Chris Richardson facts for kids

Christopher Michael Richardson (born February 19, 1984) is an American singer and songwriter. He became well-known after finishing in fifth place on the sixth season of the TV show American Idol.

Quick facts for kids Chris Richardson
Richardson performing as part of the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2007
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Michael Richardson
Born	(1984-02-19) February 19, 1984 (age 41) Soignies, Belgium
Origin	Chesapeake, Virginia, U.S.
Genres	Pop rock R&B
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals guitar keyboard drums
Years active	2007–present
Labels	Cash Money Records Republic

About Chris Richardson

Chris Richardson was born in Belgium because his father was in the United States Air Force. His family moved to Chesapeake, Virginia, in 1999.

Chris graduated from Great Bridge High School in 2002. He then studied music at Christopher Newport University for a year, where he also played football. He continued his music studies at Tidewater Community College. Before becoming famous, Chris worked as a kitchen supervisor in a restaurant.

Chris is a talented musician who plays the guitar, drums, and piano. He enjoys music from artists like Jason Mraz, Justin Timberlake, James Brown, and Michael Jackson. Among female singers, he likes early 1990s Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera. He also has a Bulldog named Tommy.

Chris is good friends with fellow American Idol contestant Blake Lewis. In 2016, Chris and his girlfriend, Maryfrances Jerez, welcomed their baby girl.

Chris on American Idol

Chris Richardson tried out for American Idol two times before finally making it onto season six. He auditioned in New York City and impressed the judges. During the Hollywood week, he performed with Paul Kim and AJ Tabaldo.

On the show, many people, including judge Randy Jackson, compared Chris to pop star Justin Timberlake. Chris was happy about the comparison, saying, "To be even mentioned in the same sentence as someone so successful, it's great." He also mentioned that his own music might sound different from Justin Timberlake's when he released his album.

American Idol Performances

Chris performed many songs during his time on American Idol. Here are some of his notable performances:

• His audition song was "A Song for You".
• During Hollywood Week, he sang "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know".
• In the Top 20, he sang "Geek in the Pink" by Jason Mraz.
• He sang "The Boss" for Diana Ross week.
• For British Invasion week, he performed "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying".
• He sang "Don't Speak" by No Doubt for the Top 10.
• In the Top 8, he performed "Smooth" by Santana.
• He sang "Mayberry" by Rascal Flatts for Country week.
• His last performance before being eliminated was "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi.

Chris made it to the Top 6 before being eliminated from the competition.

After American Idol

After American Idol, Chris Richardson joined the other Top 10 contestants for the Season 6 tour.

He then started working on his first album, which he planned to call Come Right Back to You. He described the album's sound as a mix of rock and R&B, similar to Maroon 5 with a touch of Jason Mraz.

In 2008, a new song by Chris called "All Alone" was released. He performed this song on many radio and TV stations as part of a tour. Chris also helped write songs for other American Idol stars like Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks.

Chris continued to perform, sometimes as a surprise guest with artists like Jason Mraz. In 2010, he appeared on the American Idol finale to honor judge Simon Cowell.

In 2011, Chris worked with rapper Tyga on the song "Far Away". This song was very popular and reached number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

In 2012, Chris signed a record deal with Cash Money Records and Republic Records. He released the single "In the Name of Love" and later "Joy & Pain," also featuring Tyga.

Chris has continued to release new music independently, including songs like "Collecting" and "Why You Mad." In 2015, he was featured on the international hit "Bigger Better Faster" with Follow Your Instinct and Busta Rhymes, which was a Top 3 hit in Japan. He also released a new single called "Rear View" in 2016.

Music by Chris Richardson

Albums

• Chris Richardson - EP (2007)
• Press Play - EP (TBA 2016)
• Murder She Wrote - EP (TBA 2016)

Singles

• "All Alone" (2008)
• "Floating off the Ground" (2009)
• "In the Name of Love" (2012)
• "Far Away" (featuring Tyga) (2012)
• "Joy and Pain" (featuring Tyga) (2012)
• "Collecting"
• "Why You Mad" (featuring Caskey) (2013)
• "Bigger Better Faster" (with Follow Your Instinct & Busta Rhymes) (2015)
• "Rear View" (2016)

Songs featuring Chris

Chris Richardson has also been featured on other artists' songs. One well-known example is:

Images for kids

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  Richardson performing as part of the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2007