| Jacob Lusk | |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Origin: | Compton, California, US |
| Genre: | R&B, gospel, pop |
| Instrument: | Vocals, drums |
| Occupation: | Singer |
| Years Active: | 2011–present |
Jacob Lusk (born June 23, 1987) is an American singer from Compton, California, who finished in fifth place on the tenth season of American Idol. He is also a member of Gabriels.
Lusk was born in 1987 to Anglia and Gregory Lusk, and is from Compton, California. His father worked as a music producer,[1] but he died when Lusk was twelve. Lusk began singing when he was four years old, and performed at his church from the age of five.[2] He attended United Faith Community School in Long Beach, California,[1] and was the lead singer in the school choir, plays and programs.[2]
He is a minister of music at his church. Prior to American Idol, he worked as a spa concierge.[3] In 2007, he joined a gospel group called InNate Praise formed by the late hip-hop singer Nate Dogg, and he performed with the group at churches around Los Angeles County.[4]
He was arrested in November 2010 for missing a court hearing after being cited for riding on an L.A. metro train without buying a ticket, and spent three days in jail.[5] He was also initially sentenced to two years probation but was reprieved after pleading to the judge that the sentence would jeopardize his chance of appearing on American Idol.
His musical influences include his father Gregory Lusk, Billie Holiday, Luther Vandross, Gladys Knight, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, James Moore, and BeBe and CeCe Winans.
Lusk auditioned for the tenth season of American Idol in Los Angeles, California.
Lusk was first shown in the group stage of the competition where he performed with fellow finalist Naima Adedapo, Vegas Contestant Sophia Shorai, and Matthew Nuss, and Da'Quela Payne. all advanced to the top 102
He received high praise from Randy Jackson for his performance of "God Bless the Child" during the Hollywood rounds as the best ever seen on Idol. He was one of the top five males in the semi-final round, and therefore advanced to the Top 13.[6] Lusk was eliminated on May 5, 2011, finishing in fifth place. During the finale, he performed with Kirk Franklin and Gladys Knight.
| Episode | Theme | Song choice | Original artist | Order # | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audition | Auditioner's Choice | "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" | The Undisputed Truth | N/A | Advanced |
| "A Change Is Gonna Come"[7] | Sam Cooke | ||||
| Hollywood Round, Part 1 | First Solo | N/A | N/A | N/A | Advanced |
| Hollywood Round, Part 2 | Group Performance | "Get Ready" | The Temptations | N/A | Advanced |
| Hollywood Round, Part 3 | Second Solo | "God Bless the Child" | Billie Holiday | N/A | Advanced |
| Las Vegas Round | Songs of The Beatles Group Performance | "The Long and Winding Road" | The Beatles | N/A | Advanced |
| Hollywood Round Final | Final Solo | "A Song for You" | Leon Russell | N/A | Advanced |
| Top 24 (12 Men) | Personal Choice | "A House Is Not a Home" | Brook Benton | 11 | Advanced |
| Top 13 | Your Personal Idol | "I Believe I Can Fly" | R. Kelly | 8 | Safe |
| Top 12 | Year you Were Born | "Alone" | i-TEN | 12 | Safe |
| Top 11 | Motown | "You're All I Need to Get By" | Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell | 3 | Safe |
| Top 11 | Elton John | "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word" | Elton John | 10 | Safe |
| Top 9 | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame | "Man in the Mirror" | Michael Jackson | 1 | |
| Top 8 | Songs from the Movies | "Bridge over Troubled Water" — The Pursuit of Happyness | Simon & Garfunkel | 7 | Safe |
| Top 7 | Songs from the 21st Century | "Dance with My Father" | Luther Vandross | 4 | Bottom 3 |
| Top 6 | Solo "Oh No Not My Baby" | Maxine Brown | 1 | Safe | |
| Duet "I'm into Something Good" with James Durbin | Earl-Jean McCrea | 9 | |||
| Top 5 | Songs from Now and Then | "No Air" | Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown | 2 | Eliminated |
| "Love Hurts" | The Everly Brothers | 7 |
Lusk and the rest of the top 11 took part in the American Idols Live! Tour 2011, which began in West Valley City, Utah, on July 6, 2011, and ended in Manila, Philippines on September 20, 2011.[8] He performed on Live with Regis and Kelly on May 9, 2011, and on the Today show on May 10, 2011. In 2016, he formed Gabriels with Ari Balouzian and Ryan Hope.[9]
On June 25, 2023, he performed "Are You Ready for Love" alongside Elton John at John's headline performance at the Glastonbury Festival.[10] In October 2023, Lusk won The Breakthrough Award in the 2023 Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards.[11]
On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, Lusk performed at the all-star tribute concert for the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song saluting pop music legend and LGBTQ+ advocate Elton John and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin.[12] [13] [14] In the duo's acceptance speech, John and Taupin, both born the U.K. paid homage to the American rock-n-roll songbook including Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Ray Charles and more. Elton John stated, "All my heros were American. And I got to meet most of them, too. What can I say? I'm very humbled tonight, especially by everyone who performed."[15] Billed as Jacob Lusk of Gabriels, Lusk received a standing ovation for an unforgettable performance of the 1970s hit "Bennie and the Jetts." He introduced the song with a Holiness-Pentecostal church styled sermonette dedicated to "two masters of the popular genre from the book of the Jetts. And his name is Bennie!"
Lusk identifies as queer. Of his time on American Idol, he says "Even though I wasn’t out, I was pretty, pretty flaming."[16]