Post by Nicola_lover on Feb 9, 2009 16:34:56 GMT
Randall Darius "Randy" Jackson (Born June 23rd, 1956) is a Grammy Award-Winning American Bassist,
Singer,
Record Producer,
Music Manager,
Also a former A&R Executive.
He is best known as a Judge on American Idol.
Contents
• 1 Personal Life
o 1.1 Obesity and Health
• 2 Music Career
o 2.1 Radio Program
• 3 America's Best Dance Crew
• 4 Discography
o 4.1 Albums
o 4.2 Singles
• 5 External Links
Personal Life
Jackson was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the son of Julia, a homemaker, and Herman Jackson, a plant foreman.
He has been married twice.
His first marriage, to Elizabeth Jackson, ended in divorce in 1990; they had one child (Taylor) together.
Since 1995, he has been married to Erika Riker, with whom he has two children Zoe (age 13) and his son Jordan (age 11).
Obesity and Health
In 2003, Jackson lost over 100 pounds following gastric bypass surgery.
He stated in a February 2008 television commercial that he has Type 2 diabetes.
Music Career
While in the Bay Area, Jackson played in bands with Carlos Santana and Jerry Garcia.
From 1986 to 1987 he was a member of the rock group Journey.
Jackson joined Journey for their 1986 album Raised on Radio and subsequent tour.
He moved to Italy in the late 1980s and played on a record by Italian pop star Zucchero.
The record, Zucchero and the Randy Jackson Band, was produced by Corrado Rustici who played guitar with Randy on many albums in the early 80's and who became Zucchero's producer for 15 years creating Zucchero's biggest albums of his career.
In 1985, Keith Richards was asked to provide music for the Whoopi Goldberg comedy vehicle, "Jumpin' Jack Flash".
Richards assembled an all-star band which included Aretha Franklin on piano and lead vocals and Randy Jackson on bass guitar.
This song was the fourth track on Aretha's 1986 album titled "Aretha".
Randy can be seen in the song's video.
Jackson was the bass guitarist on the 1991 self-titled Divinyls album (which features the song "I Touch Myself") as well as featured bassist on several tracks of Tracy Chapman's 1992 release, Matters of the Heart.
He performed on the singles "Bang Bang Bang", "Open Arms", and "Dreaming on a World".
That same year, Jackson also played bass on Bruce Springsteen's hit "Human Touch".
Jackson has recorded, produced, or toured with many well-known artists and bands, ranging from
Mariah Carey (he has been her musical director for a number of her tours; he was in her band at Live 8 in London in 2005)
NSYNC,
Whitney Houston, (produced)
Dionne Farris' (critically acclaimed debut CD, Wild-Seed Wild-Flower),
Céline Dion,
Fergie (dating back to her days in Wild Orchid),
Stryper,
Whitesnake (he took over when former bassist broke his arm for a couple shows in the late 80s),
Madonna (he played some bass on her album "Like a Prayer" although not on the single of the same name).
Jackson played numerous times in Jean-Luc Ponty's backing band.
His credits as a session musician range from playing with
Aretha Franklin,
Roger Waters,
Bruce Springsteen,
Journey,
George Michael,
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown,
Billy Cobham,
Blue Öyster Cult,
Herbie Hanthingy,
Richard Marx,
Billy Joel, Bon Jovi,
Michael Bolton,
Bob Dylan
Also to playing at the Grand Ole Opry with The Charlie Daniels Band.
His production/songwriting work in the San Francisco Bay Area with Narada Michael Walden and Walter Afanasieff led Jackson to be in demand as a producer as well.
He has also worked as an executive, spending eight years as vice president of artists and repertoire (A&R) at Columbia Records and four years heading A&R at MCA Records.
Since 2002,
Jackson has been one of the three panel judges on the Fox Network reality television series American Idol, along with Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell, and on Season 8 with the addition of Kara DioGuardi.
Radio Program
Jackson also hosts a radio top 40 countdown known as "Randy Jackson's Hit List", which is syndicated by Westwood One.
Every week Jackson counts down his top 30 Urban AC and Mainstream AC hits, and gives behind-the-scenes information on American Idol with American Idol Underground.
On March 11th, 2008, Jackson released an album produced entirely by himself, titled Randy Jackson's Music Club, Vol. 1.
The album's release was preceded by the single "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" sung by Paula Abdul.
Jackson is the manager for the Charlotte, North Carolina based band Paper tongues, with Aswan North as lead vocalist and song writer and Brian West as the producer.
The band, with the help of Jackson, signed with a major label, A&M's Octone.
America's Best Dance Crew
America's Best Dance Crew is a group dance contest produced by Jackson, premiering on February 7th, 2008.
Season 1 ended on March 27th, 2008.
Season 2 started on June 7th, 2008, and ended on August 19th, 2008.
On the finale of season 2.
Season 3 began on January 15th, 2009.
Discography
