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Q I would like to know about
Oaf Alan, who came in second
on American UoL What are his
hopes and dreams and his outlook
on his career? Does he have a spe
cial someone?
—Georgia C-, New York
The only special someone in hjs bte right now
ts hs mom, Faye Parker, Qav Aikrn says with
a laugh. The Raiagh. N.C.. nacre pariayed his
second-place finish on the Fax contest into a recording contract with
RCA His fist single. Thus b the Sight, debuted at No. 1 an the Bill
board charts, while .Measure of a Man, his debut album, appeared at the
top of the album charts its fits week of release. Aiken. 24, says all che
songs ate original and describes the album as a mix of pop, rock and
soul. “I don't have any specific plans tight now,"
*%j S&. d
'■ -"A
• A if Jam**
Elvis Presley*
25th Anniversary Tennessee Quarter
Minted for just 10 weeks! Approved by Grace land.
Elvis PtesJey is the first recording artist ever honored on gen
ome U. S. cx/magc. And his loyal fans and wise collectors have
been snapping op these limited production 25th Anniversary
Tennessee Stare (garters m record number, Commemorating the
25th Anniversary of Ins untimely passing, the Tennessee Quarter
was chosen because it is Elvis’ home state, aid its production was
Aiken says of his carter, adding that he is taking
. advantage of the opportunities that arose
b from American Idol. Tm letting God decide
what happens and hoping I'm happy with
it." He plans to continue promoting his
album. “Its been something," the spe
tm dal education major at the University of
|K North Carolina at Chadotte says of his
m'N unexpected fame. And, he adds, it still
takes some getting used to that he’s
, unable to go to the grocery store with
our being recogniicd. Aiken, who was
a camp counselor at the YMCA in
Raleigh and later tilled in tor a
teacher in a class with autLS
llllNife'fe tii students. vi« he iovtxl
ggfSrii' the work because each
1 child was like a puz/le
I and it was " really exiit
| ing to go in and
ll . I work with individu
-993919 a.s finding their,-
selves.' Lasr sum
■BarßSjfefe mer. lx set up the
9 Hunei-Aiken F-«.i: -
W Jjn,>n to benefit
SfeiaV * m> chiinren with mer.
tai disabilities.
■y
wcondbutWtMo. I.
limited to just ten weeks by the U. S. Mint.
The carefully crafted coin features a stunning photographic
portrait of Elvis that radiates the unmistakable magnetism we all
Can you please give me information
onFestusfrom Gunsmokel Where was he
bora and raised and when?
—Andy M., Georgia
Ken Curtis, the actor who played Deputy Festus
Haggen on Gunsmoke tor 10 years, died in 1991 ar the
age of 74. He was one of the tow cast members of the
show with a true Western lawman background. His
grew up in Colorado, where his father was a sheriff.
Curtis' interests lay in music, and he moved to Los
Angeles to become a singer. He soon joined Tommy
Dorsey's band, replacing a young singer by the name of
Frank Sinatra. Still, his first big hit, after a stint in the
Army, was a cowboy song, Tumbling Tumbleweeds. He
went on to become one of those singing cowboys and
appeared in a number of Westerns, including The
Searchers. He became a regular cast member on the hit
TV series Gunsmoke in 1964, replacing Dennis Weaver, who had
played Deputy Chester Good, and staying until the show went off
the air in 1975. He then retired in Fresno, Calif., re-emerging to
work in 1983’s short-lived Western prime-time soap, The Yellow
Rose, and popping up to meet with fans at the occasional Western
movie convention.
Q I think Jamie O’Neal is a great country singer.
Can you tell me where she’s from and how she
became a singer?
—Carla S., Oregon
Bom in Sydney, Australia, ro a couple of professional musi
cians, O’Neal was just 2 when her family moved to Hawaii and
7 when they headed to a regular gig at the Golden Nugget
Casino in Las Vegas. “Once Dad learned that my younger sis
ter Samantha and I could carry a tune, we were on stage,”
O'Neal says. They often opened shows for country artists, and
she soon decided that she wanted to be in Nashville, Tenn.
Eventually, that's exactly where she ended up, after a stint as
backup singer for fellow Aussie Kylie Minogue. Her first
country album proved to be a huge hit, with the No. 1 song
There Is No Arizona establishing her as an artist to watch. She
stepped out of the spotlight for a while when she and her hus
band had their first child, a daughter named Aliyah, last June.
When not changing diapers, she’s working on her second
album.
* Cover photo by David Mudd
■ Would you like to know more about your favorite
celebrity or public figure?
Send your questions to:
Ask American Profile, 341 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400,
Frankhn,TN 37067 or e-mail us at askus@americanprofte.com.
The volume of ml received prohibits us from giving personal replies—through
e-mail or other means.
remember. Each also carries the official Graeeland 25th
Anniversary logo and a faithful reproduction of Elvis' unique sig
nature. What a great way to connect with the legend who
changed the music world forever and invented the modem day
mold for what we now call “Super Star”!
Each coin arrives with a certificate of authenticity, encased in a
clear protective capsule for you and future generations to enjoy.
Older today. Limit 5 coins per customer. Each Elvis collector coin
is just $9.95 -I- $3 S&H for the first coin ($1 S&H for each addi
tional). Please mail your check, or money order to Oxford
Collectibles. Dept APSEQI,26 Constantine Drive, Phoenix. MD
21131. For fastest service call toll free today 1-800-345-7060
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