Ruben Studdard
Bio
Was Ruben Studdard always the "Velvet Teddy Bear?" Not exactly, but his singing career began early.
When he was three, Ruben - the youngest son of two teachers - sang for the first time at the Rising Star Baptist Church in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. He continued singing gospel in church, performing solos as a child while his mother sang in the local choir. While no one could've predicted Studdard would win season two of American Idol, it was obvious the kid had talent.
While at Huffman High School, Ruben also played football and received a scholarship in that sport to Alabama A&M University.
After growing up listening to his mother's Donny Hathaway albums, Fred Hammond, and gospel music, Studdard began to pursue a career in the music industry, majoring in voice studies at Alabama A&M and graduating in 2000. From there, a backup singer from Just A Few Cats - a popular local Birmingham jazz and R&B band with whom Studdard sang - asked him to accompany her to Nashville, Tennessee for an audition on the second season of FOX's American Idol.
The rest, of course, is musical history.
