American Idol Profile: Who is Season 10 Finalist Jacob Lusk?

Jacob Lusk was named one of the top 11 finalists for Season 10 of "American Idol," the popular Fox Television musical contest and reality TV show, in 2011. As such, Lusk is listed for the 2011 "Idols Live" nationwide tour.

Gospel choir singer Lusk auditioned for "Idol" in Los Angeles, singing The Temptations' "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" and following up with Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come."

"We've been waiting for you," gushed "Idol" judge Steven Tyler on-air. Later, during the Hollywood round, Randy Jackson dubbed Lusk's cover of Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child" as the best-ever audition in the history of "Idol."

The crooner from Compton

With no formal vocal training, the 23-year-old African-American singer, church music minister and spa concierge points to his own late father as his primary musical influence. Lusk says he dreams of performing at the Hollywood Bowl and would love to sing with "I Will Always Love You" with Whitney Houston someday.

His favorite recording artists include Yolanda Adams, Aretha Franklin, Kirk Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Amel Larrieux and Luther Vandross.

In 2007, Lusk auditioned and joined InNate Praise, a gospel group formed by the late "Nate Dogg" Hale that gave concerts at Los Angeles County churches. The two became close friends, leading to Lusk's recent Tweets of grief over the artist's death.

Born June 23, 1987, in Compton, California, Lusk began singing as a child. In addition, he enjoys acting and playing the piano. On Twitter, he calls himself an "actor, singer and songwriter who delivers from his soul." Onstage, his expressive deliveries and earnest tears prove this to be true.

The teddy bear with the giant voice

On "Idol," Lusk has become known as much for his prodigious vocals as his cuddliness. Offering one of his more memorable quips, Tyler said this to Lusk on the show: "Gospel had a baby, and they named it Jacob Lusk."

After his Top 11 performance, Tyler climbed on stage to give the R&B and gospel singer a hug and a kiss. Then host Ryan Seacrest invited fans from the audience to step up to hug the finalist.

In the early weeks of Season 10, Lusk sang a Vandross version of Dionne Warwick's "A House Is Not a Home," R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly," i-TEN's "Alone" and Marvin Gaye's "You're All I Need to Get By."

After Lusk performed "A House Is Not a Home," Tyler exclaimed, "I'm honored ... honored to be in your presence. You make me cry when you sing. I don't know where you get it from, but I will bathe in it."

source:Linda Ann Nickerson, Yahoo! Contributor Network

Getting to Know American Idol's JACOB LUSK!

American Idol Season 10 Top 11 finalist Jacob Lusk is 23 years old. Jacob comes from Compton, CA, and auditioned for the tenth season of American Idol in nearby Los Angeles.

Jacob received high praise from Randy Jackson for his rendition of "God Bless the Child" by Billie Holiday during the Hollywood rounds as the best performance ever seen on Idol. The audience has fallen in love with Jacob's pure voice and amazing range. There is a certain innocence about Jacob, and he definitely sings like an angel! The judges have given Jacob praise for every performance since the Hollywood round as well. Aerosmith's Steven Tyler told him, "I think gospel had a baby and they named it Jacob Lusk!" And judge Jennifer Lopez likes that Jacob gives himself "completely to every moment and every performance." Jacob received exceptionally high praise after singing "A House is Not a Home," written for Dionne Warwick, and made famous by Luther Vandross. Randy Jackson said, “Luther would be so proud of you. I don’t think there’s anything you can’t do.” Jacob is inspirational!

Jacob Lusk's favorite quote is "Be yourself!" And says his father is his main musical influence. Although Jacob's mom says, "Jacob gets his talent from both sides of the family," Jacob maintains, "I did NOT get my singing voice from my mother! If she goes near a mic, take it away!"

BIOGRAPHY
Jacob Lusk was born on June 23, 1987 in Southern California. He began singing when he was only four years old. Jacob is a minister of music at his church. Prior to auditioning for American Idol Season 10, Lusk worked as a spa concierge. In 2007, Jacob joined a gospel group called InNate Praise formed by the late hip-hop singer Nate Dogg, and he performed with the group at churches around Los Angeles County.