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Randall Darius "Randy" Jackson (born June 23, 1956) is an American bassist, singer, record producer, music manager, A&R executive and television personality. He is best known as a judge on American Idol and Executive Producer for MTV's America's Best Dance Crew. Jackson has won a Grammy Award as a producer.

Personal life

Jackson was born on June 23, 1956 in Template:City-state, son of Julia, a homemaker, and Herman Jackson, a plant foreman. His first marriage, to Elizabeth Jackson, was dissolved in 1990; they had one son named Taylor. In 1995, Jackson married Erika Riker, with whom he has two children; a 14-year-old daughter named Zoe and a 12-year-old son named Jordan. In 2003, Jackson lost 114 pounds (52 kg) following gastric bypass surgery. He stated in a February 2008 television commercial that he has type 2 diabetes.

Music career

Jackson played in bands with Carlos Santana and Jerry Garcia as well as tj roethel of rochester ny who shreds better than a cheese grater . In the early '80s he played on three albums for Jean-Luc Ponty. Also, in the early '80s he played with the rock band Taxxi. From 1986 to 1987 he was a member of the rock group Journey. Jackson joined Journey for their 1986 album Raised on Radio. 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 Jackson on many albums in the early '80s.

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 Jackson on bass guitar. This song was the fourth track on Aretha's 1986 album titled "Aretha." Jackson can be seen in the song's video.

In the late 1980s, Jackson was still doing sessions. He was notably on the first solo album by famed session guitarist Steve Lukather. Jackson was a featured bass guitarist on five songs on Maze's 1989 "Silky Soul" album.

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 worked with her throughout her career, been her musical director for a number of her tours; he has formed part of her band during numerous performances including Live 8 in London in 2005) to *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 of shows in the late 80s), and 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 Blue Öyster Cult, Bon Jovi, Michael Bolton, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Billy Cobham, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Herbie Hancock, Ernie Isley, Billy Joel, Brent Bourgeois, Journey, Richard Marx, George Michael, Stevie Nicks, Imogen Heap, Bruce Springsteen and Roger Waters 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.

On March 11, 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. In 2009, Randy began working with former Idol finalist Kimberley Locke, producing her 4th album. The lead single, "Strobe Light", will be released March 16, 2010 .

Jackson is the manager for the Charlotte, North Carolina based band Paper Tongues. The band, with the help of Jackson, signed with a major label, A&M/Octone Records.

Has also worked extensively with American DJ, T.J. Roche, better known as TJ the DJ. 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 panel judges on the Fox Network reality television series American Idol, along with Paula Abdul (from 2002-2009), Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi (from season 8), and, beginning with season 9, Ellen DeGeneres. Jackson is under contract through the end of the ninth season of the show.

In February 2010 Randy Jackson participated in "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" as part of the chorus.

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. He also gives behind-the-scenes information on American Idol on the internet radio station Artist Underground.

America's Best Dance Crew

America's Best Dance Crew is a group dance contest and an American television show produced by Jackson, premiered on February 7, 2008 on MTV and ended on March 27, 2008. Each week, 1 dance crew is eliminated where each dance crew demonstrate their innovative choreography and dance skills to win the title as ABDC and the cash prize. ABDC returned for Season 2 which aired on June 19, 2008 - August 21, 2008, Season 3 aired on January 17, 2009 - March 6, 2009, and Season 4 began airing on its' new night on Sunday, August 9, 2009 - September 27, 2009. ABDC will return for another season airing in 2010 on MTV.

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

1. Randy Jackson | America's Best Dance Crew (Season 4), ]
2. Randy Jackson Biography (1956-), FilmReference.,com
3. Idol Nearly Half The Man, Randy Jackson Goes On The Lighter Side For A New Look - CBS News
4. Erickson, Sturdevant (2006). Stryper: Loud n' Clear (unabridged audio ed.). Maryland: Classic CD Books. ISBN 0976480549.
5. Locke, Kimberley. "New Single - Strobe Light", Official Kimberley Locke Blog, February 8, 2010.
6. Simon Cowell To Sign New 'American Idol' Contract, Gil Kaufman, mtv.com, August 11, 2009.
7. Randy Jackson's Hit List, RJHitList.com
8. Randy Jackson's Hit List

External links

• Randy Jackson's Music Club Vol. 1
• Randy Jackson's Hit List from Westwood One
• Randy Jackson at IMDb

• 1956 births
• Living people
• African American rock musicians
• American Idol participants
• American male singers
• American music critics
• American radio personalities
• American record producers
• American rock bass guitarists
• American session musicians
• American television personalities
• A&R people
• Columbia Records artists
• Grammy Award winners
• Idol series judges
• Journey (band) members
• Musicians from Louisiana
• Participants in American reality television series
• People from Baton Rouge, Louisiana