Jim Verraros
Encyclopedia
James Conrad "Jim" Verraros (born February 8, 1983) is an American singer/entertainer and native of Crystal Lake, Illinois
who is most notable for being one of the top 10 finalists in the first season of American Idol
. Because he was raised by deaf parents, he is fluent in American Sign Language
.
made him remove his online journal that included discussion of his homosexuality in the summer of 2002. However, Jim Verraros later stated that "it wasn't because I was gay. It was because they thought I was trying to gain more votes and have that little extra edge." While Verraros was out to fellow contestants and Idol employees, he did not mention his homosexuality on air. Following the end of the show and the subsequent tour, Verraros came out publicly in an article in The Advocate
.
On September 6, 2009, Verraros married his boyfriend Bill Brennan in a small ceremony in Illinois. They made it legal on July 24, 2011 in New York.
The album was revamped and picked up by Koch Records
and released as Rollercoaster (2005), Verraros' mainstream debut, which garnered several dance floor hits, including the Top 25 Billboard Hot Club/Dance Chart hit "You Turn It On." The album was produced and co-written by Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Gabe Lopez
and features four songs co-written by American Idol finalist Angela Peel. The album had a limited release deal through Koch Records
.
On May 27, 2009, Verraros released two new singles "Touch (Don't U Want 2)" and "Electric Love" from his third album Do Not Disturb (release date TBA). Both songs were produced and written by Gabe Lopez
.
As an actor, Verarros is a star of the 2004
gay-themed comedy Eating Out directed by Q. Allan Brocka
and produced by Ariztical Entertainment, as well as its 2006 sequel, Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds
. Verraros was considered for a role on the here! series Dante's Cove
. Verraros has appeared four times on The Feast of Fools
podcast - once in November and December 2006 and twice in January 2007.
Verraros is an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs
, Chicago Bears
, Chicago Blackhawks
, and Chicago Bulls
.
Crystal Lake, Illinois
Crystal Lake is a city located in southeastern McHenry County in northeastern Illinois, in the Chicago suburbs. It is named after Crystal Lake, a lake located west-southwest of downtown. Crystal Lake is also a suburb of the city of Chicago. The population was 38,000 at the 2000 census, but as of...
who is most notable for being one of the top 10 finalists in the first season of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. Because he was raised by deaf parents, he is fluent in American Sign Language
American Sign Language
American Sign Language, or ASL, for a time also called Ameslan, is the dominant sign language of Deaf Americans, including deaf communities in the United States, in the English-speaking parts of Canada, and in some regions of Mexico...
.
Personal life
Verraros quickly became a celebrity in the American gay press because of a controversy that erupted when it was reported that Fox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
made him remove his online journal that included discussion of his homosexuality in the summer of 2002. However, Jim Verraros later stated that "it wasn't because I was gay. It was because they thought I was trying to gain more votes and have that little extra edge." While Verraros was out to fellow contestants and Idol employees, he did not mention his homosexuality on air. Following the end of the show and the subsequent tour, Verraros came out publicly in an article in The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
.
On September 6, 2009, Verraros married his boyfriend Bill Brennan in a small ceremony in Illinois. They made it legal on July 24, 2011 in New York.
Professional career
Verraros released his album Unsaid and Understood (2004) through the indie label Red Queen Music - Sound Axis. It won the 2004 Outmusic Award for Outstanding New Recording - Debut Male.The album was revamped and picked up by Koch Records
Koch Records
E1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe under the name E1 Universal...
and released as Rollercoaster (2005), Verraros' mainstream debut, which garnered several dance floor hits, including the Top 25 Billboard Hot Club/Dance Chart hit "You Turn It On." The album was produced and co-written by Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Gabe Lopez
Gabe Lopez
Gabe Lopez is an American pop-rock singer/songwriter and producer. He is of Hispanic and Irish descent.- Artist career :Known in Los Angeles for performing in noted venues such as The Roxy Theatre, The House of Blues, and The Derby and voted one of Music Connection Magazine's Hot 100 Artists,...
and features four songs co-written by American Idol finalist Angela Peel. The album had a limited release deal through Koch Records
Koch Records
E1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe under the name E1 Universal...
.
On May 27, 2009, Verraros released two new singles "Touch (Don't U Want 2)" and "Electric Love" from his third album Do Not Disturb (release date TBA). Both songs were produced and written by Gabe Lopez
Gabe Lopez
Gabe Lopez is an American pop-rock singer/songwriter and producer. He is of Hispanic and Irish descent.- Artist career :Known in Los Angeles for performing in noted venues such as The Roxy Theatre, The House of Blues, and The Derby and voted one of Music Connection Magazine's Hot 100 Artists,...
.
As an actor, Verarros is a star of the 2004
2004 in film
The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
gay-themed comedy Eating Out directed by Q. Allan Brocka
Q. Allan Brocka
Quenton Allan Brocka is an award-winning American television and film director based in West Hollywood, California. He has directed and written a number of feature films while creating an animated television series for the Logo cable network...
and produced by Ariztical Entertainment, as well as its 2006 sequel, Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds
Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds
Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds is a gay-themed romantic comedy film released in 2006. It is the sequel to Eating Out and Jim Verraros, Rebekah Kochan, and Emily Brooke Hands reprise their roles from the original...
. Verraros was considered for a role on the here! series Dante's Cove
Dante's Cove
Dante's Cove is an American LGBT-oriented supernatural soap opera. The series airs on here!, an American gay-oriented network, and on Gay.com....
. Verraros has appeared four times on The Feast of Fools
Feast of Fools (podcast)
The Feast of Fun podcast is a Chicago, Illinois-based talk show hosted by Fausto Fernós and Marc Felion that showcases celebrity guests, artists, musicians, actors, and members of the GLBT community and those who support them...
podcast - once in November and December 2006 and twice in January 2007.
Verraros is an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, and Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
.
Filmography
- American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
Season 1American Idol (Season 1)The first season of American Idol premiered on June 11, 2002 and continued until September 4, 2002. It was won by Kelly Clarkson...
(2002) Himself - Eating Out (2004) Kyle
- Eating Out 2: Sloppy SecondsEating Out 2: Sloppy SecondsEating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds is a gay-themed romantic comedy film released in 2006. It is the sequel to Eating Out and Jim Verraros, Rebekah Kochan, and Emily Brooke Hands reprise their roles from the original...
(2006) Kyle - Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild! (2008) Priest
- Copacabana (2013) Flavio/Suzie (in production)
Albums
| Album Information |
|---|
Unsaid and Understood
|
| Rollercoaster
Koch Entertainment Koch Entertainment was a music, film and television distribution company. It was purchased by E1 Entertainment in 2005 and now operates under the name E1 Entertainment.-History:The company began in 1975 as Koch International...
|
| Do Not Disturb
|