Jared Cotter

Jared Cotter
Birth name Jared Lincoln Cotter
Also known as Jared Cotter, JL Cotter, JL.
Born June 17, 1981
Oceanside, New York
Origin Coram, New York, USA
Genres Pop, R&B, hip hop
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, model
Instruments Vocals
Years active 2007 — present
Associated acts Jay Sean
Website www.myspace.com/JLCotter

Jared Lincoln Cotter (born June 17, 1981) is an American pop/R&B singer, songwriter and model. He has hosted a number of TV shows, and he co-wrote the number 1 song "Down" by Jay Sean.[1][2]

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.[4][5] Cotter listed as his influence artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Brian McKnight.[6]

Cotter's recording career began when he was 15.[4] 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". He has worked with Joshua Thompson, Rob Fusari and Jeremy Skaller, and has also collaborated with other songwriters including Andre Deyo, Teron Beal and worked with producer and songwriter, Quincy Patrick.

Cotter has performed on BET's 106 & Park,[3] and opened for platinum-selling artist Avant. He has also performed at BB King's in Times Square, Village Underground, Soul Café and SOB's.[6] In 2005, he independently released "The Album Before the Album".[7]

American Idol

Cotter appeared on the sixth season of American Idol and reached the semifinal stage of the competition. He sang Stevie Wonder's "Lately" for his audition.[8]

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

Post-Idol career

Television

Immediately after American Idol, in June 2007, Cotter joined as co-host for a daily show The Sauce on the television network Fuse TV.[9] 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.[11] He has also worked for Fox TV’s Good Day New York as a weekly correspondent during later seasons of American Idol.[1] He was the host of The Challenge, a New York metropolitan area high school student quiz show on MSG Varsity internet service.[12] Currently, Cotter is the co-anchor for the syndicated The Daily Buzz program.

Music

Before he appeared on Idol, Cotter released an album, "The Album Before the Album," independently as JL Cotter in 2005. The album was re-released after he appeared on Idol.[13] He released a single "Good Morning" in October, 2008.[14]

Cotter has written songs for other popular artists such as Carl Thomas, Joe, and in particular Jay Sean with whom he has considerable success. He co-wrote a number of songs on Jay Sean's album All or Nothing,[15] including the number one song, "Down", which was the seventh-best selling single of 2009,[16] and for which he received an ASCAP award as a writer for one of the "Most Performed Songs" of the year.[17][18] He signed a worldwide deal with EMI Music Publishing in 2009.[19] He has been nominated for Best Male R&B Vocalist at the Underground Hip Hop Music Awards..

Cotter released a five-song EP You Me Forever on July 1, 2014.[20]

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[20]
  • 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"[20]

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

References