers Bill Withers William Harrison "Bill" Withers, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985. Some of his best-known songs are "Lean on Me", "Ain't No Sunshine", "Use Me", "Just the Two of Us", "Lovely Day", and "Grandma's Hands"... |
Selected |
| Top 12 Soul Soul music Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of... week |
March 16, 2004 | "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay (Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay " The Dock of the Bay" is a song co-written by soul singer Otis Redding and guitarist Steve Cropper. It was first recorded by Otis Redding in 1967, just days before his death. It was released posthumously on Stax Records' Volt label in 1968, becoming the first posthumous number-one single in U.S... " |
Otis Redding Otis Redding Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B... |
Safe |
| Top 11 Country Country music Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music... week |
March 23, 2004 | "I Can Love You Like That I Can Love You Like That "I Can Love You Like That" is the title of a song recorded by American country music singer John Michael Montgomery. It was released in February 1995 as the first single from his self-titled CD... " |
John Michael Montgomery John Michael Montgomery John Michael Montgomery is an American country music artist. He has produced more than thirty singles on the Billboard country charts, including two of Billboard’s Number One country singles of the year: "I Swear" and "Sold "... |
Safe |
| Top 10 Motown Motown Records Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit... week |
March 30, 2004 | "Ain't Too Proud to Beg Ain't Too Proud to Beg "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is a 1966 song and hit single by The Temptations for Motown Records' Gordy label, produced by Norman Whitfield and written by Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr. The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Pop Chart, and was a number-one hit on the Billboard R&B charts for... " |
The Temptations The Temptations The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,... |
Safe |
| Top 9 Elton John Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor... |
April 6, 2004 | "Take Me to the Pilot Take Me to the Pilot "Take Me to the Pilot" is a rock song performed by British musician Elton John. The song was written by Bernie Taupin and composed by John for his eponymous second album in 1970.... " |
Elton John | Safe |
| Top 8 Cinema Soundtrack album A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television program. In some cases, not all the tracks from the movie are included in the album; however there are rare cases of songs in the trailers that do not appear in... |
April 14, 2004 | "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) "Against All Odds " is a song by British singer Phil Collins recorded for soundtrack to the 1984 film of the same name. It is a power ballad in which its protagonist implores an ex-lover to "take a look at me now", knowing that reconciliation is "against all odds" while considering it worth trying... " - from "Against All Odds" |
Phil Collins Phil Collins Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist.... |
Safe |
| Top 7 Barry Manilow Barry Manilow Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."... |
April 20, 2004 | "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again "Tryin' to Get the Feeling Again" is a song written by David Pomeranz. It was sung by '70s superstars Barry Manilow and the Carpenters. Manilow's version was included on his album, Tryin' to Get the Feeling, and the Carpenters' version wasn't released until 1995, on their 25th anniversary CD,... " |
Barry Manilow | Safe |
| Top 6 Gloria Estefan Gloria Estefan Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo García de Estefan; known professionally as Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-born American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known as the "Queen Of Latin Pop", she is in the top 100 best selling music artists with over 100 million albums sold worldwide, 31.5 million of those... |
April 27, 2004 | "Live for Loving You Live for Loving You "Live for Loving You" is a single by Cuban American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released in 1991 worldwide as the fourth and last single from her third solo album Into the Light.-Song history:... " |
Gloria Estefan | Bottom 2 |
| Top 5 Big band Big band A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians... week |
May 4, 2004 | "Cheek to Cheek Cheek to Cheek "Cheek to Cheek" is a song written by Irving Berlin, and first performed by Fred Astaire in the movie Top Hat . Astaire's 1935 recording with the Leo Reisman Orchestra was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000.... " "What a Wonderful World What a Wonderful World "What a Wonderful World" is a song written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss. It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong and released as a single in 1968. Thiele and Weiss were both prominent in the music world . Armstrong's recording was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999... " |
Fred Astaire Fred Astaire Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute... Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong , nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, was an American jazz trumpeter and singer from New Orleans, Louisiana.... |
Eliminated |
After Idol
His album, Miracles, was released by Word RecordsWord Records
Word Records is a Christian record label based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a division of Word Entertainment , which, itself is co-owned by Warner Music Group and Curb Records...
, on October 11, 2005. The first single off that album was "Brighter Day". It sold 18,000 copies.
In 2005, his Louisiana home was affected by Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. He left New Orleans and stayed at his brother's house in Dallas. His recent performances have included an October 2006 concert at West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
and a December 2006 Christmas show in Salinas, California
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
. He also had a recent brief performance at New York's Dr. Susan S. Mckinney Secondary School For The Arts on November 10, 2008.
In 2007 Huff's song "Brighter Day" was briefly featured in Tyler Perry's movie "Why Did I Get Married?" starring Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
.
On April 7, 2009 George Huff will be releasing his self-titled sophomore effort. Songs include "I Belong To You(Yours)", "Victory", "Free", "Destiny" (featuring Coko of SWV and Tasha Collins from the first season of BET's Sunday Best) and the lead single "Don't Let Go".
On March 24, 2011, George Huff performed as a back-up singer to Jennifer Hudson during the 3rd week of finals on the 10th season of American Idol, where she performed her current album's lead single, "Where You At." Huff has been singing background vocals for many of Hudson's live performances in 2011.
Albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... ) |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ |
US Gospel |
US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
|||||||
| 2004 | My Christmas EP!
|
- | 8 | 43 |
|
||||
| 2005 | Miracles
|
30 | 8 | 21 |
|
||||
| 2009 | George Huff
|
- | - | - |
|
||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
Singles
- Go Tell It On The Mountain
- Brighter Day
- Miracles
- You Know Me (#32 Hot Gospel Songs)
- Don't Let Go
External links
- George Huff at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- George Huff American Idol profile