Randy Jackson

Twenty-year music industry veteran and Grammy Award winning producer, Randy Jackson started out at the young age of 13 playing bass guitar and got his big break when he joined the band Journey. As a prolific musician and producer, Randy also spent eight years as the Vice President of A&R at Columbia Records followed by four years as Senior Vice President of A&R at MCA Records. However, it was AMERICAN IDOL that propelled Jackson into public consciousness. The show has proved to be a massive hit for FOX and has become a pop culture phenomenon around the world.

Randy has expanded into TV production, setting up his Dream Merchant 21 Entertainment banner at Warner Horizon Television, which launched MTV's hit series RANDY JACKSON PRESENTS: AMERICA'S BEST DANCE CREW which The Los Angeles Times proclaimed "perhaps the greatest reality television show of all time" and TV Guide said "That's how you should do a dance show." The series is currently in its 5th season on MTV.

As a result of his success as a television producer Randy has been included for the past two years in The Hollywood Reporter's Annual "Reality Power List."

While working on over one thousand gold and multi-platinum albums, which have sold over 200 Million albums worldwide, Randy's amazing talent, vast studio knowledge, performing, touring and record company expertise, have made him one of today's highly coveted music industry experts. Randy has recorded, toured, performed and produced records for Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, *NSYNC, Madonna, Elton John, Destiny's Child, Joss Stone, Travis Tritt, Van Hunt and many, many more.

Randy has also jumped in the literary world writing two books: "What's Up Dawg? How to Become a Superstar In The Music Business" and "Body With Soul: Steady Your Sugar, Cut Your Cholesterol, and Get a Jump on Your Best Health," which was written as the result of Randy being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2001 --- which was the final straw for him and he decided he had no choice but to start taking his health seriously. At the time of his diagnosis, Randy found himself in the emergency room after feeling tired, thirsty, sweaty, and dizzy for five days. He was 45 at the time. "When you grow up with family history of the disease, there are a lot of decisions you could make, such as cut back on this or cut back on that and do more of this or more of that, but you never think it will happen to you," he says. Randy teamed up with the American Heart Association to lead the Heart of Diabetes campaign (IKnowDiabetes.org), which provides information and tools to help people with type 2 better manage their disease. He also leads childhood obesity prevention and treatment programs in East and South Los Angeles. "Obese kids are made fun of in school and we are trying to lighten their loads," Randy says. "We want to get to them and teach them to adopt healthy lifestyles."

In addition, Jackson is involved with numerous charitable organizations including becoming a U.S Ambassador for Save the Children. Other charities Jackson is involved with include: The Gibson Foundation, The Lili Claire Foundation, The Ronald McDonald House and NARAS Music for Schools. Jackson has also assisted in worldwide relief efforts through the multi-million dollar fundraiser IDOL GIVES BACK. Randy traveled back to his home state of Louisiana, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Most recently Jackson was involved with the re-recording of "We are the World" to help benefit the relief efforts in Haiti.

Randy resides with his wife and children in Los Angeles.