#PickoftheWeek | American Idol to Perform in Queens on Feb. 10


One idol pays homage to another.

Queensborough Performing Arts Center presents Ruben Studdard: An Evening of Luther Vandross on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 8 pm.

Studdard will do favorites by Vandross, an eight-time Grammy winner who produced 11 straight RIAA-certified platinum albums. The audience can expect “Always & Forever,” “Never Too Much,” “Here and Now,” “Love Won’t Let Me Wait,” and other hits by the romantic crooner who was known as the “Velvet Voice.”

Ticket prices run from $38 to $63.

Born in Germany as his father was stationed there with the United States Armed Forces in 1978, Studdard grew up in Alabama, where he sang gospel in church from an early age. Then after majoring in Voice Studies at Alabama A&M University, he decided to pursue a career as an R&B and Gospel crooner.

Studdard hit the big time on American Idol in 2003. Since then, he has released seven studio albums, including Soulful, which went platinum, and I Need an Angel. He has also appeared as an actor/singer on Broadway and with a national touring company. Plus, he made cameos on several television shows and appeared on NBC’s weight-loss contest The Biggest Loser.

Located at 222-05 56th Ave. on Queensborough Community College’s campus in Bayside, QPAC has an 875-seat proscenium theater. It’s not near many public transportation options, but a large parking lot is nearby.

Images: Ruben Studdard