Bo Bice facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bo Bice
Bo Bice in The American Idol Experience motorcade at Walt Disney World.
Background information
Birth name	Harold Elwin Bice Jr.
Born	(1975-11-01) November 1, 1975 (age 49) Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
Origin	Helena, Alabama, U.S.
Genres	Southern rock hard rock country rock
Occupation(s)	Singer musician
Instruments	Acoustic guitar electric guitar lap steel guitar mandolin harmonica piano saxophone vocals
Years active	1994–present
Labels	RCA Sugarmoney Saguaro Road Lofton Creek

Harold Elwin "Bo" Bice Jr. (born November 1, 1975) is an American singer and musician. He became well-known as the runner-up on the fourth season of American Idol, where he competed against Carrie Underwood. Before his time on American Idol, Bo Bice had already released music with his own bands.

In 2005, Bo Bice's song "Inside Your Heaven" reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. After American Idol, he released an album called The Real Thing. Later, he started his own record label, Sugar Money, and released two more albums: See the Light and 3. From 2013 to 2018, he was also the lead singer for the famous band Blood, Sweat & Tears.

Early Life and Music

Bo Bice was born in Huntsville, Alabama. His mother and other female relatives were all gospel singers. His grandmother gave him the nickname "Bogart" when he was a baby. She thought he had eyes like the actor Humphrey Bogart.

When Bo was in kindergarten, he shortened his nickname to "Bo" because he thought it sounded cooler. His parents divorced when he was young. He grew up with his mother, his stepfather, and his step-sisters and half-siblings. His family moved often, living in different states like Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.

In 1990, when Bo was 14, his family moved to England. His stepfather worked for Coca-Cola in London. Bo attended London Central High School, a school for children of U.S. military families or embassy workers. He always carried his guitar and played football in high school. While in England, he formed his first band, Spinning Jenny.

In 1993, Bo moved back to Alabama. He earned his GED (General Educational Development) and took classes at Calhoun Community College.

Music Career and American Idol

Starting His Career

After college, Bo Bice became a professional musician. He performed in many places across the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Europe. He released his first CD in 1995 with his band Purge. He also played with other bands like Blue Suede Nickel and SugarMoney.

Bo Bice opened for famous bands like Blackfoot and Warrant. He also performed and recorded with Johnny Neel, who used to be in The Allman Brothers Band. Before American Idol, he recorded albums such as Ex Gratia (1999) with Purge and Recipe for Flavor (2000) with SugarMoney.

His Time on American Idol

In 2004, the age limit for American Idol was raised to 28. Bo Bice's family encouraged him to try out. He was one of the older contestants to audition and compete. Bo Bice and Constantine Maroulis were among the first contestants to perform rock songs on the show.

His audition performance of "Whipping Post" by The Allman Brothers Band impressed the judges. As the competition continued, he became a favorite. During the final three performances, Bo Bice took a risk by singing "In a Dream" without a band or backup singers. He finished as the runner-up to Carrie Underwood.

In Alabama, May 24 was named "Bo Bice Day" by Governor Bob Riley. Members of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd surprised Bo Bice when he returned home. They performed "Sweet Home Alabama" with him in his hometown of Helena, Alabama.

Idol performances

After American Idol

After American Idol, Bo Bice signed with RCA Records. His first single, "Inside Your Heaven", was released in June 2005. It quickly reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was certified Gold.

Bo Bice was invited to perform with famous musicians like Willie Nelson and appeared on Carlos Santana's album All That I Am. In June 2005, Bo Bice married his longtime girlfriend, Caroline Fisher, in Helena, Alabama. They have four children: three sons and a daughter. They live in Covington, Georgia.

In July 2005, Bo Bice broke his foot during a concert but kept performing. In August, he had emergency surgery for a stomach problem. He missed some tour dates, but his fellow Idol contestants honored him by singing "Sweet Home Alabama" and wearing his T-shirts. He returned to the tour for the final shows.

Bo Bice also helped families affected by Hurricane Katrina. He opened his home to a family and performed at benefit concerts. He was named "Heartland Hero of the Week" for his kindness. The family of Jim Croce also gave him an award because they were touched by his performance of Croce's song "Time in a Bottle" on American Idol.

Albums and Health

Bo Bice's first solo album, The Real Thing, came out in December 2005. It debuted at number four on the charts. In January 2006, CMT aired a TV special called Bo Bice: In the Moment, which showed his life after Idol and the making of his album.

During his tours, Bo Bice continued to have recurring stomach issues. He was hospitalized many times but always tried to keep his performance commitments. In March 2006, he sang on the American Idol Top 16 Results Show. He also participated in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race to benefit children's hospitals. In September 2006, he released a cover of "Time Has Come Today", which became the theme song for a Monopoly commercial.

In October 2006, Bo Bice had emergency surgery in Nashville, Tennessee to fix his recurring stomach problem. After his recovery, he recorded music for the Will Ferrell film Blades of Glory. He later received a gold record for The Real Thing.

Independent Music and Charity Work

After leaving RCA, Bo Bice started his own record label called Sugar Money/StratArt. He began writing and recording new music for his album, See the Light, which was released in October 2007.

Bice in September 2008

In October 2007, Bo Bice appeared on the TV show American Chopper: The Series. The episode featured a custom-built guitar-themed motorcycle. He also worked with Peavey Electronics Corporation to develop a Bo Bice guitar. He visited schools to donate instruments through Peavey's after-school programs.

In 2008, Bo Bice traveled to Kuwait and Afghanistan to perform for U.S. troops. He thanked them for their service and returned to the region later that year. He also toured with other musicians in a special show called It Was Forty Years Ago Today, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of The Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

In September 2008, Bo Bice participated in "Share the Beat," a benefit concert for health foundations. He also sang on the Brothers of the Southland CD. In December, he performed for President Bush in Washington.

Throughout 2009, Bo Bice continued to tour and perform with Lynyrd Skynyrd. He received the Lifetime Presidential Volunteer Service Award for volunteering over 4,000 hours for various causes. These included Habitat for Humanity, disaster relief, and supporting military troops. He also donated instruments and personal items for charity auctions.

In 2010, Bo Bice released his album 3 through his Sugar Money label and Time Life. In October 2010, he appeared on the game show Don't Forget the Lyrics! and won the $50,000 grand prize for his charity, MusiCares. He was the first celebrity contestant to win the top prize.

In 2013, Bo Bice sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the NASCAR Feed the Children 300 race in Sparta, Kentucky.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Music videos