From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Conrad Verraros (born February 8, 1983)
is an American singer/entertainer and native of Crystal Lake, Illinois who is
most notable for being one of the top 10 finalists in the first
season of American Idol. Because he was raised
by deaf parents, he is fluent in American Sign Language. Verraros
is of Greek descent on his
father's side and German, Irish, French and English descent
from his mother's side.
Personal
life
Verraros quickly became a celebrity in the American gay
press because of a controversy that erupted when Fox Broadcasting Company made
him remove gay-related comments from his network-sponsored
American Idol web site in the summer of 2002.[1]
While Verraros was out to fellow contestants and Idol employees, he
did not mention his homosexuality on air.[2]
Following the end of the show and the subsequent tour,[2]
Verraros came out publicly in an article in The
Advocate.[3]
On September 6, 2009, Verraros married his boyfriend Bill Brennan
in a small ceremony in Illinois.
Professional
career
Verraros released his album Unsaid and
Understood (2004) through the indie label Red Queen
Music - Sound Axis. It won the 2004 Outmusic Award for Outstanding
New Recording - Debut Male.
The album was revamped and picked up by Koch Records and
released as Rollercoaster (2005),
Verraros' mainstream debut, which garnered several dance floor
hits, including the Top 25 Billboard Hot Club/Dance Chart hit "You
Turn It On." The album was produced and co-written by Los
Angeles-based singer/songwriter Gabe Lopez and features four songs
co-written by American Idol finalist Angela Peel.
The album had a limited release deal through Koch
Records.
On May 27, 2009, Verraros released two new singles "Touch (Don't
U Want 2)" and "Electric Love" from his forthcoming album
Do Not Disturb (release date TBA). Both
songs were produced and written by Gabe Lopez.
As an actor, Verarros is a star of the 2004 gay-themed comedy Eating Out directed
by Q. Allan
Brocka and produced by Ariztical Entertainment, as well as its
2006 sequel, Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds. Verraros was
considered for a role on the Here! series Dante's Cove. Verraros has appeared four
times on The Feast of
Fools podcast - once in November and December 2006 and twice in
January 2007.
Verraros is an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, Chicago
Blackhawks, and Chicago Bulls.
Filmography
Discography
Albums
| Album Information |
Unsaid and Understood
- Release: 2004
- Red Queen Music - Sound Axis
|
Rollercoaster
- Release: April 26, 2005 (U.S., Canada)
- Label: Koch Entertainment
- Singles:
- 2005: "You Turn It On", #21 Hot Dance Music/Club Play
- 2005: "I Want You"
- 2005: "You're Getting Crazy"
- 2005: "Outside"
- 2005: "Welcome to Hollywood"
|
References
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