Trevor Jackson (performer)

Trevor Jackson

Trevor Jackson at the 2013 McDonald's All-American Boys Game halftime show
Background information
Birth name Trevor Howard Lawrence Jackson
Born August 30, 1996
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Occupation(s) Singer, actor, songwriter, dancer
Years active 2006–present
Associated acts Zendaya, diggy, Kirko Bangz, B.O.B, Justine Skye
Website www.officialtrevorjackson.com

Trevor Howard Lawrence Jackson (born August 30, 1996) is an American singer, actor, songwriter, and dancer.[1] He is best known for portraying Kevin Blake on Syfy original series Eureka,[2][3] and for portraying Kris McDuffy on Disney Channel's hit movie Let It Shine.[4] Other notables appearances include Broadway musical The Lion King, where he played the Young Simba, and television guest star roles on both Cold Case and Harry's Law. In 2012, he won the Young Artist Awards for Best Performance in a TV Series.[5]

Early life

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana to Cam Baxter and Kevin Jackson, Trevor Jackson is the youngest of two boys.[6] Although Jackson came from a family interested in basketball, he told Vibe that at age eight that he would rather pursue his interests in the entertainment industry.[7]

Honing in on his talents at an early age, Jackson performed at local venues both within his hometown and nationally including a dance routine on Showtime at the Apollo. In 2004, the eight-year-old Trevor headed to the Chicago-based auditions for Disney’s Tony-Award winning national tour of The Lion King. His performance there led him to a three-year stint as Young Simba.

2010-Present: Acting Career, Let It Shine and Eureka

Following his run with The Lion King, Trevor Jackson transitioned from Broadway to the small screen appearing as a guest star in an episode of Cold Case in 2010.[8] In 2011, Jackson continued his run on TV starring in an episode of Harry’s Law in which he won the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series for his role of Willie Blue.[9] Jackson later appeared as a guest star on the Disney Channel television show Austin & Ally.[8]

Jackson’s first permanent role on television was as Kevin Blake on the Syfy original series Eureka from 2010-2012.[8] In 2012, Jackson expanded his acting career into film, playing the role of Quincy Smith in the film A Beautiful Soul.[8] That same year, Jackson went on to star in the original Disney Channel television movie Let It Shine (film) as Kris McDuffy alongside Tyler James Williams.[8] Jackson portrayed the best friend and confidant of Cyrus (James), an aspiring hip hop musician who enters a songwriting contest and mistakenly wins his best friend’s dream. The film became the #1 movie of 2012 across kids 6–11 years old, and solidified Trevor's place in Hollywood's teen circuit.[8] Jackson has completed shooting the film 'Sons 2 The Grave' alongside Darrin Dewitt Henson, Demetria McKinney and Justin Martin .[10]

2012-2013: Musical Beginnings, #NewThang EP

In 2012, Jackson signed with Atlantic Records who went on to release his first single “Like We Grown” in February 2013. Due to high demand of new music from his fans, Trevor collaborated with acclaimed producers Eric Hudson, J.R. Rotem and The Underdogs, to create his EP, #NewThang.[11]

In September 2013, Trevor released the #NewThang EP. Jackson followed the lead single “Like We Grown,” with his second single “Drop It,” which was featured in McDonald’s Monopoly Campaign commercial. To promote the #NewThang EP, Jackson toured with fellow Atlantic Records artist Justine Skye in Atlantic Records High School Nation Tour.[12]

2014-Present: Point of No Return 24's

In January 2014, Jackson released “New Thang” followed by a remix to his single “Drop It” featuring rapper B.o.B. In May, Jackson was featured on Diggy Simmons’ single “My Girl.”[11] Trevor is currently prepping his debut full-length album for release in summer 2015.[11] Jackson released his first single off the album, “Good Girl, Bad Girl” on June 3, 2014.[13] On July 22 of 2014, Jackson posted a lyric video to a track with Kirko Bangz on his official YouTube channel titled “Me Likey” four days before its iTunes release.[14] On August 3, 2014, Jackson partnered with fellow Atlantic Records artist Diggy Simmons on the "Who Else But Us" tour. Jackson revealed that he will release a new single with Sage the Gemini titled "Gotta Know.[15]"Jackson premiered the video for "I'll Be Who You Love (This Christmas)" on Rap-Up on December 3.[16] Jackson followed the release of the Christmas video with a new single, "Know Your Name" featuring Sage The Gemini on December 15.[17] Jackson recently appeared as a guest on VINE and vocalist LianeV's new single "Keep Playin."[18] Jackson is currently in the studio working on material for a new mixtape.

Influences and Voice

Jackson cites Michael Jackson, Gregory Hines, Donny Hathaway, Brian McKnight, and the Nicholas Brothers as his biggest musical influences.[11]

Jackson aims for his debut album to serve as a cohesive unit as he told Global Grind that it is his goal to “make an album that is not just a bunch of singles, but an album that can be listened to from top to bottom.”[19] “I wanted every song to say something, to be an experience,” Jackson told VIBE in a recent interview.

Philanthropy

Jackson supported Snoop Lion’s anti-violence “No Guns Allowed” campaign by releasing his own cover of Snoop Lion’s single “No Guns Allowed”, in March 2013.[20] In April 2013, Jackson volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Chicago.[21] Jackson participated in the Strike Out Cystic Fibrosis’s Bowling Charity Event on July 29, 2013.[22] Jackson hosted the Duffy’s Hope 11th Annual Teen Youth Empowerment Summit in Dover, Delaware on August 3, 2013. The organization helps provide youth with mentoring, health, education and more.[23] Jackson has also worked with NBA Cares and The League of Young Voters Education Fund.[24]

Discography

EPs

Trevor Jackson's mixtapes and details
Title Mixtape details
#NewThang
  • Released: September 23, 2013

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US US R&B
[25]
"Like We Grown" 2013 — — #NewThang
"Drop It" (Remix)[A]
(feat. B.o.B)		 — 44
"Good Girl, Bad Girl" 2014 — — Point of No Return 24's
"Me Likey"
(feat. Kirko Bangz)		 — —
"Know Your Name"
(feat. Sage The Gemini)		 — —
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released.

As featured artist

List of singles, with selected chart Peak chart positions
Album
US US R&B
"My Girl"
(Diggy Simmons featuring Trevor Jackson)		 2014 — — Out of This World
"Keep Playin"
(LianeV featuring Trevor Jackson)		 2015 — — Question of Heart
"—" denotes items that did not chart or were not released.

Notes

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Showtime at the Apollo Himself 1 episode, season 4
2010 Albert! Or, My Life in the Ocean Albert Film
2010 The Way He Makes Them Feel: A Michael Jackson Fan Documentary Himself Film
2010 Cold Case Leon 1 episode, season 7
2010–2012 Eureka Kevin Blake 16 episodes, seasons 4–5
2011 Harry's Law Willie Blue 1 episode, season 1
2011 A Moment of Youth Albert Film
2012 Let It Shine Kris McDuffy Film, main role
2012 A Beautiful Soul Quincy Smith Film
2012 Austin & Ally Trent 2 episodes, season 2
2012 Dr. Phil Himself 1 episode, season 10
2012 The Joey & Elise Show Himself Film
2013 Criminal Minds Tyler Rogers 1 episode, season 8
2015 K.C. Undercover Lincoln Threadwell pilot, season 1

References

  1. ↑ "Witness The Change: Trevor Jackson Interviewed". The Quietus. 2012-03-23.
  2. ↑ Once Upon a Time (2011-09-29). "Nice Boy of the Week: Trevor Jackson". nicegirlstv.com. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
  3. ↑ Eramo, Steve (2011-10-25). "Whiz Kid: Interview with Eureka's Trevor Jackson". The Morton Report. Retrieved 2012-06-16.
  4. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: Q&A with Let It Shine’s Trevor Jackson | BOP and Tiger Beat Online". Bopandtigerbeat.com. Retrieved 2012-06-16.
  5. ↑ "33rd Annual Young Artist Awards: 2012 Nominations". The Young Artist Foundation. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  6. ↑ http://www.officialtrevorjackson.com/blog/trevor-jackson-balls-his-brother-photos-16016).
  7. ↑ http://www.vibe.com/article/interview-trevor-jackson-talks-new-album-and-my-girl-single-diggy-simmons)
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3630119/
  9. ↑ http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms33.html
  10. ↑ http://www.officialtrevorjackson.com/blog/trevor-jackson-star-2015-sons-2-grave-movie-89396
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 http://www.vibe.com/article/interview-trevor-jackson-talks-new-album-and-my-girl-single-diggy-simmons
  12. ↑ http://theturnmag.com/2013/10/atlantic-high-school-tour-with-justine-skye-and-trevor-jackson/
  13. ↑ http://www.officialtrevorjackson.com
  14. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10GHC-eaHus
  15. ↑ http://www.frequency.com/video/trevor-jackson-reveals-sage-gemini/206730779?cid=5-84946
  16. ↑ http://www.rap-up.com/2014/12/03/video-premiere-trevor-jackson-ill-be-who-you-love-this-christmas/
  17. ↑ http://www.complex.com/music/2014/12/trevor-jackson-know-your-name-feat-sage-the-gemini-premiere?utm_campaign=complexmusic%2Bsocialflow%2B12%2B2014&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social
  18. ↑ http://www.singersroom.com/content/2015-01-14/Liane-V-Keep-Playin-ft-Trevor-Jackson/
  19. ↑ http://globalgrind.com/2014/05/09/diggy-simmons-trevor-jackson-my-girl-song-video-interview
  20. ↑ http://www.officialtrevorjackson.com/blog/trevor-covers-snoop-lion-s-no-guns-allowed-16891
  21. ↑
    http://www.officialtrevorjackson.com/blog/trevor-jackson-ronald-mcdonalds-house-17226
  22. ↑ http://www.officialtrevorjackson.com/blog/ca-come-out-and-bowl-trevor-19436
  23. ↑ http://www.officialtrevorjackson.com/blog/trevor-jackson-host-duffy-s-hope-11th-annual-teen-youth-summit-19441
  24. ↑ http://finance.yahoo.com/news/trevor-jackson-unveils-newthang-ep-210259739.html
  25. ↑ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2011.

External links