Dubbed 'The Velvet Teddy Bear' by R&B Soul legend Gladys Knight for his balladeer crooner style, Ruben Studdard won the hearts of America competing on the hit TV show American Idol in 2003. Subsequently, his popularity on the talent competition allowed him to become the first African- American male contestant to win the Idol title. Comparable to Luther Vandross for his brand of mid-tempo and seductively romantic ballads, Studdard returns after a near three year hiatus from the moderate success of his previous album, The Return.

For this effort, Studdard has worked with such highly-respected producers as Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis. The lead single for the album is the piano plush ode to love, titled "Together," produced by Stargate. May 19 is the date for the full-length release entitled, Love Is.

The musical montage featured on his new album showcases original tunes as well as popular covers, including Ruben's versions of Extreme's classic hit "More Than Words" and Michael Jackson's "I Can't Help It." With a special original song on the album entitled "A Song For Her," a very personal song co-written by Ruben for his wife. They will celebrate their first wedding anniversary on June 28th. He admits to wanting to start adding to his new family soon.

Since stepping back from the forefront he has kept busy during the interim between his last recording and Love Is. Studdard found additional creative success with his work in the Fats Waller musical, Ain't Misbehavin'." It's Ruben's first musical theater work since he was in a high school production of Grease.

"Fats was a cool cat," says Ruben. "I love getting dressed up, sitting at the piano and winking at the girls, just like he did." Ruben also loves being on the road with Frenchie Davis and Trenyce, who were both contestants with him on the second season of American Idol.

"Every day is different and we're all having a great time," he says. "The songs are great and that keeps us all happy about doing this play." The national tour of Ain't Misbehavin' began in November 2008 and will conclude on May 17 in New York right before the release of his album.

Studdard's musical repertoire includes a Gospel album, I Need An Angel in 2004, his sophomore album after the success of debut album post American Idol. When asked if there was any backlash or scrutiny for his transition from the often referred to secular rhythm and blues to Gospel music he explains, "I love God with all my heart. Music is the only area where it seems that people want you to choose sides."
Growing up in the Bible belt, Birmingham, Alabama, Studdard's musical talent was evident early. As a three-year-old pre-schooler he started singing at the Rising Star Baptist Church to transition to a member of the Cherub Choir, where he sang a majority of the solo vocals, making his debut with "I'm Yours Lord" while developing his craft in church.

By the age of seven his talent became sought after, from singing at school, in various churches and at banquets and local functions; Ruben Studdard was making a name for himself. Growing up in a household where his mother would play Donny Hathaway, Luther Vandross to the O'Jays, Studdard learned to sing their songs. "I was the number one New Edition fan and in middle school I switched over to Boyz II Men. My father bought a lot of records, and that's how I heard John Coltrane and Miles Davis. I became a big jazz fan."

Entering adulthood and entering college, Studdard majored in music at Alabama A&M University where his studies included opera. "Can you believe that!" he exclaims. "I loved Pavarotti and I worked very hard at becoming an opera singer. I was going to get an agent but in my sophomore year I joined a gospel group, God's Gift. I left school after two-and-a-half years to pursue a career in gospel music. We worked at it seven days a week. It seemed like it was about to happen. Then everything came to a standstill."

Studdard moved on, joining a group called Just a Few Cats. "A girl who was one of our background singers wanted to audition for American Idol but she didn't want to go by herself," he remembers. "She asked me to go with her and I didn't want to, but I went just to support her."

They drove to Nashville and she didn't make it through to the second round of auditions. But Ruben did, and as any good story goes, "the rest is history."

Since winning American Idol, Studdard's success was nearly instanteous. His first single "Flying Without Wings" debuted at No. 2 on the Hot 100 while his version of "Superstar" peaked at No. 2 on the R&B chart. In December 2003, his first album, Soulful, had advance orders of over a million copies, automatically qualifying for platinum certification. The record entered The Billboard 200 at No. 1. A follow-up single, "Sorry 2004," reached No. 9 on the Hot 100 and No. 2 on the R&B chart.

It's been an amazing six years for the man from Birmingham and he feels blessed to have experienced it all. "My grandmother used to tell me that the race is not given to the swift nor to the strong but to the one that endures to the end. I feel like I'm on a course to have a very long career. I just completed my fourth album and a lot of people don't get to that point. I'm a very happy man.