Justin Guarini - Biography

Last Editor: chickymonkey9				Justin Guarini Biography -   Name : Justin Guarini Profession : Singer Birth Details : born Justin Eldrin Bell on October 28, 1978 in Columbus, Georgia Birth name : Justin Eldrin Bell Guarini Height : 6' 2½" (1.89 m) Nickname : JGuar Personal quotes : "Half-Italian, half-African-American, and English and Irish thrown in there somewhere." (Justin on his ethnic background) A child's day is Trade mark : Smooth, soulful voice.

Justin Guarini Trivia -

Dad Eldrin Bell is a former Atlanta police chief. Stepfather Jerry Guarini is a retired physicist. Mom Kathy is a former TV journalist and his dad, Eldrin Bell, is first cousins with Samuel L. Jackson's wife, LaTanya Richardson. Justin graduated from Central Bucks East High School. Justin Guarini attended acting school at the School for Film & Television in NYC in 1999-2000. His classmate was Scott Holroyd, who now plays Paul Ryan on "As the World Turns" (1956). He went to Junior High School with Pink. Before he was a singer, he worked at Cutting Edge Entertainment, specializing in singers, entertainers, weddings, bar mitzvahs and other gatherings. Began singing at age 4. He was a salesman for ADT Home Security Systems before becoming a singer. Attended the University of Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Attended the School for Film and TV in New York City, New York. Shares the same birthday with the following celebrities: NYPD Blue's, Dennis Franz, Pretty Woman's, Julia Roberts, All My Children's & Picket Fences', Lauren Holly, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and Joaquin Phoenix. His first group was the Atlanta Boys Choir. Performed with the Acapella group, Midnight Voices during high school. From TV Guide (Dec. 18, 2005): "Dancing With The Stars": "Dancing's finale scores the biggest audience for a summer show since the Justin and Kelly matchup on Idol".

Justin Guarini Detailed Biography -

Justin Guarini (born Justin Eldrin Bell on October 28, 1978 in Columbus, Georgia) is an American singer who rose to fame on the television show American Idol. His father, Eldrin Bell, is a former Atlanta Chief of Police. His mother, Kathy Pepino Guarini, was a journalist for WTVN TV in Columbus, and later for CNN. Guarini was raised by his mother and stepfather Jerry Guarini in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Guarini's music career started at the age of four with the prestigious Atlanta Boys Choir. He continued to sing in school choirs, and, in 1996-97, was the lead soloist is an award-winning a capella group named Midnight Voices. Guarini's early theater credits include leads in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Little Prince, Pirates of Penzance, Taming of the Shrew, and Once on This Island. In addition to singing and stage performing, Guarini plays the piano and guitar. After graduating from Central Bucks East High School in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Guarini studied vocal performance and theater studies at the University of Arts in Philadelphia. He later moved to New York City where he attended the School for Film and Television. He worked briefly on Broadway and was recruited by Broadway scouts to join the cast of The Lion King in their master classes before auditioning for American Idol in April of 2002. Guarini was an instant sensation during the debut season of American Idol, ultimately becoming the popular runner-up to winner Kelly Clarkson in September 2002. Guarini was quickly signed by American Idol's 19 Management and secured a record deal with RCA. After displaying a broad range of natural showmanship during the American Idol Tour, the talented newcomer's career appeared ready to take off. However, unlike subsequent seasons, Guarini was required to wait three months after the release of the winner‘s album before releasing any solo projects or accepting any outside offers. Some known offers he was forced to refuse were a guest role on Friends, the emcee role in Broadway's Cabaret, a major role in The Fast and the Furious, recording the soundtrack for a film, and modeling for Tommy Hilfiger Corporation. His long delayed first project, the self-titled album Justin Guarini, eventually debuted nine months later in June of 2003, coinciding with both the higher profile releases of the current second season American Idol top finishers, and Simon Fuller's ill-fated movie project, From Justin to Kelly, starring Guarini and Clarkson. The timing further hindered Guarini, while having little impact on Clarkson whose career momentum had already been established with several solo projects and individual promotion during the prior months. After a short period of haphazard promotion, Guarini was dropped by RCA. When legally possible, he decided to end his ties with Fuller's 19 Management. In 2004, Guarini participated in the New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater presentation of the musical Good Vibrations at Vassar College. His well-received performance (which included singing, dancing, acting, and playing guitar) in the Vassar production landed Guarini an offer to continue the role in the original Broadway production of the musical Good Vibrations. He eventually declined the offer. He continues to act with roles in independent film projects such as The Unknown: Frankie The Squirrel, and the short film Tilt-a-Whirl for the Dances With Films Film Festival. Guarini is an active national spokesperson for Support Music Education, and participates in raising funds for charities such as Habitat for Humanity, Rockers on Broadway, Broadway's Kitchen Sink, and various children's hospitals across the country. In 2005, Guarini co-produced his second album Stranger Things Have Happened, a praised album of jazz standards independently released in December through his own production company, Justice Entertainment, Ltd.. Guarini lives in Hollywood Hills, California.