American Idol Judge, Randy Jackson was born June 23, 1956 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Born to Herman, a foreman at the local Exxon plant and his wife Julia, a homemaker he was the youngest of three children. Randy Jackson was an exceptional athlete in high school, but his first love was music.

After watching a local R&B band rehearsing in his neighborhood at the age of 13, Randy was inspired to learn the bass guitar. As a teenager, Randy Jackson would sneak out of his home to perform and listen to music groups at local night clubs. He went on to study music at Southern University and graduated in 1979.
Randy Jackson had dreams of becoming a professional musician and met with success working with stars like Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Mariah Carey, Bruce Springsteen, and Madonna. Randy was a temporary member of the rock band Journey in 1983 and in 1986. He also worked behind the music scenes as vice president of A&R at Columbia Records for eight years and spent another four years as senior vice president of A&R at MCA Records.

Randy Jackson’s professional career is quite extensive. He became a judge on American Idol when the show debuted in 2002 and is known for giving the contestants constructive criticism. He helped MTV develop a hit show called “America’s Best Dance Crew” that spotlighted street dancers competing for a chance to win $100, 000. The dance crews are given a challenge each week and must compete against each other. Much like American Idol, the American public calls in votes to choose the team they like the best. He also hosts a radio program called “Randy Jackson’s Hit List” for Westwood One Radio Network.
As if that isn’t enough gain him fame, Randy has also branched out into the fashion industry. Known for his unique glasses, Randy Jackson launched his own line of frames with Zyloware eyewear.

Health is one thing Randy Jackson does not take lightly. Morbidly obese for most of his life, Randy was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1999. In 2003, he underwent gastric-bypass and changed his diet and exercise routines to lose over 100 pounds. In 2008, he wrote a book called “Body with Soul: Slash Sugar, Cut Cholesterol, and Get a Jump on Your Best Health Ever” to share his story. Randy Jackson serves as the spokesperson of the American Heart Association’s “Heart of Diabetes” campaign and established the Randy Jackson Childhood Obesity Foundation. He is also involved in charitable organizations like Save the Children, the Ronald McDonald House, and The Gibson Foundation.

Randy Jackson has been married twice. His first marriage to Elizabeth Jackson ended in divorce in 1990. They had one child together named Taylor. He married his second wife, Erika Riker, in 1995. They have two children together named Zoe and Jordan. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and three children.

Randy Jackson is highly regarded in the music industry. With over 20 years experience , Randy Jackson is a Grammy Award winning producer and has a keen eye for spotting talent in various avenues of the entertainment industry. America is looking forward to seeing Randy Jackson in his ninth season of American Idol.