Jared Cotter
Backgroundsolo_singer
Birth nameJared Lincoln Cotter
Birth dateJune 17, 1981 (age 45)
Birth placeOceanside, New York, U.S.
OriginCoram, New York
InstrumentVocals
GenrePop · R&B · hip hop
OccupationSinger · songwriter · model
Years active2007–present
SpouseMelanie Fiona (m. 2020)

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 at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.[1][2]

Cotter has written songs for Carl Thomas, Joe, and Jay Sean.

Biography

Born 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.

Cotter's recording career began when he was 15. 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".

In 2004, he graduated from Five Towns College.[4]

In 2005, he independently released "The Album Before the Album".[4] The album was re-released after he appeared on Idol. He released a single "Good Morning" in October 2008.

Cotter released a five-song EP You Me Forever on July 1, 2014.[5]

Cotter has performed on BET's 106 & Park, and opened for Avant.[4] He has also performed at BB King's in Times Square, Village Underground, Soul Café and SOB's.[6]

In 2007, he reached the semi-final stage of American Idol season 6.[4] He sang Stevie Wonder's "Lately" for his audition.

He signed with EMI Music Publishing in 2009.

In 2009, Cotter co-wrote several songs on Jay Sean's album All or Nothing,[7] including the number one song, "Down", which was the seventh-best selling single of 2009.[8] In April 2010, he received an ASCAP award as a writer for one of the "Most Performed Songs" of the year.[9]

Immediately after American Idol, in June 2007, Cotter joined as co-host for a daily show The Sauce on the television network Fuse TV.[6] After The Sauce was cancelled in 2008, he hosted You Rock, Lets Roll, a dating game show, in the same time slot.[10]

He also hosted Fuse's No. 1 Countdown: Pop where he presented videos and conducted interviews.

He has also worked for Fox TV’s Good Day New York as a weekly correspondent during later seasons of American Idol.

He was the host of The Challenge, a New York metropolitan area high school student quiz show on MSG Varsity internet service.[4]

From 2014 to 2015, Cotter was the co-anchor for the syndicated The Daily Buzz program of Florida's Full Sail University.[11]

In January 2017, he joined "The List" as co-host.[12]

As of early 2024, Cotter was the talent manager for Paul Russell and was Shaboozey's co-talent manager. He was promoted to partner at Range Music.[13]

Also in 2024, he started record label 3AM Entertainment with Jay Sean and Jeremy Skaller.[14]

Influences

Cotter has cited Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Brian McKnight as influences.[15]

Personal life

Cotter began dating Canadian singer-songwriter Melanie Fiona in 2013.[16] On March 14, 2016, their first child was born.[17] On Valentine's Day 2018, the couple became engaged.[18] 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.[16][19][20] They welcomed a daughter in December 2021.

Discography

Album

TitleAlbum details
The Album Before the Album[21]
  • Release date: April 21, 2005
  • Label: On The Grind Entertainment
  • Format: CD, digital download

Extended plays

TitleAlbum details
You Me Forever[5]
  • Release date: July 1, 2014
  • Label: Cotter Boy
Format: Digital download

Singles

YearTitle
2008"Good Morning"[22]
2011"Finding Me" ft. Drew Ryan Scott
2012"Mo'Thangs"[23]
2014"You Me Forever"[5]

Charted songs with song-writing credits

SingleYearBillboard Hot 100
"Down"[24]20091
"Do You Remember"[25]201010
"2012 (It Ain't the End)"[26]201031
"Hit the Lights"201118
"Where Them Girls At"201114
SongYearAlbum
Stuck in the Middle[27]2009All or Nothing

American Idol performances

Week #Song ChoiceOriginal ArtistOrder #Result
Top 24 (12 Men)"Back at One"Brian McKnight10Safe
Top 20 (10 Men)"Let's Get It On"Marvin Gaye2Safe
Top 16 (8 Men)"If You Really Love Me"Stevie Wonder4Eliminated

References

  1. ^ Jared Cotter interview Archived January 4, 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Pietroluongo, Silvio (October 8, 2009). "Jay Sean Leads Packed Hot 100 Top Five". Billboard
  3. ^ "When Jazz Arrived at Carnegie Hall". Carnegie Hall
  4. ^ "Jared L. Cotter". Five Towns College
  5. ^ "Jared Cotter – You Me Forever". Singers Room. June 20, 2014.
  6. ^ "'American Idol' finalist joins fuse's 'The Sauce'". The Orange County Register. August 28, 2007. Archived July 8, 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ^ Kawashima, Dale (March 22, 2019). "Platinum U.K. Artist Jay Sean Talks About His New Music, And How He Wrote His Hit Songs "Down" And "Do You Remember"". songwriteruniverse.com
  8. ^ Caulfield, Keith (January 6, 2010). "Taylor Swift Edges Susan Boyle For 2009's Top-Selling Album". Billboard
  9. ^ "27th Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards Celebrate Hitmakers at Star-Studded Event in Hollywood". Globe Newswire. April 22, 2010.
  10. ^ Covin, Chenelle R. (January 31, 2015). "Singer-songwriter Jared Cotter is well on his way". unheardvoicesmag.com
  11. ^ "American Idol finalist Jared Cotter joins The Daily Buzz". Newswire.com. August 19, 2014.
  12. ^ "Jared Cotter joins 'The List' as co-host". E. W. Scripps Company. January 4, 2017.
  13. ^ Rys, Dan (May 23, 2024). "Shaboozey, Paul Russell Manager Jared Cotter Promoted to Partner at Range Music". Billboard
  14. ^ "Virgin Music Group Partners with 3AM Entertainment, The New Label Founded by International Superstar Jay Sean, Jeremy Skaller and Jared Cotter". Music Connection. March 29, 2024.
  15. ^ RODRIGUEZ, AURORA (May 6, 2007). "The 'American Idol' Contestant Visits Lakeland, Shares Future Plans". The Ledger
  16. ^ Lee, Esther (February 5, 2021). "A Music Industry Power Couple on Why They Eloped Amid COVID-19". The Knot Worldwide
  17. ^ Abraham, Mya (May 19, 2016). "Stay Strong: Melanie Fiona Shares Her Heartbreaking Birth Story". BET
  18. ^ Porter, Lauren (February 15, 2018). "She Said Yes! Melanie Fiona Got Engaged On Valentine's Day". Essence
  19. ^ "Melanie Fiona and Jared Cotter Eloped in the Sweetest and Most Low-Key Way". Essence. December 23, 2020.
  20. ^ Urquhart, Tira (December 17, 2020). "Melanie Fiona Marries Fiancé Jared Cotter After Postponing Their Wedding Three Times Due To The Pandemic". BET
  21. ^ "The Album Before The Album: JL Cotter". iTunes Store. April 21, 2005.
  22. ^ "Good Morning – Jared Cotte". Amazon
  23. ^ "Mo Thangs – Single – JL Cotter". iTunes Store. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014.
  24. ^ [ Billboard – Down]
  25. ^ [ Billboard – Do You Remember]
  26. ^ [ Billboard – 2012 (It Ain't the End)]
  27. ^ Billboard – Stuck in the Middle