Jacob Lusk
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Jacob Lusk
| image = Jacob Lusk Gershwin Prize 2024 (cropped).jpg
| img_size =
| caption = Lusk in 2024
| background = solo_singer
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth_date_and_age|1987|6|23}}
| birth_place =
| origin = Compton, California, US
| instrument = Vocals, drums
| occupation = Singer
| years_active = 2011–present
| website = {{URL|JacobLuskOnline.com}}
}}
Jacob Lusk (born June 23, 1987) is an American singer from Compton, California, who finished in fifth place on the tenth season of American Idol. He is also a member of Gabriels.
Early life
Lusk was born in 1987 to Anglia and Gregory Lusk, and is from Compton, California. His father worked as a music producer,{{Cite web|url=http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_17728391 |title=American Idol hopeful's roots in Long Beach school |publisher=Press Telegram |date=March 29, 2011 |accessdate=April 16, 2011}} but he died when Lusk was twelve. Lusk began singing when he was four years old, and performed at his church from the age of five.[http://unitedfaithcommunityschool.com/ United Faith Community School] He attended United Faith Community School in Long Beach, California, and was the lead singer in the school choir, plays and programs.
He is a minister of music at his church. Prior to American Idol, he worked as a spa concierge.{{Cite web|url=http://ourweekly.com/los-angeles/jacob-lusk-compton-american-idol-finalist |title=Jacob Lusk from Compton is an 'American Idol' finalist |publisher=OurWeekly |date=March 4, 2011 |accessdate=March 12, 2011}} In 2007, he joined a gospel group called InNate Praise formed by the late hip-hop singer Nate Dogg, and he performed with the group at churches around Los Angeles County.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2011/03/16/american-idol-contestant-jacob-lusk-nate-dogg-studio-video/ |title=Idol' Contestant – The Nate Dogg Connection |publisher=TMZ.com |date=March 16, 2011 |accessdate=March 16, 2011}}
He was arrested in November 2010 for missing a court hearing after being cited for riding on an L.A. metro train without buying a ticket, and spent three days in jail.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tmz.com/2011/04/15/jacob-lusk-jail-mug-shot-judge-probation-audition-police-cops-american-idol-chase-train-stop-subway-arrested/ |title='Idol' Finalist – Saved By REAL Judge After Arrest |publisher=TMZ.com |date=April 15, 2011 |accessdate=April 16, 2011}} He was also initially sentenced to two years probation but was reprieved after pleading to the judge that the sentence would jeopardize his chance of appearing on American Idol.
His musical influences include his father Gregory Lusk, Billie Holiday, Luther Vandross, Gladys Knight, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, James Moore, and BeBe and CeCe Winans.
''American Idol''
=Overview=
Lusk auditioned for the tenth season of American Idol in Los Angeles, California.
Lusk was first shown in the group stage of the competition where he performed with fellow finalist Naima Adedapo, Vegas Contestant Sophia Shorai, and Matthew Nuss, and Da'Quela Payne. all advanced to the top 102
He received high praise from Randy Jackson for his performance of "God Bless the Child" during the Hollywood rounds as the best ever seen on Idol. He was one of the top five males in the semi-final round, and therefore advanced to the Top 13.[http://blogs.inlandsocal.com/music/2011/03/idol-top-13-with-jacob-lusk.html Idol: Top 13 with Jacob Lusk] Lusk was eliminated on May 5, 2011, finishing in fifth place. During the finale, he performed with Kirk Franklin and Gladys Knight.
=Performances/Results=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!Episode !Theme !Song choice !Original artist !Order # !Result |
| rowspan="2"|Audition
|rowspan="2"|Auditioner's Choice |rowspan="2"|N/A |rowspan="2"|Advanced |
| "A Change Is Gonna Come"{{Cite web|url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/02/04/american-idol-la-auditions/ |title=American Idol' exclusive behind-the-scenes report from L.A. |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |date=February 4, 2011 |accessdate=March 12, 2011}} |
| Hollywood Round, Part 1
|First Solo |N/A |N/A |N/A |Advanced |
| Hollywood Round, Part 2
|Group Performance |"Get Ready" |N/A |Advanced |
| Hollywood Round, Part 3
|Second Solo |N/A |Advanced |
| Las Vegas Round
|Songs of The Beatles |N/A |Advanced |
| Hollywood Round Final
|Final Solo |N/A |Advanced |
| Top 24 (12 Men)
|Personal Choice |11 |Advanced |
| Top 13
|Your Personal Idol |8 |Safe |
| Top 12
|Year You Were Born |"Alone" |i-TEN |12 |Safe |
| Top 11
|Motown |"You're All I Need to Get By" |3 |Safe |
| Top 11{{ref|1|1}}
|"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" |Elton John |10 |Safe |
| Top 9
|1 |{{nowrap|Bottom 3}}{{ref|2|2}} |
| Top 8
|Songs from the Movies |"Bridge over Troubled Water" — The Pursuit of Happyness |7 |Safe |
| Top 7
|Songs from the 21st Century |4 |Bottom 3{{ref|3|3}} |
| rowspan="2"|Top 6
|rowspan="2"|Carole King |Solo "Oh No Not My Baby" |1 |rowspan="2"|Safe |
| Duet "I'm into Something Good" with James Durbin
|9 |
| rowspan="2"|Top 5
|rowspan="2"|Songs from Now and Then |"No Air" |2 |rowspan="2"|Eliminated |
| "Love Hurts"
|7 |
- {{note|1|Note 1}} Due to the judges using their one save to save Casey Abrams, the Top 11 remained intact for another week, when two contestants were eliminated.
- {{note|2|Note 2}} Lusk was saved first from elimination, before Stefano Langone as Pia Toscano was eliminated.
- {{note|3|Note 3}} When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Lusk was among the Bottom 3 but declared safe second, as Stefano Langone was eliminated.
Post-''Idol''
Lusk and the rest of the top 11 took part in the American Idols Live! Tour 2011, which began in West Valley City, Utah, on July 6, 2011, and ended in Manila, Philippines on September 20, 2011.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/149176-American-Idol-Judges-Save-Contestant-Fantasia-to-Perform-on-Next-Results-Show "American Idol" Judges Save Contestant; Fantasia to Perform on Next Results Show] He performed on Live with Regis and Kelly on May 9, 2011, and on the Today show on May 10, 2011. In 2016, he formed Gabriels with Ari Balouzian and Ryan Hope.{{Cite news |date=2022-10-01 |title=Gabriels: From 'harrowing' American Idol to 2022's most talked-about band |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63087424 |access-date=2023-06-17}}
On June 25, 2023, he performed "Are You Ready for Love" alongside Elton John at John's headline performance at the Glastonbury Festival.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/entertainment-arts-66013157 | title=Glastonbury 2023 Sunday live: Elton John draws huge crowd at Pyramid Stage | date=25 June 2023 }} In October 2023, Lusk won The Breakthrough Award in the 2023 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards.{{cite web|url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/life/attitude-awards-2023-winners-from-the-2023-virgin-atlantic-attitude-awards-powered-by-jaguar-449028/|work=www.attitude.co.uk|title=Here are all the winners from the 2023 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, powered by Jaguar|author=Attitude Staff|date=October 12, 2023}}
On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, Lusk performed at the all-star tribute concert for the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song saluting singer and LGBTQ+ advocate Elton John and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin.{{Cite web |title=Library and Artists Salute Elton John and Bernie Taupin with Gershwin Prize |url=https://newsroom.loc.gov/news/library-and-artists-salute-elton-john-and-bernie-taupin-with-gershwin-prize/s/69bd4997-b35f-49a3-8d97-3b2299307463 |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=The NewsMarket |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-03 |title=Stars Come Out to Celebrate Elton John and Bernie Taupin as They Receive Gershwin Prize for Popular Song |url=https://www.cpb.org/spotlight/Stars-Come-Out-Celebrate-Elton-John-and-Bernie-Taupin-They-Receive-Gershwin-Prize-Popular |access-date=2024-04-25 |website=www.cpb.org |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |date=2024-03-21 |title=Elton John and Bernie Taupin's Gershwin Prize Ceremony: See Metallica and Annie Lennox Honor Duo |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/elton-john-bernie-taupin-gershwin-prize-metallica-annie-lennox-1234991855/ |access-date=2024-04-25 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Lusk identifies as queer. Of his time on American Idol, he says "Even though I wasn't out, I was pretty, pretty flaming."{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/mar/10/im-a-firecracker-singer-jacob-lusk-on-survival-stardom-and-singing-with-elton-john | title='I'm a firecracker': Singer Jacob Lusk on survival, stardom – and singing with Elton John | newspaper=The Observer | date=March 10, 2024 | last1=Lewis | first1=Tim }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season_10/jacob_lusk/ Jacob Lusk] on American Idol
{{American Idol 10}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lusk, Jacob}}
Category:African-American singers
Category:American Idol participants