Partway through the second "American Idol" in early 2003, guest judge Gladys Knight christened corpulent crooner Ruben Studdard a "Velvet Teddy Bear," a nod to his smooth, Luther Vandross-styled voice and his Barry White-sized girth. It was a nickname that stuck, since it captured the persona of the 25-year old Birmingham, Alabama native who had unexpectedly become the front-runner in the national televised talent show. ...
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