Being a fan of Clay Aiken is full of exciting moments.  We are about to embark on one of the most impressive occasions.

With Friday’s announcement, we learned some amazing news.  First, Clay Aiken is giving a wonderful concert in his hometown of Raleigh and giving his excited fans the first chance for tickets.    And, the concert will have an exclusive audience that will get to see the taping of the concert for national television.  Sending a personal e-mail to each member of his fan club was a classy thing to do.

What else did we learn?  “Tried and True”………..what a wonderful name for Clay’s new album.  I am sure the title was meant to stand for the music; however, I think it stands for Clay Aiken, the man and performer.

Most of you have probably looked up information on the Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh.  I found a wonderful article that had a bit more information than the official site.  While reading it, look at the names of the people who have performed there.  Clay is in good company.

The following article is from WRAL and their Out & About section.     Out & About

The Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts – Memorial Auditorium 2 E South St, Raleigh, NC 27601

As one of the finest performing arts facilities in North Carolina since 1932, Raleigh’s Memorial Auditorium experienced a dramatic rejuvenation in 1989-90 with completed renovations totaling over ten million dollars. Rich with history, this elaborately appointed landmark continues to nourish an outstanding repertoire of performing arts events in grand tradition, providing sophisticated beauty, comfort, and convenience for patrons and performers alike.

Home to the North Carolina Symphony and the North Carolina Theatre, Memorial Auditorium has gratified audiences with outstanding performances in opera, ballet, orchestral music, theater, comedy, and popular music concerts, featuring some of the world’s most celebrated artist such as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Itzhak Perlman, Roberta Peters, Sarah Vaughn, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dizzy Gillespie, Pat Metheny, Ray Charles, Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole, The Moody Blues, Amy Grant, Toto, and Prince, as well as outstanding Broadway musical presentations of Cats, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, and Rent, just to name a few.

From the exquisite entrance atrium lobby with the grandeur of a central twin floating staircase and 14 Doric columns, to the main auditorium with its state-of-the-art stage, high coffered beam ceiling, sound reflective mahogany walls, intricate sound and lighting systems and 2,277 luxurious wide-berth seats, Memorial Auditorium is designed to lend a highly professional yet introspective atmosphere to any performance no matter what the scale.

Eighty-thousand square feet of stage, house, rehearsal hall, lobbies and public areas make Memorial Auditorium one of the most decisively versatile facilities in the Southeast, affording extensive flexibility for a wide variety of functions. Stage level dressing rooms complete with mirrors, dressing tables, showers and restroom facilities, an elegant rehearsal hall for small theater productions, dinners, and meetings, plus a state-of-the-art box office are just a few of the additional outstanding features and amenities offered, insuring that each event or special performance will be a highly professional and inspiring occasion.