# Jared Cotter

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**Jared Lincoln Cotter** (born June 17, 1981) is an American [R&B](/source/Contemporary_R%26B) singer, songwriter, and model. He was a contestant on the [sixth season](/source/American_Idol_(season_6)) of *[American Idol](/source/American_Idol)*, and co-wrote [Jay Sean](/source/Jay_Sean)'s 2009 single "[Down](/source/Down_(Jay_Sean_song))", which peaked at number one on the [*Billboard* Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100).[1][2]

Cotter has written songs for [Carl Thomas](/source/Carl_Thomas_(singer)), [Joe](/source/Joe_(singer)), and [Jay Sean](/source/Jay_Sean).

## Biography

Born and raised on Long Island, Cotter grew up in a family of musicians. Cotter's great grandfather, [James Reese Europe](/source/James_Reese_Europe), was the first African American jazz player to perform at [Carnegie Hall](/source/Carnegie_Hall).[3] Cotter's father, Robert Cotter, played in the late 1970s with [Nile Rodgers](/source/Nile_Rodgers) and the late [Bernard Edwards](/source/Bernard_Edwards) of the Big Apple Band, later known as [Chic](/source/Chic_(band)).

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](/source/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](/source/106_%26_Park), and opened for [Avant](/source/Avant_(singer)).[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](/source/American_Idol_season_6)*.[4] He sang [Stevie Wonder](/source/Stevie_Wonder)'s "[Lately](/source/Lately_(Stevie_Wonder_song))" 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](/source/All_or_Nothing_(Jay_Sean_album))*,[7] including the number one song, "Down", which was the seventh-best selling single of 2009.[8] In April 2010, he received an [ASCAP](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Fox_TV)’s [Good Day New York](/source/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](/source/New_York_metropolitan_area) high school [student quiz show](/source/Student_quiz_show) on MSG Varsity internet service.[4]

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

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

As of early 2024, Cotter was the [talent manager](/source/Talent_manager) for [Paul Russell](/source/Paul_Russell_(musician)) and was [Shaboozey](/source/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](/source/Stevie_Wonder), [Marvin Gaye](/source/Marvin_Gaye) and [Brian McKnight](/source/Brian_McKnight) as influences.[15]

## Personal life

Cotter began dating Canadian singer-songwriter [Melanie Fiona](/source/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](/source/Amalfi_Coast), [Italy](/source/Italy); but the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/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

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

### Extended plays

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

### Singles

Year Title 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

Single Year Billboard Hot 100 "Down"[24] 2009 1 "Do You Remember"[25] 2010 10 "2012 (It Ain't the End)"[26] 2010 31 "Hit the Lights" 2011 18 "Where Them Girls At" 2011 14

### As featured artist

Song Year Album Stuck in the Middle[27] 2009 All or Nothing

## *American Idol* performances

Week # 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

## References

1. [Jared Cotter interview](http://www.mauvaislangue.com/inside-idol-interview-with-jared-cotter/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110104231957/http://www.mauvaislangue.com/inside-idol-interview-with-jared-cotter/) January 4, 2011 at the Wayback Machine

1. Pietroluongo, Silvio (October 8, 2009). ["Jay Sean Leads Packed Hot 100 Top Five"](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/jay-sean-leads-packed-hot-100-top-five-267143/). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*

1. ["When Jazz Arrived at Carnegie Hall"](https://www.carnegiehall.org/Explore/Articles/2021/03/31/When-Jazz-Arrived-at-Carnegie-Hall). *[Carnegie Hall](/source/Carnegie_Hall)*

1. ["Jared L. Cotter"](https://www.ftc.edu/team/jared-l-cotter/). *[Five Towns College](/source/Five_Towns_College)*

1. ["Jared Cotter – You Me Forever"](http://singersroom.com/content/2014-06-20/Jared-Cotter-You-Me-Forever/). *Singers Room*. June 20, 2014.

1. ["'American Idol' finalist joins fuse's 'The Sauce'"](https://www.ocregister.com/2007/08/28/american-idol-finalist-joins-fuses-the-sauce/). *[The Orange County Register](/source/The_Orange_County_Register)*. August 28, 2007. [Archived](https://archive.today/20120708103921/http://articles.ocregister.com/2007-08-28/entertainment/24697856_1_guest-host-fuse-s-new-host) July 8, 2012 at the Wayback Machine.

1. 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""](https://www.songwriteruniverse.com/jay-sean-interview-2019/). *songwriteruniverse.com*

1. Caulfield, Keith (January 6, 2010). ["Taylor Swift Edges Susan Boyle For 2009's Top-Selling Album"](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-edges-susan-boyle-for-2009s-top-selling-album-1213592/). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*

1. ["27th Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards Celebrate Hitmakers at Star-Studded Event in Hollywood"](https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2010/04/22/1338191/0/en/27th-Annual-ASCAP-Pop-Music-Awards-Celebrate-Hitmakers-at-Star-Studded-Event-in-Hollywood.html). [Globe Newswire](/source/Globe_Newswire). April 22, 2010.

1. Covin, Chenelle R. (January 31, 2015). ["Singer-songwriter Jared Cotter is well on his way"](https://unheardvoicesmag.com/2015/01/31/featured-artist-grammy-nominated-singersongwriter-jared-cotter-well-way/). *unheardvoicesmag.com*

1. ["American Idol finalist Jared Cotter joins The Daily Buzz"](https://www.newswire.com/news/american-idol-finalist-jared-cotter-joins-the-daily-buzz). Newswire.com. August 19, 2014.

1. ["Jared Cotter joins 'The List' as co-host"](https://ir.scripps.com/news-releases/news-release-details/jared-cotter-joins-list-co-host). [E. W. Scripps Company](/source/E._W._Scripps_Company). January 4, 2017.

1. Rys, Dan (May 23, 2024). ["Shaboozey, Paul Russell Manager Jared Cotter Promoted to Partner at Range Music"](https://www.billboard.com/business/management/shaboozey-paul-russell-manager-jared-cotter-range-music-partner-1235691309/). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*

1. ["Virgin Music Group Partners with 3AM Entertainment, The New Label Founded by International Superstar Jay Sean, Jeremy Skaller and Jared Cotter"](https://www.musicconnection.com/virgin-music-group-partners-with-3am-entertainment-the-new-label-founded-by-international-superstar-jay-sean-jeremy-skaller-and-jared-cotter/). *[Music Connection](/source/Music_Connection)*. March 29, 2024.

1. RODRIGUEZ, AURORA (May 6, 2007). ["The 'American Idol' Contestant Visits Lakeland, Shares Future Plans"](https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2007/05/06/the-american-idol-contestant-visits-lakeland-shares-future-plans/25823218007/). *[The Ledger](/source/The_Ledger)*

1. Lee, Esther (February 5, 2021). ["A Music Industry Power Couple on Why They Eloped Amid COVID-19"](https://www.theknot.com/content/melanie-fiona-wedding). *[The Knot Worldwide](/source/The_Knot_Worldwide)*

1. Abraham, Mya (May 19, 2016). ["Stay Strong: Melanie Fiona Shares Her Heartbreaking Birth Story"](https://www.bet.com/article/623wbm/melanie-fiona-shares-her-heartbreaking-birth-story). *[BET](/source/BET)*

1. Porter, Lauren (February 15, 2018). ["She Said Yes! Melanie Fiona Got Engaged On Valentine's Day"](https://www.essence.com/celebrity/black-celeb-couples/melanie-fiona-engaged-valentines-day/). *[Essence](/source/Essence_(magazine))*

1. ["Melanie Fiona and Jared Cotter Eloped in the Sweetest and Most Low-Key Way"](https://www.essence.com/articles/melanie-fiona-jared-cotter-eloped/). *[Essence](/source/Essence_(magazine))*. December 23, 2020.

1. Urquhart, Tira (December 17, 2020). ["Melanie Fiona Marries Fiancé Jared Cotter After Postponing Their Wedding Three Times Due To The Pandemic"](https://www.bet.com/article/dwk3tq/melanie-fiona-marries-fiance-jared-cotter-after-postponing). *[BET](/source/BET)*

1. ["The Album Before The Album: JL Cotter"](https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-album-before-the-album/152886098). iTunes Store. April 21, 2005.

1. ["Good Morning – Jared Cotte"](https://www.amazon.com/Good-Morning-Jared-Cotter/dp/B001J8N1JO). *Amazon*

1. ["Mo Thangs – Single – JL Cotter"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141230092654/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/mo-thangs-single/id497097135). iTunes Store. Archived from [the original](https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/mo-thangs-single/id497097135) on December 30, 2014.

1. [ Billboard – Down]

1. [ Billboard – Do You Remember]

1. [ Billboard – 2012 (It Ain't the End)]

1. [Billboard – Stuck in the Middle](http://www.billboard.com/#/song/jared-cotter/stuck-in-the-middle/11426769)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jared Cotter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Cotter) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Cotter?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.