NEW YORK, NY (J Records) - Buoyed by Urban radio's reaction to the new single "Change Me," award-winning, RIAA platinum J Records artist
Ruben Studdard makes his auspicious 'return' this week to the Billboard 200 albums chart at No 8 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart No 2 with THE RETURN, which arrived in stores October 17th. THE RETURN is NAACP Image Award winner and Grammy nominee Ruben's long-awaited follow-up to his heralded debut album Soulful, which contained the back-to-back pop/R&B crossover single hits "Flying Without Wings/Superstar" and "Sorry 2004."
In between Soulful and THE RETURN, Ruben paid homage to his deep southern Gospel roots on I Need An Angel (November 2004), whose title tune was written and produced by R. Kelly. The acclaimed project debuted at No 1 on the Gospel chart, achieved RIAA gold status within weeks, and earned Ruben a BET nomination last year for "Best Gospel Album."
Following the late-summer release of "Change Me," the No 1 most added song at Urban Radio in its first week out, Ruben was viewed by millions during appearances on TV's Access Hollywood and Extra. In the weeks leading up to the release of THE RETURN, Ruben also appeared on NBC's The Today Show (twice!) and The Martha Stewart Show, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live and The View, CNN's Showbiz Tonight, CBS's The Early Show, and today (Oct. 25th) on NBC's The Megan Mullally Show. The video for "Change Me" is in rotation on BET J and BET After Dark. He will perform live this week on BET J (Oct. 27th) and will sit down with BET's The Center for an in depth interview (Oct. 26th). Stay tuned for appearances on the syndicated Rachael Ray show and The Tyra Banks Show.
Studdard has a vast amount of online awareness and activity with features on AOL Music, Clear Channel Music online, MSN Music, VH1.com "Hear Music First" and Hi5.com. THE RETURN is currently the No 3 R&B album in the iTunes Music Store, ahead of Janet Jackson, Beyonce and John Legend.
THE RETURN takes its title from the opening cut, "The Return (of the Velvet Teddy Bear)," a song written for him by co-producer Harold Lilly, signifying Ruben's return to the mainstream after his gospel sojourn. "A lot of people outside the gospel field didn't know I'd released I Need An Angel," he said, "so they'd come up and ask me where I'd been for the last two years! With THE RETURN, I'm saying, 'I'm back singing these love songs just for you!'"
THE RETURN continues the love affair that Ruben has enjoyed with audiences across the country since winning the American Idol competition. The release of Soulful (December 2003) set off an avalanche of awards and nominations over the next two years, as Ruben was recognized by the Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, BET Awards, NAACP Awards, Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Awards, Billboard Awards, and Teen Choice Awards. In 2006, THE RETURN is aimed squarely at Ruben's legions of loyal fans: "I put a lot of love into making this album," he said, "and my audience is going to feel that ... "
