FREE PRESS POP CULTURE WRITER

Over the phone, Taylor Hicks comes across as someone who's as careful and determinedly upbeat with his comments as a politician on the stump.

"There's all kinds of people to see and music to play. It's really cool," says Hicks of life after "American Idol."

Asked about his current tour, which lands at the Royal Oak Music Theatre on Sunday, he offers this: "It's been grueling, but it's been rewarding, too, to see all the fans."

The winner of last season's "Idol" never strays far from his Southern manners, even when he's asked about the inevitable comparisons between him and other contestants. Sales of his new CD, "Taylor Hicks," haven't equaled those of debut albums by champs like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

"I'm not into the numbers game. I'm into playing music," he says diplomatically. "That's a story line for others, not me."

Hicks has his own distinctive story thanks to his "Idol" exposure, and he's sticking to it. He's known to millions as the prematurely gray singer with the bluesy sound, geeky moves and aw-shucks charm who rose unexpectedly to victory, thanks in part to his legion of fans known as the Soul Patrol.

These days, his concerts draw a mix of people that sounds as all-encompassing as the massive "Idol" viewer base.

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