Christopher Michael Richardson (born February 19, 1984) was the fifth-place finalist on the sixth season of American Idol. He was eliminated on May 2, 2007.
Personal Life[]
Richardson was born in Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe Hospital in Belgium to Phyllis and Danny Richardson. His father spent 20 years in the Air Force. Richardson moved to Chesapeake, Virginia, in 1999. He admitted during the March 6, 2007 edition of American Idol that he used to be overweight as a child and teenager. He has lost roughly forty pounds and has become more health conscious; it is reported that he was always motivating his fellow Idols to work out and care about their health and appearance. He graduated from Great Bridge High School in 2002 and studied music composition at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, for a year, playing football there as well. He continued his musical studies at Tidewater Community College. Before Idol, Richardson was a kitchen supervisor for a Hooters restaurant.
Chris plays guitar, drums and piano. His favorite male singers include Jason Mraz, JT, James Brown, and Michael Jackson. His favorite female artists are early 90s Mariah Carey, and Christina Aguilera. He has a Bulldog named Timmy.
Chris and fellow idol Blake Lewis had said on Chris' elimination night that they are best friends. Chris Richardson has also been spotted out with Lauren Conrad (The Hills).
American Idol[]
Richardson had auditioned for American Idol in two previous seasons before being cast on season 6. Richardson auditioned in New York, holding number 8963. The judges warmed to him, and he got through the audition process. Richardson was grouped with Paul Kim and AJ Tabaldo in the Hollywood group round.
During American Idol, Chris received many comparisons to Justin Timberlake, including from judge Randy Jackson. But, he adds, those who've drawn the connection should listen to his album when it comes out and then decide if it still holds. "To be even mentioned in the same sentence as someone so successful, it's great," Richardson told the Associated Press on Thursday the day after his elimination in a phone interview. "They might be surprised whenever I come out with my album, that it's completely different than his. So that's when other people might one day be, like `Hey, you sort of sound like Chris Richardson.'"
After American Idol[]
Richardson participated in the tour.
On May 19, 2007, Chris Sligh stated on his personal blog that he, Phil Stacey, and Chris Richardson will "be heading off to studios somewhere [after the American Idols Live! Tour] to work on [their] debut major label records" and then added, "or at least it looks at this point like all 3 of [them] will be on major labels."
He is working on his debut album, tentatively titled All Alone, which he said will be a mix of both rock, soul/R&B. "It'll be a mixture of a Maroon 5 sound with a little bit of Jason Mraz," said Richardson. "I love rock and roll but I have this soulful type voice and I just like to infuse both of them." On February 22, 2008, a new song leaked onto the internet from Richardson, entitled "All Alone." The song has since been released commercially, being available on iTunes among other places. Richardson performs the song on over 30 radio/tv stations as part of his 10 city tour, sponsored by Dreyers. On May 20, 2008, the album was put on the fast track and was recorded in LA, Miami and Virginia. Producers include Ill Factor (Matisyahu, Ginuwine, Ricky Martin), Brent Paschke (Gwen Stefani, Jesse McCartney, Backstreet Boys)and Troy "Radio" Johnson (Will Smith). The album is scheduled for a Fall 2008 release.
Richardson co-wrote the track "What'cha Got 2 Lose?" on Blake Lewis' debut album A.D.D. (Audio Day Dream), as well as the bonus track "Human" released exclusively via iTunes. He has also said in an interview that he has written songs for winner Jordin Sparks and Phil Stacey and plans on writing with Gina Glocksen.
On April 19, 2008, Chris Richardson appeared as a surprise guest at Jason Mraz's "Music, Magic, and Makepeace Tour". He sang a duet with Mraz called "Geek in the Pink".
Richardson's long awaited debut album is scheduled for release sometime in 2009.
| Season 6 |
| Finalists |
| Jordin Sparks · Blake Lewis · Melinda Doolittle · LaKisha Jones · Chris Richardson · Phil Stacey · Sanjaya Malakar · Haley Scarnato · Gina Glocksen · Chris Sligh · Stephanie Edwards · Brandon Rogers |
| Semifinalists |
| Sundance Head · Sabrina Sloan · Antonella Barba · Jared Cotter · Leslie Hunt · A.J. Tabaldo · Alaina Alexander · Nicholas Pedro · Rudy Cardenas · Nicole Tranquillo · Amy Krebs · Paul Kim |