Randy Jackson Randy Jackson Randall Darius Jackson (born June 23, 1956) is an American bassist, singer, record producer, entrepreneur and television personality. Jackson began his career in the 1980s as a session musician playing bass guitar for an array of jazz, pop, rock and R&B performers. He moved on to work in music production and as A&R at Columbia Records and MCA Records. Jackson is best known from his appearances as a judge on "American Idol" and executive producer for MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew". Jackson has won a Grammy Award as a producer. Jackson was born on June 23, 1956, in
American Idol (season 13) night before with all three judges on hand to toast the forthcoming announcement. On September 3, 2013, Lopez and Connick Jr. were officially announced as judges for this season along with the confirmation of Jackson being the new mentor. Lopez is the first "American Idol" judge to return after leaving at the end of the eleventh season. It was also later reported that Idol alumni Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry would be assisting Jackson in mentoring the contestants. In a rules change from past seasons, semifinalists from the twelfth season (but not previous seasons) who were not in the top