Biography - Randy Jackson

Talented bass player and record producer Randy Jackson has found household fame as a judge on “American Idol” alongside pop diva Paula Abdul and snarky Brit Simon Cowell. The mild-mannered and encouraging “Idol” judge has recorded for some of the music industry’s biggest stars, and in the 80s played bass for a long list of popular bands and musicians including Billy Joel and Bob Dylan.

Jackson was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on June 23, 1956, and first rose to prominence performing with John Fred & His Playboy Band in Baton Rouge when he was only 17. He then attended Southern University in his hometown where he double-majored in music and psychology. Jackson was known best in the 80s for performing with the popular and still-active arena rock band Journey, which found major commercial success with hits like “Don’t Stop Believin’”. His additional credits as a well-regarded bass player are innumerable. These include periods with Richard Marx and Herbie Hancock.

After a string of successful producing efforts in San Francisco and a move to Italy in the late 80s, where he produced for the pop star Zucchero, Jackson spent much of the 90s producing and touring for major pop acts including Mariah Carey, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, and *NSYNC. In 2002 Jackson joined the judging panel of “American Idol” and has been on the show ever since, providing more tempered and constructive criticism than fellow judges Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. Jackson also had a major physical transformation during the show after a gastric bypass surgery in 2003 helped him lose over a hundred pounds.

Famous for his trademark phrases and helpful criticism on “Idol”, Jackson remains a sought-after producer and musician, and is probably the most universally loved and least controversial of the three “Idol” judges.