* En anglais uniquement
Although best known as a judge on the Fox television vocal competition American Idol,
Randy Jackson is also a longtime bassist, producer, and music industry executive. Born
Randall Darius Jackson in Baton Rouge, LA, in 1956,
Jackson began playing bass around age 13. Early in his career
Jackson nabbed work with a variety of jazz, R&B, and soul artists, including stints with fusion violinist
Jean-Luc Ponty and drummer
Billy Cobham; however, his most high-profile gig was with the rock band
Journey, with whom he toured and recorded from 1983 to 1986. Since that time
Jackson has either performed, recorded, or produced with a wide array of name artists, including
Whitney Houston,
Mariah Carey,
Michael Bolton,
Celine Dion,
Madonna, and many others. As well as being a working musician,
Jackson has worked in the corporate end of the industry, with eight years as Vice President of A&R at Columbia Records and four years as Senior Vice President of A&R at MCA Records. In 2002
Jackson appeared as one of three judges on American Idol, along with record executive/producer
Simon Cowell and performer
Paula Abdul. The show was an immediate success and
Jackson's habit of calling contestants "dawg" soon became his trademark. Besides appearing on American Idol,
Jackson also hosts a syndicated radio show for Westwood One called Randy Jackson's Hit List and continues to work behind the scenes managing, recording, and producing. In 2008
Jackson released the solo album
Randy Jackson's Music Club, which featured a single sung by fellow Amidol judge
Paula Abdul. ~ Matt Collar