Jake Zyrus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jake Zyrus
Jake Zyrus performing at the Barrio Fiesta in London, June 2016
Background information
Also known as	Charice Pempengco Charice (both; 2005–2017)
Born	(1992-05-10) May 10, 1992 (age 33) Cabuyao, Laguna, Philippines
Genres	Pop R&B dance
Occupation(s)	Singer television personality actor
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Star Warner Bros. 143 Reprise

Jake Zyrus (born May 10, 1992) is a talented Filipino singer and TV star. He was formerly known as Charice Pempengco.

Jake became famous around the world in 2007 and 2008. He appeared on popular TV shows like The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show. On Oprah's show, he even got to sing with his idol, Céline Dion, at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

He released his first international album, Charice, in 2010. It made history by reaching number eight on the Billboard 200 chart. This was the first time an Asian solo singer's album landed in the top 10! His song "Pyramid" with Iyaz became a big hit.

Later, Jake also started acting. He joined the cast of the musical TV series Glee in 2010, playing the character Sunshine Corazon. He continued to release more albums and even became a judge on The X Factor Philippines in 2012. In 2017, Jake shared that he is a transgender male and changed his name from Charice to Jake Zyrus.

Early Life and Discovery

Jake Zyrus was born Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco in Cabuyao, Laguna, Philippines. His mother, Racquel, raised him and his younger brother. To help his family, Jake started entering singing contests when he was only seven years old. He competed in many local shows and TV competitions.

In 2005, Jake joined Little Big Star, a talent show in the Philippines. Even though he was eliminated early, he came back as a wildcard and became one of the finalists. He didn't win the top prize but finished in third place.

After Little Big Star, Jake made a few small TV appearances. But his big break came in 2007 when a fan, FalseVoice, started posting his singing videos on YouTube. These videos quickly got over 15 million views, making Jake an internet sensation!

Career Highlights

Becoming a Global Star (2007–2008)

Jake's online videos caught the attention of music producers in Sweden. He recorded several songs and was then invited to the South Korean talent show Star King in October 2007. He sang "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" and a duet with Kyuhyun from Super Junior.

After seeing his videos, Ellen DeGeneres invited Jake to her show in the United States. He performed "I Will Always Love You" and "And I Am Telling You" on December 19, 2007. This was his first time performing in the US. He then appeared on Star King again and even sang for the President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

In May 2008, Jake released his first mini-album in the Philippines, called Charice. It quickly became a gold-certified album and later reached platinum status. He also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show where he sang Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing." After the show, Oprah Winfrey connected Jake with famous music producer David Foster.

Jake began performing with David Foster at big concerts, including Hitman: David Foster and Friends in Las Vegas. He sang songs from The Bodyguard. He also performed with Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli in Italy, singing "The Prayer" together.

In September 2008, Oprah Winfrey called Jake "The Most Talented Girl in the World" on her show. She surprised him with a video call from Celine Dion, who invited him to sing with her in New York City. Jake and Celine sang "Because You Loved Me" together, dedicating it to Jake's mother. This performance was highly praised by newspapers like the New York Post and The New York Times.

Major Performances and Albums (2009–2010)

In January 2009, Jake performed at events leading up to the first inauguration of Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. He also sang at post-Oscar parties. He debuted a new song called "Fingerprint" and performed on an Italian TV show, Ti lascio una canzone. He also sang the US national anthem at a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game.

In May, Jake released his second Philippine album, My Inspiration. It included songs like "Always You" and a duet with his mother, "You and Me Against the World". This album also quickly went gold and then platinum. On The Oprah Winfrey Show, Jake debuted his first international single, "Note to God", which was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster. The song did well on the Billboard charts.

Jake had his first big solo concert, Charice: The Journey Begins, in the Philippines in June 2009. He also shared that he was supposed to sing with Michael Jackson on his tour, but sadly, Jackson passed away before it could happen. Jake also contributed to Christmas albums and appeared in the movie Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.

International Success and Acting (2010–2012)

In January 2010, Jake performed on another Italian singing competition, Io Canto. He also sang at a heart disease awareness event in the US. His second international single, "Pyramid" (featuring Iyaz), was released in February 2010. His debut international album, Charice, was released on May 11, 2010. On the same day, he appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show again, this time with Justin Bieber.

A big moment came on June 22, 2010, when Jake confirmed he was joining the cast of the popular US TV series Glee for its second season. He played Sunshine Corazon, an exchange student who was a strong competitor to the main character, Rachel Berry.

Jake sang the Philippine national anthem at the inauguration of President Benigno Aquino III in June 2010. He continued to promote his album in Asia and appeared on Glee throughout its second season. He also performed at the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting in New York City. In December 2010, Jake became an official Smile Ambassador for Operation Smile, helping children with facial deformities.

In 2011, Jake released new music for his second international album, Infinity. The lead single, "Before It Explodes", was written by Bruno Mars. Another single, "One Day", was co-written with Nick Jonas. He also sang the theme song, "New World", for the video game Final Fantasy XIII-2. Infinity was released in Japan in October 2011 and later worldwide in 2012.

New Music and Collaborations (2013–2015)

In 2013, Jake released his third album in the Philippines, called Chapter 10. It featured covers of popular songs, including "Titanium". He also had a joint concert with Aiza Seguerra called "Power of Two."

Jake sang "Right Where I Belong" for the movie The Swan Princess: A Royal Family Tale (2014). He also appeared on Oprah: Where Are They Now? in 2014. In 2015, Jake reunited with David Foster to perform a song on Asia's Got Talent.

Artistry and Voice

Musical Influences

Jake has shared that his mother, who was also a singer, was his first and most important musical influence. He started asking for singing lessons when he was just four years old. Growing up, his family listened to many different artists, especially powerful vocalists like Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Destiny's Child.

Jake also admires artists like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé for their style and vocal abilities. He was a big fan of Michael Jackson and has expressed interest in working with other artists like Justin Timberlake and Ne-Yo.

His Amazing Voice

Before his transition, when he was known as Charice, Jake was widely praised for his incredible singing voice. David Foster noted Jake's ability to imitate other singers' voices, which he said is a sign of a great singer. Singer Josh Groban called Jake's voice "one of the most beautiful" he had heard.

Ryan Murphy, the music producer for Glee, once said, "When that girl opens her mouth, angels fly out." Oprah's book about her show also mentioned Jake's "soaring soprano voice."

Personal Life

In June 2017, Jake Zyrus announced on social media that he was adopting his current name and would no longer use his former stage name, Charice. He shared that he identifies as a transgender male. In 2018, he published a memoir called I Am Jake.

Awards and Recognition

Jake's star, bearing the name "Charice Pempengco", in the Eastwood City Walk of Fame in the Philippines.

• 3rd Place – Little Big Star Big Division, Season 1, 2005, Philippines
• Most Requested Foreign Act of 2007 – StarKing, South Korea
• Pinoy World Class Talent – 20th anniversary of the Music Museum, 2008, Philippines
• Key to the City of Rotterdam – Mayor Ivo Opstelten, 2008, the Netherlands
• Best New Female Recording Artist – Aliw Awards, 2008, Philippines
• Newsmaker of the Year 2008, 2009 and 2010 – Balitang America, USA
• People of the Year 2008 – People Asia Magazine, 2009, Philippines
• Special Citation Award – MYX Music Awards 2009, Philippines
• Outstanding Global Achievement – 40th Box Office Entertainment Awards (Guillermo Awards), 2009, Philippines
• Best Selling Album of the Year – 22nd Awit Awards, 2009, Philippines
• Best Musical Performance of 2009 – The Oprah Winfrey Show, USA
• Fun, Fearless Female Award – Cosmopolitan Magazine Philippines, 2010
• Icon of Tomorrow – J-14 Magazine, 2010, USA
• BPInoy Award: Outstanding Filipino – Bank of the Philippine Islands, 2010, Philippines
• Best Inspirational or Religious Song (for "Always You") – 23rd Awit Awards, 2010, Philippines
• Best New Artist – J-Wave Tokio Hot 100 Awards 2011, Japan
• Female Concert Performer of the Year – 42nd Box Office Entertainment Awards, 2011, Philippines
• Coolest Female Singer Award: Yahoo! OMG Awards Philippines
• Best Major Concert (Female Category) – 24th Aliw Awards, 2011, Philippines
• Entertainer of the Year – 24th Aliw Awards, 2011, Philippines
• Favorite Asian Act – Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2012, USA

Discography

Studio Albums

• My Inspiration (2009)
• Charice (2010)
• Infinity (2011)
• Chapter 10 (2013)
• Catharsis (2016)

Extended Plays

• Charice (2008)
• Grown-Up Christmas List (2010)
• Evolution (2019)

Filmography

Images for kids

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  Jake in 2010

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  Jake in 2011

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  Céline Dion, one of Jake's vocal inspirations.

See also

In Spanish: Jake Zyrus para niños