Who Is Randy Jackson?

Veteran of the music business Randy Jackson rose from the shadows to become a well-known television personality as a judge on the hit singing competition series American Idol. Before being appointed a judge on American Idol, Jackson worked for Columbia Records and MCA Records as a record producer and executive for many years.

Quick Fact

• Name: Jackson
• Birth Year: 1956
• Birth date: June 23, 1956
• Birth State: Louisiana
• Birth City: Baton Rouge
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Record producer and musician Randy Jackson is notable mostly as a judge on the talent-search TV show ‘American Idol.’
• Industries
  • Television
• Astrological Sign: Cancer
• Schools
  • Southern University

Early Life

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on June 23, 1956, Randall Matthew Jackson was born. At the age of 13, he began learning how to play the bass guitar. Jackson, the third youngest child, used to sneak away from his house at night to perform at nearby bars.

Jackson pursued his musical studies at the nearby Southern University. He pursued his career as a professional musician after graduating in 1979, playing with everyone from Herbie Hancock to Bob Dylan. In 1983 and 1986, he even briefly joined the 80s rock group Journey. Jackson collaborated on albums and tours with well-known performers like Mariah Carey, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen. Jackson spent years working behind the scenes for Columbia Records and MCA Records as a record producer and executive.

‘American Idol’

In 2002, Jackson joined Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul as a judge on the popular talent show American Idol. Jackson, who is well-known in the music business, immediately gained the admiration of competitors and fans for his helpful feedback. In his 2004 book What’s Up Dawg?, Jackson revealed his success secrets. How to Break Into the Music Industry as a Superstar.

Jackson contributed to the creation and production of America’s Best Dance Crew for MTV, which debuted in February 2008. “It’s significantly more street than anything you’ve seen,” He told People magazine, “It’s really kind of raw and has a lot of fantastic images. The next month, Jackson published a collection of songs that included appearances by Paula Abdul, another American Idol contestant, as well as artists Joss Stone, Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, and Mariah Carey. According to Jackson, “It’s kind of like a Quincy Jones record with all sorts-country, pop, hip-hop, R&B, and jazz songs.”

Randy Jackson’s Hit List, Jackson’s syndicated radio show, debuted in March 2012 on Westwood One. At about the same time, he expanded into the eyewear industry. Jackson, who is recognized for his unusual glasses, has a range of frames available from Zyloware eyewear.

Jackson, who was by this point the final original judge on American Idol, said in May 2013 that he would be quitting the well-known singing competition program after season 12. In a statement, Jackson explained his choice to depart the show, saying, “Yo! Yo! I have made the decision to stop serving as a judge on American Idol after this season, putting an end to all the rumors.

Personal Life and Weight Loss

Jackson learned that he developed type 2 diabetes in his personal life in 1999. In order to treat the disease, he altered his diet, upped his exercise, and had gastric bypass surgery in 2003. These efforts resulted in a weight loss of more than 100 pounds. With the publication of Body with Soul: Slash Sugar, Cut Cholesterol and Get a Jump on Your Best Health Ever in 2008, he gave readers tips on how to enhance their health. According to Diabetes Forecast, he claimed he published the book “to share my story, what I went through, and to talk to people about how to prevent diabetes.”

Jackson, who supports numerous philanthropic causes, was the face of the American Heart Association’s “Heart of Diabetes” campaign. The Randy Jackson Childhood Obesity Foundation was also founded by him.

Personal Life

Jackson and his wife Erika reside in Los Angeles, California. Daughter Zoe and son Jordan are the couple’s only children; they have been married since 1995. Taylor, a daughter from his prior union, is another child he has.

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