Jared Lincoln Cotter (born June 17, 1981) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and model. He was a contestant on the sixth season of American Idol, and co-wrote Jay Sean's 2009 single "Down", which peaked on the Billboard Hot 100.[1][2]
Jared Cotter | |
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Birth name | Jared Lincoln Cotter |
Born | Oceanside, New York, U.S. | June 17, 1981
Origin | Coram, New York, U.S. |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 2007–present |
Spouse(s) |
Biography
editBorn and raised on Long Island, Cotter grew up in a family of musicians. Cotter's great grandfather, James Reese Europe, was the first African American jazz player to perform at Carnegie Hall.[3] Cotter's father, Robert Cotter, played in the late 1970s with Nile Rodgers and the late Bernard Edwards of the Big Apple Band, later known as Chic.[4][5] Cotter listed as his influence artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Brian McKnight.[6]
Cotter's recording career began when he was 15.[4] He performed and released music as JL Cotter, and co-wrote songs such as "Make U Cry", "My Girl", "She Likes It" and the Notorious B.I.G inspired "Somebody's Gotta Go". He has worked with Joshua Thompson, Rob Fusari and Jeremy Skaller, and has also collaborated with other songwriters including Andre Deyo, Teron Beal and worked with producer and songwriter, Quincy Patrick.[citation needed]
Cotter has performed on BET's 106 & Park,[3] and opened for platinum-selling artist Avant.[citation needed] He has also performed at BB King's in Times Square, Village Underground, Soul Café and SOB's.[6] In 2005, he independently released "The Album Before the Album".[7]
Personal life
editCotter began dating Canadian singer-songwriter Melanie Fiona in 2013.[8] On March 14, 2016, their first child was born.[9] On Valentine's Day 2018, the couple became engaged.[10] Originally they planned to marry on Amalfi Coast, Italy; but the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to postpone their wedding three times. The couple eloped on December 12, 2020 in Los Angeles.[8][11][12]
American Idol
editCotter appeared on the sixth season of American Idol and reached the semi-final stage of the competition. He sang Stevie Wonder's "Lately" for his audition.[13]
American Idol performances
editWeek # | Song Choice | Original Artist | Order # | Result | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top 24 (12 Men) | "Back at One" | Brian McKnight | 10 | Safe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top 20 (10 Men) | "Let's Get It On" | Marvin Gaye | 2 | Safe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top 16 (8 Men) | "If You Really Love Me" | Stevie Wonder | 4 | Eliminated |
Post-Idol career
editTelevision
editImmediately after American Idol, in June 2007, Cotter joined as co-host for a daily show The Sauce on the television network Fuse TV.[14] After The Sauce was cancelled in 2008, he hosted You Rock, Lets Roll, a dating game show, in the same time slot.[15] He also hosted Fuse's No. 1 Countdown: Pop where he presented videos and conducted interviews.[16] He has also worked for Fox TV’s Good Day New York as a weekly correspondent during later seasons of American Idol.[1] He was the host of The Challenge, a New York metropolitan area high school student quiz show on MSG Varsity internet service.[17] From 2014 to 2015 Cotter was the co-anchor for the syndicated The Daily Buzz program of Florida's Full Sail University.
Music
editBefore he appeared on Idol, Cotter released an album, "The Album Before the Album," independently as JL Cotter in 2005. The album was re-released after he appeared on Idol.[18] He released a single "Good Morning" in October 2008.[19]
Cotter has written songs for other popular artists such as Carl Thomas, Joe, and in particular Jay Sean with whom he has considerable success. He co-wrote a number of songs on Jay Sean's album All or Nothing,[20] including the number one song, "Down", which was the seventh-best selling single of 2009,[21] and for which he received an ASCAP award as a writer for one of the "Most Performed Songs" of the year.[22][23] He signed a worldwide deal with EMI Music Publishing in 2009.[24][non-primary source needed] He has been nominated for Best Male R&B Vocalist at the Underground Hip Hop Music Awards.[citation needed].
Cotter released a five-song EP You Me Forever on July 1, 2014.[25]
Discography
editAlbum
editTitle | Album details |
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The Album Before the Album[26] |
|
Extended plays
editTitle | Album details |
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You Me Forever[25] |
|
Singles
editYear | Title |
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2008 | "Good Morning"[27] |
2011 | "Finding Me" ft. Drew Ryan Scott |
2012 | "Mo'Thangs"[28] |
2014 | "You Me Forever"[25] |
Charted songs with song-writing credits
editSingle | Year | Billboard Hot 100 |
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"Down"[29] | 2009 | 1 |
"Do You Remember"[30] | 2010 | 10 |
"2012 (It Ain't the End)"[31] | 2010 | 31 |
"Hit the Lights" | 2011 | 18 |
"Where Them Girls At" | 2011 | 14 |
As featured artist
editSong | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
Stuck in the Middle[32] | 2009 | All or Nothing |
References
edit- ^ a b Jared Cotter interview Archived January 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Jay Sean Leads Packed Hot 100 Top Five
- ^ a b Idol: Meet The Top 24! Archived August 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b JL Cotter: Real Feelings
- ^ Singersroom
- ^ a b JLCotter MySpace Archived November 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Rhapsody – The Album Before the Album
- ^ a b "A Music Industry Power Couple on Why They Eloped Amid COVID-19".
- ^ "Melanie Fiona Gives Birth". Wetpaint.com. Retrieved April 3, 2016
- ^ Porter, Lauren (February 15, 2018). "She Said Yes! Melanie Fiona Got Engaged On Valentine's Day". Essence.
- ^ "Melanie Fiona and Jared Cotter Eloped in the Sweetest and Most Low-Key Way". December 23, 2020.
- ^ Walton, Monica (December 23, 2020). "Melanie Fiona Finally Marries Jared Cotter After Postponing Wedding Three Times". ET Canada. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020.
- ^ Jared Cotter: American Idol Season 6
- ^ 'American Idol' finalist joins fuse's 'The Sauce' Archived July 8, 2012, at archive.today
- ^ Fuse TV = You Rock, Let's Roll
- ^ Megan Fox Visits fuse's "No. 1 Countdown" – June 26, 2009[dead link]
- ^ "Greeley scholars match wits against White Plains' best on academic quiz show". Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2011.
- ^ Jared Cotter — JL Cotter — The Album Before the Album Archived April 15, 2013, at archive.today
- ^ Rhapsody – Good Morning"
- ^ Jared Cotter – American Idol’s Hit Songwriter Archived April 15, 2013, at archive.today
- ^ Taylor Swift Edges Susan Boyle For 2009's Top-Selling Album
- ^ Jared Cotter wins ASCAP Award for "Down" Archived September 8, 2012, at archive.today
- ^ 27th annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards Celebrate Hitmakers at Star-Studded Event in Hollywood
- ^ Jared Cotter Twitter
- ^ a b c "Jared Cotter – You Me Forever". Singers Room. June 20, 2014.
- ^ "The Album Before The Album: JL Cotter". iTunes Store. April 21, 2005.
- ^ "Good Morning – Jared Cotte". Amazon.
- ^ "Mo Thangs – Single – JL Cotter". iTunes Store.
- ^ Billboard – Down
- ^ Billboard – Do You Remember
- ^ Billboard – 2012 (It Ain't the End)
- ^ Billboard – Stuck in the Middle