Taylor Hicks has no home.

Don't feel bad for him, though. He's living the life he loves.

"I'm basically a traveling musical gypsy," the more-salt-than-pepper haired Hicks said Monday from Wisconsin.

Asked where he calls home on the rare occasion he is not touring, the native Alabaman said "I have no idea."

Since winning season five on "American Idol," Hicks said he has not purchased a pad; He has no permanent residence.

His summer tour — the singer's second as a headliner visiting intimate venues — has taken him to virtually a different state every day. On Friday night, he plays Torrington's Warner Theatre. The night before, he will have performed in Watertown, N.Y. And in the preceding week, his tour bus made stops in Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana.

The lack of a definitive place to call home reflects Hicks' place in the modern music industry.

His sound, which evokes a cross between Billy Joel and Michael Bolton, with a dash of Sam Cooke — and which Hicks describes as pop soul — diverges slightly from most of what rotates on pop radio these days. It's not quite straight pop, nor is it traditional rhythm 'n' blues.

"I don't feel like I fit in any mold," said Hicks, 30, who years ago abandoned college to pursue music full time, playing venues around his hometown, Birmingham, Ala. "I see myself as kind of carving my own way as an artist."

Several songs in his self-titled 2006 album reflect the wanderlust, with lyrics about life on the road and ladies left behind.

That release, Hicks' third, but his first since winning Idol, went platinum, peaking at no. 2 on the Billboard charts.

It was one of many releases to benefit from the Idol machine. It is a pop culture beast that has been kind to many, with winners and losers alike cashing in on its celebrity. The top-rated television series spawned several albums, from chart-toppers like Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway" to highly novel releases like William Hung's debut, which sold nearly 40,000 copies in its first week, landing at Billboard's No. 34. Hung, fans might recall, sang an infamous rendition of "She Bangs," on season three. Runners-up Bucky Covington, Chris Daughtry, Kimberly Locke and Paris Bennett also all released albums recently.

All, including Hicks, have yet to catch up with Idol's greatest successes. The Recording Industry Association of America in June announced that albums by earlier Idol winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood both went platinum — six times over.

Hicks can take solace knowing while he may not command the sheer numbers of a Kelly or Carrie, he has fans in high places. His bio lists admirers as including President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

To be sure, Hicks considers his forte live performance.

He may not have the moves of a Michael Jackson, but his loyal fans, known as the Soul Patrol, love to see Hicks shimmy. Hicks said he feeds off the energy of his live audiences, making performing his favorite part of being a star.

As for the future, Hicks hopes simply for happy fans, and great music.

And fans can learn more about perhaps one of the more unlikely "Idols" to date by picking up "Heart Full of Soul," an inspirational autobiography Hicks penned for a division of Random House. It hit stores in July.

Hear him sing:

Friday at 8 p.m.

Warner Theatre, 68 Main St., Torrington

Tickets, $39.50 to $75, available through the box office, by calling (860) 489-7180 or online at www.warnertheatre.org

Follow in his footsteps:

Auditions for season seven are ongoing this summer. The closest remaining city to Connecticut is Philadelphia, where auditions will be held Aug. 27. Visit www.americanidol.com/auditions for details.