Bo Bice

Harold Elwin “Bo” Bice, Jr. (born November 1, 1975) is an American singer and musician who placed second to Carrie Underwood in the fourth season of American Idol.

For the 2005 season, Idol producers raised their required age limit from 16–24 to 16–28. In August 2004, Bice’s mother encouraged him to go try out, since he was within the eligible age limit (he would turn 29 in November 2004). He asked his mother to come along, and she took him up on that dare. 

Along with Constantine Maroulis and Taylor Hicks (winner of Season 5), Bice was one of the oldest contestants to audition and participate on American Idol. Bice and Maroulis were among the first contestants to compete using the rock idiom.

A Southern rocker in musical approach and appearance, Bice did not fit into the normal American Idol mold. His early performance of The Allman Brothers Band’s “Whipping Post” drew raves from the judges and established him as one of the favorites in the competition.

In February 2008, Bice traveled to Kuwait and Afghanistan to perform for U.S. troops deployed in the region, and to thank them for their service. He went back to the war region in Fall 2008.

Bice sang two tracks on the Brothers of the Southland CD,¹⁸ a compilation spearheaded by The Marshall Tucker Band’s George McCorkle who had died from cancer just days prior to the recording sessions. The album features a band called “Brothers of the Southland” which consists of a number of southern rock legends. Bice contributed lead vocals and guitar on a remake of the Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See,” and covered “Dreams.” The album was released February 10, 2009.

On December 2, Bice was invited to Washington to perform for President Bush.

Bice joined Joe Diffie on the classic track, “Willin” (originally recorded by Little Feat) for Joe’s new CD that will launch before the end of 2008. Bice visited Tanner Park in Copiague, New York on late Friday night, July 31, 2009. He and his band played for the audience, and later signed autographs.

Throughout 2009, Bice continued touring to support See the Light. Bice did tour dates with Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Bice delivered a powerful performance on song called ‘Old Spanish Trail’ on the soundtrack for the critically acclaimed ‘Noble Things’ film (released to theaters October 30, 2009).

Bice was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Presidential Volunteer Service Award for volunteering more than 4,000 hours of his time for worthy causes, such as Habitat for Humanity, Katrina assistance, Muscular Distrophy, Organ Transplant, two concert tours for the military troops in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan, Safe House, and many others. In addition to the hours for which he received recognition, he has donated instruments, music equipment, meaningful personal memorabilia, and some of his own paintings to be auctioned off for charities.

Bice started 2010 with an acoustic tour to introduce some newly-written songs that he was recording for his upcoming album. Bice’s Sugar Money record label teamed up with Time-Life for the album which was called “3” (release date May 18th, 2010).