JD McCrary

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = JayDon

| image = JAYDON MCCRARY.jpg

| caption =

| birth_name = JayDon McCrary

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|07|18}}

| birth_place = Granada Hills, California, U.S.

| occupation = {{csv|Singer|actor|dancer}}

| years_active = 2014–present

| genre = R&B, Pop, Hip-Hop, pop rock, soul, funk,neo soul

| label = {{hlist|Zoo|Mega|Gamma}}

}}

JayDon McCrary{{cite web |title=JD McCrary |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6556377/ |website=IMDb}} (born July 18, 2007), known mononymously as JayDon (formerly as JD McCrary) is an American singer, actor, and dancer. He starred in The Lion King (2019) as the voice of young Simba, played Kenny Payne in The Paynes, and also appeared in the 2019 film Little.{{cite magazine|last1=George|first1=Rachel|title=5 Things to Know About JD McCrary, Childish Gambino's Young Grammys Co-Star|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/8096915/childish-gambino-jd-mccrary-5-things-to-know|magazine=Billboard|date=January 29, 2018|access-date=February 21, 2018}} In 2025, he signed with Usher and L.A. Reid's record label Mega, as a joint venture with Gamma.

Career

= 2015–2019: Career beginnings and acting =

McCrary began his acting career in 2015 at age 8 on K.C. Undercover, where he appeared on two episodes.{{cite web|last1=Canter|first1=Brian|title=First Look: "KC Undercover" Returns With "Undercover Mother," "Trust No One Episodes|url=http://headlineplanet.com/home/2016/11/02/first-look-kc-undercover-returns-undercover-mepisodes/|website=Headline Planet|date=November 2, 2016|access-date=February 21, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In December 2016, he made a guest appearance on Childish Gambino's song "Terrified".{{cite web|last1=Starling|first1=Lankan|title=JD McCrary Is The Precocious 9 Year-Old Singing on Childish Gambino's "Terrified"|url=http://www.thefader.com/2016/12/06/jd-mccrary-featured-zombies-awaken-my-love|website=The Fader|date=December 6, 2016|access-date=February 21, 2018}} He then had live performances on Little Big Shots singing The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back",{{cite web|last1=Cheatle|first1=Juliet|title=JD McCrary: Who is child singing sensation from Little Big Shots?|url=https://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/jd-mccrary-who-is-child-singing-sensation-from-little-big-shots/|website=Monsters and Critics|date=May 14, 2017|access-date=February 21, 2018}} The Ellen Show singing "Who's Lovin' You",{{cite web|last1=Reddy|first1=Subba|title=Kid Singer JD McCrary Wows with 'Who's Loving You' Performance The Ellen Show|url=http://whateverlife.com/kid-singer-jd-mccrary-wows-with-whos-loving-you-performance-the-ellen-show-on-whateverlife/|website=Whatever Life|date=January 15, 2018|access-date=February 21, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and the 60th Annual Grammy Awards to support Childish Gambino's "Terrified".{{cite web|last1=Nyren|first1=Eric|title=Donald Glover Sang With the Voice of 'The Lion King's' Young Simba at the Grammys|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/childish-gambino-grammys-performance-kid-1202679775/|work=Variety|date=January 28, 2018|access-date=February 21, 2018}} In December 2017, he sang the national anthem before a Los Angeles Clippers game after a viral singing display a few weeks prior.{{cite web |last1=Keaney |first1=Quinn |title=The Actor Playing Young Simba in The Lion King Reboot Blew NBA Fans Away With His Voice |url=https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/JD-McCrary-Singing-LA-Clippers-Game-Video-44352387 |website=Pop Sugar|date=December 11, 2017 }} In 2017, he later appeared on I'm Dying Up Here and Teachers as minor roles.

On January 14, 2018 he released his first official single called "Inviting All of You".{{cite web |title=Inviting All of You - Single |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/inviting-all-of-you-single/1334762528 |website=iTunes}} On August 13, 2018, it was announced that JD McCrary became the youngest artist to sign with Disney Music Group's Hollywood Records, as he released the music video to his second single "My Name" on August 28.{{cite web |title=Jd Mccrary, Youngest Solo Artist To Sign With Hollywood Records Releases 'My Name' Video |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Jd-Mccrary-Youngest-Solo-Artist-To-Sign-With-Hollywood-Records-Releases-My-Name-Video-20180828 |website=Broadway World}}{{cite web |title=THE LION KING'S JD McCrary Signs to Hollywood Records |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/THE-LION-KINGS-JD-McCrary-Signs-to-Hollywood-Records-20180813 |website=Broadway World |access-date=27 November 2018}} On January 24, 2019, he released the first single after signing to the label called "Keep in Touch."{{cite web |title=JD MCCRARY RELEASES NEW SINGLE 'KEEP IN TOUCH' |url=http://tigerbeat.com/video/jd-mccrary-keep-in-touch/ |website=Tiger Beat|date=January 25, 2019 }} He stars in The Paynes on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

In 2019, McCrary co-starred in the Universal comedy film Little, and provided the voice of young Simba in the live action remake of the Disney film The Lion King.{{cite web|last1=Andreeva|first1=Nellie|title=OWN Picks Up 'House of Payne' Spinoff From Tyler Perry|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/own-the-paynes-house-of-payne-spinoff-tyler-perry-more-the-haves-and-have-nots-if-loving-you-is-wrong-love-thy-neighbor-cnaceled-for-better-or-worse-1201897435/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=January 30, 2017|access-date=February 21, 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Galuppo |first1=Mia |title='Lion King' Actor JD McCrary Joins Marsai Martin in 'Little' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/little-movie-lion-king-actor-jd-mccrary-joins-universal-comedy-1121119 |website=Hollywood Reporter|date=June 19, 2018 }}{{cite web|last1=Davis|first1=Justin|title=The 10-Year-Old Playing Simba Alongside Donald Glover Has A Cooler Life Than You|url=http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2017/12/jd-mccrary-lion-king-interview|website=Complex|date=December 8, 2017|access-date=February 21, 2018}} McCrary said that "Donald Glover [who voices adult Simba] is so talented that [I] actually did have to take it into consideration, because if Simba is going to grow up to be some sort of figure and you know of it, you have to keep that motive."{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftRPVHyELXo&t=19s|title=What To Expect From The Characters In The Upcoming 'The Lion King' Adaptation - Entertainment Weekly|magazine=Entertainment Weekly/YouTube|language=en|date=April 25, 2019|access-date=April 29, 2019|df=mdy-all}} Also that year, McCrary portrayed a young Michael Jackson in the BET series American Soul, which premiered in February. On April 19, McCrary released his debut EP, Shine, which includes production from Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox.{{cite web |title=Shine - EP by JD McCrary |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/shine-ep/1459186620 |website=iTunes |access-date=22 April 2019}} he is also appearing as the New School Co-Captain and the Musical Guest on the hit comedy show Wild' n Out.

= 2024–present: Musical career =

In 2024, McCrary rebranded his musical stage name to his birth-name, JayDon. On November 8, 2024, he released his first single under his new stage name, "Ah! Ah!" featuring 310babii.{{cite web |title=JAYDON - AH! AH! (FT. 310BABII) |url=https://www.lucung.com/projects/jaydon-ah-ah |website=Lucung}} In 2025, it was announced that he officially signed with Usher and L.A. Reid's record label Mega in partnership with Larry Jackson's gamma.{{cite web |title=JayDon signs with Usher, L.A. Reid's New Label 'Mega" in joint venture with Gamma + Drops new single "I'll Be Good" |url=https://bringbacksoulmusic.com/jaydon-signs-with-usher-l-a-reids-new-label-mega-in-joint-venture-with-gamma-drops-new-single-ill-be-good/ |website=bringbacksoulmusic}}{{cite web |title=JayDon Signs to Usher and L.A. Reid's Mega Label, Shares 'I'll Be Good' |url=https://ratedrnb.com/2025/03/jaydon-signs-to-usher-and-l-a-reid-mega-gamma-ill-be-good/ |website=RatedRNB}} In 2025, he released his two singles, "Lullaby" and "I'll Be Good". The latter of which received a music video on April 24, 2025.{{Cite web |last=Be Good |first=I'll |date=April 24, 2025 |title=I'll Be Good Music Video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFoevPP8hxY&pp=ygUTamF5ZG9uIGknbGwgYmUgZ29vZNIHCQmECQGHKiGM7w%3D%3D |url-status=live |website=YouTube}}

Artistry

In an interview with Vibe, McCrary cited Michael Jackson as his biggest influence, as well as Chris Brown, Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Omarion, Bobby Brown, Usher (whom he his currently signed to and mentored by) and Mario.{{cite web|last1=Jefferson|first1=J'na|title=Interview: JD McCrary Talks 'The Lion King,' Working With Donald Glover|url=https://www.vibe.com/2017/11/jd-mccrary-interview/|website=Vibe|date=November 28, 2017|access-date=March 22, 2018}}{{Cite web |last=Audible |first=Treats |title=Jaydon Press Release |url=https://audibletreats.com/jaydon/ |url-status=live}}

Discography

=Extended plays=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

scope="col" style="width:11em;"| Title

! scope="col" style="width:18em;"| EP details

scope="row" | Shine

Released: April 19, 2019
Label: Hollywood Records
Format: Digital download

=Singles=

scope="col"\| Title ! scope="col"\| Year
class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="row"\| "Inviting All of You" \| rowspan="2"\| 2018
scope="row"\| "My Name"
scope="row"\| "Keep in Touch" \| rowspan="4"\| 2019
scope="row"\| "Winter Wonderland"
scope="row"\| "Where Do I Belong"
scope="row"\| "Closer to Christmas"
scope="row"\| "Stuck With You" (with Coco Quinn) \| rowspan="3"\| 2020
scope="row"\| "Tell Me Why"
scope="row"\| "Walking on Air"
scope="row"\| "Don't Go" \| rowspan="2"\| 2022
scope="row"\| "Reminiscin" (featuring J.Dizzle)
scope="row"\| "Calendar" \| 2023
scope="row"\| "Trip" \| rowspan="2"\| 2024
scope="row"\| "Ah! Ah!" (featuring 310babii)
scope="row"\| "Lullaby" (featuring Paradise) \| rowspan="2"\| 2025
scope="row"\| "I'll Be Good"

=Guest appearances=

class="wikitable" \|+ List of guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name !Title !! Other artist(s) !! Year !! Album
"Terrified"	Childish Gambino	2016	"Awaken, My Love!"
"Cautionary Tales"	Jon Bellion	rowspan="2"\|2018	Glory Sound Prep
"This Neverland"	G Tom Mac	A Lost Boys Story: The Musical (Original Score)
"I Just Can't Wait to Be King"	Shahadi Wright Joseph, John Oliver	rowspan="2"\|2019	rowspan="2"\|The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
"Hakuna Matata"	Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen, Donald Glover

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable" ! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
rowspan="2"\| 2019	Little	Isaac
The Lion King	Young Simba (voice)	Nominated - Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor
2022	13	Brett
2023	Wish	Singing Animal

=Television=

class="wikitable" !Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
2015	Blunt Talk	Singing kid	Episode: "A Beaver That's Lost Its Mind"
2015–16	K.C. Undercover	Young Ernie Cooper	2 episodes
rowspan="3"\| 2017	Teachers	Ayo	Episode: "Brokebitch Mountain"
Little Big Shots	Himself	Episode: "Memory Lane"
I'm Dying Up Here	Adam’s brother	Episode: "The Unbelievable Power of Believing"
2018	The Paynes	Kenny Payne
2019	American Soul	Young Michael Jackson	Episode: "68 BC"