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It will be his fourth since the 鈥淚dol鈥� win in 2006 when he released his eponymous debut on Arista that followed his 2005 indie release 鈥淯nder the Radar.鈥� And it will be his first since 鈥淭he Distance,鈥� which he released on his own label in 2009.

This new album will mark a dramatic departure from everything he has done in the past and one that returns him to the music of his Southern birthright.

Hicks, who brings his 鈥淣ight Moves鈥� show to on Friday, April 12, grew up on what he calls Southern soul, the kind of country and Americana roots music you would find at the roadhouses in his native Alabama.

鈥淎ll of that music that I grew up with in the South, whether it was country or rock, the Delta blues to soul,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 grew up in the heart of Dixie. Being in the heart of Dixie, you can grab a lot of influences around the South, and that鈥檚 kind of what my music, sonically, you can hear.鈥�

鈥淣ight Moves鈥� includes Hicks鈥� earlier more pop-leaning songs, as well as songs from 鈥淚dol,鈥� but the focus is on songs from Bob Seger, one of the musicians who inspired a young Taylor Hicks as he was finding his voice.

鈥淎 lot of those singers taught me how to sing with their music,鈥� he said, adding Van Morrison and Rod Stewart to the list.

But Seger鈥檚 soulful, mid-range baritone style fits most comfortably in Hicks鈥� wheelhouse, he said. 鈥淣ight Moves鈥� was born out of Hicks鈥檚 annual Toys for Tots benefit concert featuring Rod Stewart covers and holiday classics. He did a few one-offs of 鈥淣ight Moves鈥� that went over so well with audiences that he turned it into a full tour a couple of years ago.

鈥淭he idea to do a little Bob Seger has just been a hit and I am super excited to come to Tucson,鈥� said Hicks, who was here last in 2009 playing Teen Angel in the Broadway touring production of 鈥淕rease.鈥� 鈥淚 love the area. I have a lot of friends there.鈥�

For his show at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Fox, 17 W. Congress St., Hicks will perform Seger鈥檚 ubiquitous 鈥淣ight Moves鈥� as well as 鈥淢ainstreet鈥� and 鈥淎gainst the Wind鈥� and some of his more obscure songs. He also will play two of his latest singles 鈥� 鈥淧orch Swing鈥� and 鈥淭each Me to Dance,鈥� both recorded at Zach Brown鈥檚 Nashville studio.

鈥淚鈥檓 a Southern country soul guy. That鈥檚 kind of where my wheelhouse is, very Stapleton-esque,鈥� he said describing the direction the new album is taking. 鈥淭he record is a Southern country soul record and that鈥檚 just where I am.鈥�

Tickets for Friday鈥檚 show are $20-$62.50 through ; enter 鈥淧ROUD鈥� at checkout and get two-for-one.