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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2006 > October > 19 > Entry
10/20: Ruben at Wal-Mart
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I came by the new Howell Mill Wal-Mart Thursday evening to get a couple of photos of Ruben working the crowd for his push for the CD “The Return.” There was a steady drumbeat of fans getting autographs by the time I got there at 6:10 p.m. (He started more than hour earlier) but there was a momentary lull so I said hey. He remembered my last story and said some nice things. He’s also happy that most of the reviews of the CD so far have been positive. Having interviewed him just a couple months ago, I didn’t have much new to ask Ruben. He loves doing all the promotion and said he’s enjoying meeting the fans in a way he couldn’t last time around. He had flown in from Charlotte earlier in the day and was going off to see Martha Stewart in New York for today. He has already taped The View, Tyra Banks, Rachael Ray, the Today Show, et al. He said he loves Martha and was looking forward to doing a project with her.
His ballad “Change Me” is gaining momentum on the radio, jumping from 39 to 28 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart this week in its 11th week. It’s No. 6 on the adult R&B chart. He’s getting 17 spins a week on V-103 locally. He said it’s tough to break a ballad on R&B/hip-hop radio nowadays but he’s having some success.
Here are a couple of shots I took. He looks great with the weight loss.
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Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Shaun
October 20, 2006 7:56 AM | Link to this
Good Morning Everyone… Congrats to Ruben, I hope this CD will return him to his AI winning status. The first single is smokin… Rodney is that you in the photo with Ruben?
By greg
October 20, 2006 8:41 AM | Link to this
check out the cheeseball getting his picture taken with rueben…LOL!!!!!!
By Carla
October 20, 2006 8:45 AM | Link to this
Shaun, you’re hilarious!!! Ruben does look good. I’m going to get the cd today. I love the first single and the other songs I heard yesterday on V103.
By shay
October 20, 2006 8:54 AM | Link to this
Carl, what did Shaun say that was so funny??
Anyway, I have Reuben’s album and will listen to it at work today. I already like the first hit so I am not worried.
By mystique
October 20, 2006 9:11 AM | Link to this
Good Morning! Reuben still looks just as sweet as ever. Congratulations to him on all the great happenings!!
By Deirdre
October 20, 2006 9:13 AM | Link to this
Ruben looks much healthier already! Good for him! And good morning to everyone!
By shay
October 20, 2006 9:19 AM | Link to this
I must admit. Reuben does look alot better, healthwise. Deirdre, I am glad you have help these days with your mom. Hopefully you can come back in full swing when Idol starts back. We miss your daily comments. Besides, we need a mother to keep us in line. I know you have experience with sons, but us girls need to be popped on the hand every now and then too. Especially Jex and Mystique:-) LOL!!
By mystique
October 20, 2006 9:32 AM | Link to this
Yes, Deidre, we really do miss having you around. And, apparently, I need some guidance!!
Reuben does look very much healthier. To me weight issues aren’t necessarily about looking good (although that is a plus) it is just about getting healthy. And Reub is well on his way of accomplishing that. Awesome!
By Hot Sauce
October 20, 2006 9:41 AM | Link to this
Morning All Yes, the “Velvet Teddy Bear” does look great and much healthier. God has been good to Reuben i wish him much SUCCESS
HAVE A GREAT DAY/WEEKEND ALL
By mystique
October 20, 2006 9:48 AM | Link to this
Thanks, Hot Sauce, you too!
By greg
October 20, 2006 10:13 AM | Link to this
LOOK AT ME..i’m getting my picture taken with rueben!!!!LOL!!!
By SpaceyG
October 20, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this
I thought Rueben was a sandwich.
By Carla
October 20, 2006 10:24 AM | Link to this
What was funny was Shaun asking if the guy in the picture was Rodney. He was being funny right??
By Jex
October 20, 2006 10:27 AM | Link to this
Good Morning Everyone and Happy Friday!
Ruben looks good - still Teddy Bearesque, but healthier. I hope his album goes platinum or at least gold. He has apparently been working very hard.
shay, you are the most unruly out of all of Deirdre’s cyber kids. How dare you!
By mystique
October 20, 2006 10:39 AM | Link to this
Jex, I know, I wasn’t gonna say anything! But Shay, dear, …..
Nah, I think we are all a little unruly around here :-)
By shay
October 20, 2006 10:48 AM | Link to this
That’s why I laughed after I said it. I know that I am “unruly” but Deirdre loves me anyway. Right?
Carla, I don’t think Shaun was joking. He hasn’t seen Rodney before so he was just asking a question.
By greg
October 20, 2006 11:00 AM | Link to this
LOL!!!that picture tells it all!!i cant stop laughing.that dude probally belongs to ruebens fan club!
By Carla
October 20, 2006 11:11 AM | Link to this
Oh. Sorry Shaun.
By shay
October 20, 2006 11:14 AM | Link to this
Reuben’s song is on V-103 right now for those who haven’t heard it before.
By Shaun
October 20, 2006 11:18 AM | Link to this
I honestly thought that could be Rodney… Like Shay said (thanks shay you know me very well) I have never seen him and that is the only picture with someone other than Ruben in it. If Rodney is insulted, I apologize.
By Deirdre
October 20, 2006 11:25 AM | Link to this
I love you all! Now behave yourselves! Shaun, I was kinda wondering about that picture, too…then I realized it couldn’t be our Rodney. He would have been looking at his own camera, not somebody else’s.
By greg
October 20, 2006 11:47 AM | Link to this
LOL!!!!
By shay
October 20, 2006 11:55 AM | Link to this
I have never seen a pic of Rod either.
By mystique
October 20, 2006 1:01 PM | Link to this
me neither!
By frank123
October 20, 2006 1:04 PM | Link to this
What is Ruben doing flashing gang signs!!! What a bad example!!
By Rodney Ho
October 20, 2006 1:45 PM | Link to this
No. That’s not me. That’s a mentally handicapped guy named Kenny Lambert.
By shay
October 20, 2006 1:46 PM | Link to this
I just listened to the first half of the CD and love it. I especially like “Change Me”. The part when he says ” how would you like it if I commented on they way you looked in the morning, because you know you don’t look good in the morning” or something to that effect. That was too funny!!
By shay
October 20, 2006 1:55 PM | Link to this
Rodney, hopefully you weren’t offended. I thought it was you too when I first saw it, but that’s because I don’t know what you look like and I had no idea the guy was mentally challenged in the photo.
By JB
October 20, 2006 1:58 PM | Link to this
Frank, That’s not a gang sign. Ruben would never do that. He is pointing to the guy on the right (Rodney)!!!! Why do you always have to player hate!!!!!
By Carla
October 20, 2006 2:44 PM | Link to this
That would be a peace sign. See how rumors get started.
I’ve seen Rodney before and knew it wasn’t him and I assumed mistakenly that Shaun knew too and was just being funny. No offense to Kenny. I
By Linda Wright
October 20, 2006 2:45 PM | Link to this
Good Luck Ruben with you Album. Ruben, lost the weight but don’t loose the Velvet Teddy Bear in you,keep it real and please keep the smile.
Love, Linda of Lithonia, Ga
By shay
October 20, 2006 2:48 PM | Link to this
Yeah, Rueben is throwing up a Peace sign, not a gang sign, nor is he pointing at anyone. Carla, the CD is nice!
By mystique
October 20, 2006 3:09 PM | Link to this
Reuben is so sweet and innocent, I bet he doesn’t even know any gang signs :-)
By greg
October 20, 2006 3:31 PM | Link to this
i need a drink
By Carla
October 20, 2006 3:33 PM | Link to this
I’m going to get it today or tomorrow.
By mystique
October 20, 2006 3:38 PM | Link to this
Don’t we all, greg!!!!
By DT
October 20, 2006 4:54 PM | Link to this
You all are too cute!! The sign is a symbol of peace. He is just being cool with it.
By JR
October 23, 2006 12:30 PM | Link to this
Way to go Ruben. Love the cd and hope it goes platinum. You can lose the weight for health reasons but don’t get too skinny. We love our VTB.