'Idol' star continues to shine
 |  Clay Aiken |
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 Clay Aiken sits down with Larry
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NAME: Clay Aiken
BORN: November 30, 1978
BIRTHPLACE: Raleigh, North Carolina
(CNN) -- Clay Aiken became a household name in 2003 when he took second place on Fox's popular music talent show, "American Idol."
Despite his runner-up status, Aiken secured a recording contract with RCA records and released his first album, "Measure of a Man," that October.
Before gaining fame on "Idol," Aiken attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and was on his way to a degree in special education.
Notoriety and an intensive music career hasn't stopped Aiken's involvement in special education. His work with a 13-year-old autistic boy led to the creation of Bubel Aiken Foundation in July 2003.
The foundation's goal, according to its Web site, is to provide financial assistance "to facilitate fully the integration of children with disabilities into the life environment of those without ..."
Now, the crooner is getting ready to release a seasonal second album. "Merry Christmas with Love" hits stores November 16, as does Aiken's first book "Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life."
