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"Truth Magazine"

• "RJ is an immensely talented young man and the overall R&B influenced album is impressive"

"Former 'American Idol' R.J. Helton optimistic about CD's debut". Gannett News Service.

• blend of R&B ballads, up-tempo numbers and inspirational tunes)
• They allowed me to sing about relationships, breaking up, making up, but they also allowed me to sing about my faith and my belief,
• wrote eight of the songs
• Tommy Sims among the producers
• took eight months to produce
• touring over the summer

"American Dreams"

• "Delicate Child", "Forgive"

RJ Helton hopes Idol talk is over:: [Final Edition] Examiner; / American Idol finalist wants people to forget he was on it: [Final Edition] The Guelph Mercury;

• Real Life is a mostly predictable pop CD; it's heavily produced by myriad producers, Helton has a solid crooning voice, and the CD is loaded with ballads that sound a lot like many of Aiken's songs.
• produced in part by Tommy Sims, who worked with Clarkson
• even sings in Spanish, though he doesn't speak the language.
• "Delicate Child"

IDOLATRY WON'T BE IN THIS ALBUM: [FINAL Edition] Long, Colleen. Orlando Sentinel;

• I don't think the CD is "Christian." I also write about the power of love and the aspects of life, and my faith is one part of that. I don't think it's preachy. But I wanted to do songs that were related to my roots and where I came from.
• B-Rite, allowed me to talk about my faith and talk about my relationships. I had a lot of control.
• "Delicate Child"

In The Spirit(TM) Evans Price, Deborah. Billboard; New York Vol. 116, Iss. 13, (Mar 27, 2004): 10.

• "I wanted to make something that different types of people would listen to. I love every type of music, from country to rock to rap to R&B to hip-hop, I wanted to add all of that in one CD. Because I do love every type of music, it's going to be fun for me to go to different markets"
• wrote eight of the tracks
• Helton's album fits her goal of expanding her successful gospel venture into contemporary Christian and other areas.
• He sings secular songs, but he also is singing Christian songs. He could have very easily done a secular record, but he has chosen to speak about his faith.
• "I didn't want to sign with an all-mainstream label, because they weren't going to allow me to sing about my faith and sing about relationships. "[Labels were saying, 'It's] one or the other. If you are going to do love, do love. If you are going to do God, do God.' But in meeting with B-Rite, I let them know my goals and visions, and they were behind me 100%. They allowed me to be myself. Not many new artists get to write as much as I got to. It's a very honest record and completely from my heart."

KIDSDAY: [NASSAU AND SUFFOLK Edition]

• His CD has a Latino sound with a bit of pop, R&B and gospel mixed in. One of the songs, "Love Song/Canto de Amor," he sings in Spanish. His music reminds us of bands like the Backstreet Boys and *NSync, but we think he's much better. We liked all of his songs because they had a good beat and were good to dance to. We think his CD would be great to play at a dance party.

The Week IN MUSIC: [METRO Edition]

• "Real Life," sounds more like generic boy-band than meaningful gospel.

Billboard Review

• Whole paragraph

BRANDO, 80, CONFRONTS HIS LAST TANGO: [SPORTS FINAL Edition]

• New manager
• "Real Life," impressed critics and has enjoyed solid sales

SEEN & OVERHEARD; EXTENDING HIS 15 MINUTES.: [CITY Edition]

• told that it covers many genres, including pop, gospel, R&B and contemporary Christian.

Which Idols make the grade?: [FINAL Edition]

• Real Life, has sold 9,000 copies, a respectable start for a Christian-themed release
• Manager

RJ HELTON: [City Edition] Howard Cohen,. Richmond Times - Dispatch;

• Full article

Idolized Caramanica, Jon.  Rolling Stone

• Review of Real Life

'Idol' contestant delivers gospel project: [TCJ Edition]

• Review of Real LIfe

Other 'Idol' hopefuls staying busy, too: [All Edition]

• his "Real Life" CD to some critical praise but little fanfare earlier this year.

'American Idol' contestant George Huff knows all about 'Miracles'

• R.J. Helton's "Real Life" sold just 21,000 copies

Megastar status eludes even Idols: [FINAL Edition]

• whose album sold only 21,000 copies.

"FOUND! More Lost American Idols", USA Weekly, Apr 19, 2004

• "On Idol the Houston-bred singer scored a Wild Card slot in season one and made it to the final five. Now his first album, Real Life (he cowrote the lyrics and music), hits stores March 23. "It's very R&B. It's got urban beats. Latin influences, pop - even rock", the 22-year-old tells Us. His first single, "Even If", is upbeat, but songs like "Delicate Child" take a darker tone. "I was sexually abused as a child", says Helton. "I wrote about how I healed from that. The album was very therapeutic." RJ's revenge "Simon said I was average, so I really worked my butt off on this record", says Helton, who commutes between L.A. and Georgia to support himself with his musical career. "My range has gotten a lot bigger and stronger."

Former Pop 'Idol' Turns to Christian Music, Chicago Sun-Times, May 7, 2004

• "Real Life is a mostly predictable pop CD; it's heavily produced by a myriad of producers, Helton has a solid, crooning voice, and it's loaded with ballads that sound a lot like many of Clay Aiken's songs."
• Album "is being simultaneously released by B-Rite Music in mainstream and Christian markets."
• "It was produced in part by Tommy Sims, who worked with Clarkson. Helton wrote many of the lyrics and worked with writers on the other songs. He even sings in Spanish, though he doesn't speak the language."
• "Delicate Child" - "It took a year and a half for me to write that song."
• "hesitant to say he's a Christian artist".
• "I don't think the CD is 'Christian'. I also write about the power of love and aspects of life, and my faith is one part of that. I don't think it's preachy. But I wanted to do songs that were related to my roots and where I came from."