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Hurricane Leaves American Idol George Huff's Family Homeless
Huff Looking At "Brighter Days'
During the 2004 "American Idol" competition that crowned Fantasia Barrino as the winner, New Orleans-native George Huff was known as Smiling George because he was always smiling.
Huff is even smiling through the bitter affects of Hurricane Katrina, which he is sure has destroyed his family's New Orleans home. He comes from a huge extended family and when news of the storm hit, everyone just scattered. "I have so many relatives that we don't know how they are doing or where they are," Huff says sadly. "We're just taking it one day at a time."
The 24-year-old Huff, who lived with his mother and siblings in New Orleans, says that he and 14 of his relatives left New Orleans over the weekend and are now staying at his brother's house in Dallas, TX.
Ironically, Huff's new single is the up-tempo track, "Brighter Day," that was produced by Fred Jerkins of Darkchild Productions. The song is from his forthcoming Word/ Curb/Warner Bros. CD Miracles debuting October 11, 2005. An anthem of hope for Huff, both he and the song were featured live on September 2 on "CNN Headline News."
On George's album one hears evidence of his strong faith. One song, "See What God Can Do," arose from that time between college and the early stages of American Idol, "when I was pretty much at my wits end," George recalls. "I was discouraged by the way things had gone in school, and I knew that Idol, and the music business in general, was such a long shot. But it dawned on me that if I was to have a chance at anything, I had to change my whole point of view from, "What can George do?' to "Exercise the faith you were raised on, and let go of having to control everything, and then see what God can do.' I did, and He was faithful to His promises."
About George
George was born and raised in New Orleans, and both church and music became integral parts of his life at a very young age. His discovery of his natural-born gift for song came when he was hardly more than a toddler, hearing "That's What Friends Are For"-the 1985, No.1 pop smash, featuring Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder-playing on the radio.
"When that came on I just started singing along, and I could follow them every lick of the way! I ran into the kitchen shouting, `Mama...Mama! I can sing!'" George recalls, laughing. "She looked at me and said, `Shut up, boy. You can't sing. Get out of my kitchen!'"
It was not long, however, before George's mother, and an ever-increasing number of people around New Orleans, began realizing that the little boy not only could sing, but was in fact supremely gifted.
"God just gave me this talent," says George. "I did my first solo in church when I was five, and by age six I was receiving invitations to sing in churches, of almost every denomination, on a regular basis several times a week. It was a pretty safe bet that if I wasn't in school, I was in church for most of my young life."
George was also reared in abject poverty, as his parents divorced when he was an infant, leaving his mother to raise him and his three siblings on her own in a federal housing project almost within eyesight and earshot of New Orleans' famed French Quarter. However, a cousin, many years his senior, became the father figure in George's life, ferrying him from church to church, and providing a positive male role model for the youngster. The combination of the diverse sounds of his hometown-a city world-renowned for its music-and the mix of popular sacred and secular artists that filled the airwaves, gave George advanced-study lessons-albeit from afar-in the art of singing. He recalls artists from Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson to Gospel greats Daryl Coley, and Vanessa Bell Armstrong as capturing his imagination and having a deep creative impact on him. And though it would be some time before George was old enough to make a serious career decision regarding music, the sheer magnitude of his gifts had essentially already determined his destiny years earlier.
"I just loved singing so much," says George. "I was a pretty nerdy kid. We didn't have money for the `right' clothes to wear, and kids would make fun of me; but whenever I was singing none of that mattered. It has always been pure joy for me."
After graduating high school, George attended the University of Oklahoma on a full music scholarship. George's prodigious vocal abilities landed him major roles in the department's numerous operatic productions and garnered him rave reviews. However, at the end of his sophomore year, his scholarship money had been exhausted, and after completing his junior year on college loans, financial imperatives forced him to postpone his senior year. George took a job cooking and washing dishes in the school's cafeteria, keeping his sites set on the goal he'd set of a degree in Music Education and a career as a music teacher, even as he continued to be a featured, non-student performer in the school's musical productions. As he pondered what had become a frustrating, even depressing situation, an option presented itself which he had never before seriously considered.
The hit TV show, American Idol, was beginning its city-to-city try-outs for what would be its third season. With a combination of confidence in his abilities and a sense of resignation, George traveled to Houston for the first round of auditions. Passing the initial trial led to a series of additional auditions which finally won him a place on the show's actual on-air competition. After being nearly eliminated twice George rebounded with newfound vigor, to the rapturous approval of the show's judges and millions of viewers, ending the season among the Top 5 contestants.
That exemplary showing landed George a place on both American Idol's yearly CD of its winning contestants, and its ensuing 50-city tour. Upon the tour's completion, George soon found himself with offers from four different major record companies.
Of his decision to sign with Word, and use his talents for both entertainment and the sharing of the good news of the Gospel, George speaks with what is now a clearly focused vision, years in the making.
"I don't think hitting anybody over the head with the message of faith, as I've lived it and experienced it, accomplishes much good," he says. "I want my albums and my performances to be entertaining and engaging. But I also want people to be able to look at me as a whole person-not just an entertainer-and see someone they feel they can approach and relate to, and who relates to them as well.
"If I just live my life the way God calls us to, and people see that consistently-whether they even know what it is or not-then at some point they might start hearing the music in new ways and on different levels, too," he concludes. "That's when they're ready to really go deeper, and I'm excited about seeing that happen and being a part of peoples lives being changed."
[EDITOR's FOOTNOTE: Since this was first printed, Huff has found that all the members of his family are alive. Surviving the devastation, Huff's mother and sister evacuated to Dallas where they currently reside with other family members. His father, however, and his other sister were trapped in a separate home for several days and were recently rescued. Huff's father is currently recovering in a Baton Rouge Hospital.
Wanting to help the many people who are suffering and need uplifting right now, Hiff participated in BET's "SOS Telethon." Also his single a "A Brighter Day" will be offered for download from major digital service providers within two weeks. Available for $.99 cents, all proceeds from the sale of Huff's national debut single will be donated to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.]
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