Hicks has game

I want to congratulate Ann Powers on her insightful story regarding ‘American Idol’s” Taylor Hicks [“Pop in ‘Idol’ Hands,” May 26]. I too became enthralled with the way he was able to take Simon Cowell’s game -- or, perhaps more accurately, Simon’s ploy -- and turn it to his advantage. Taylor has not spent his life playing in honkytonks and bars without learning a lot about life, and learning the hard way: by making mistakes, by being knocked down, by being denied, but always, always rebounding and remaining true to himself. That’s why we can feel his music in our souls; it comes from his soul.

Here in the South, people don’t go to places like the FlorBama Lounge to hear contemporary music. They go to hear Sam Cooke and the Doobie Brothers, Otis Redding and B.B. King. If you’re going to make a living playing roadhouses six days a week in the South, you better know some rock ‘n’ roll and some soul or you better know how to wash dishes.

KEN JACKSON

Irondale, Ala.