Jamai Loman

Jamai Loman
Background information
Birth name Jamai Johannes Loman
Born June 30, 1986
Origin Gouda, Netherlands
Occupation(s) Singer, actor, children's TV presenter
Instruments Singing, piano
Years active 2003–present
Website http://www.jamaimusic.nl

Jamai Johannes Loman (born June 30, 1986 in Gouda, the Netherlands) was the winner of the first series of Idols, the Dutch variant on Pop Idol, pop singer and Dutch musical artist.

Biography

Jamai (at that time living with his parents and two elder sisters), grew up in Schoonhoven, where he started his "career" in a school musical. He also performed at the school's "Shownight" in 2000, and played in the school jazzband called 8CC.

In 2003 he entered the Dutch Idols competition. To his surprise, he survived round after round and was voted the winner. At the 2003 World Idol however, he only received 36 points and came in last, with a slashing Jury report.

Shortly after releasing his third single, Jamai decided to move from the music business to acting and he starred in the musicals Doornroosje (Sleeping Beauty), Hello, Dolly! and Jesus Christ Superstar. Currently (January 2007) he is in The Wiz, where he is playing the role of the Wiz and alternating the role of the Scarecrow.

Jamai's management announced that he will be playing the role of Marius Pontmercy in the musical Les Misérables, at London's West End in the summer of 2007. This however proved to be false, the producers of the show claiming he had auditioned, but was never promised the role. In 2008 Jamai played the role of Marius in the Dutch revival version of Les Misérables, for which he received a John Kraaijkamp Musical Award for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ in a large musical production.

In 2009 Jamai is set to play the part of Bobby Strong in the M-Lab production of Urinetown.

Dutch Idol Performances

Top 30: Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson
Top 10: Everything I Do, I Do It For You by Bryan Adams
Top 09: Love Is All Around
Top 08: Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word by Elton John
Top 07: De Vleugels Van Mijn Vlucht
Top 06: Relight My Fire by Take That
Top 05: Always
Top 04: Angels by Robbie Williams
Top 04: Let's Get Loud by Jennifer Lopez
Top 03: If You Don't Know Me By Now by Simply Red
Top 03: Celebration by Kool and The Gang
Finale: Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word by Elton John
Finale: Your Song by Elton John
Finale: Step Right Up

Discography

2003 Step Right Up, Single
2003 Greatest Moments, Idols Album
2003 Jamai, Album
2003 When you walk in the room, Single (ft. Dewi, 4th place Idols)
2004 Wango Tango, Single
2005 Super Guppie zingt, Album starring different artists, in connection with the Dutch "Children's Books Week"
2006 Jesus Christ Superstar, Dutch Original Cast Album

Theater

Awards

In 2003 Jamai won the "Gouden Vedel", a price awarded by the Dutch Association of Dancing Teachers to artists who release a good dance record. He received this award for his single Step Right Up, used in dancing classes for learning the cha-cha-cha.
Jamai won the "John Kraaijkamp Musical Award 2005" for Best Upcoming Talent, for his role of Barnaby Tucker in Hello, Dolly!. The Award includes a scholarship of 10.000 Euro.
Nominated for the "John Kraaijkamp Musical Award 2006" for Best Male Supporting Role for Simon in Jesus Christ Superstar.
In 2008 Jamai won the "John Kraaijkamp Musical Award 2008" for Best Male Supporting Role for Marius Pontmercy in Les Misérables.

Miscellaneous

In October 2006, Jamai started presenting the children's Television program Jetix Max, together with actress Nicolette van Dam.
In December 2006, he dubbed the voice for penguin Mumble in the animated movie Happy Feet.
Jamai has been an Ambassador for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the Netherlands since May 2004.
In July 2009, Jamai was announced the winner of the fourth season of the Dutch Dancing with the Stars
From July till August 2009 Jamai is also co-presenting the "waar is Elvis" (where is Elvis) television show for RTL4.

External links

Preceded by
None		 Idols (Netherlands)
Winner
Season 1 (2003) 		Succeeded by
Boris Titulaer
Preceded by
Helga van Leur & Marcus van Teijlingen		 Dancing With The Stars winner
Season 4 (2009 with Gwyneth van Rijn) 		Succeeded by
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