JD McCrary

Last updated

JD McCrary
Born
Jaydon McCrary

(2007-07-18) July 18, 2007 (age 17)
Occupation(s)Actor, dancer, singer
Years active2014–present
External image
Searchtool.svg McCrary in 2022

Jaydon McCrary [1] (born July 18, 2007) is an American actor, dancer and singer. He is best known for his turn as Kenny Payne in The Paynes on the Oprah Winfrey Network. He starred in The Lion King (2019) as the voice of young Simba. [2] He is signed to Hollywood Records and released his first extended play Shine, in April 2019. His song "Keep In Touch" was featured in dancing video game Just Dance 2020 .

Contents

Career

McCrary began his acting career in 2015 at age 8 on K.C. Undercover , where he appeared on two episodes. [3] In December 2016, he made a guest appearance on Childish Gambino's song "Terrified". [4] He then had live performances on Little Big Shots singing The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back", [5] The Ellen Show singing "Who's Lovin' You", [6] and the 60th Annual Grammy Awards to support Childish Gambino's "Terrified". [7] In December 2017, he sang the national anthem before a Los Angeles Clippers game after a viral singing display a few weeks prior. [8] In 2017, he later appeared on I'm Dying Up Here and Teachers as minor roles.

On January 14, 2018 he released his first official single called "Inviting All of You". [9] On August 13, 2018, it was announced that JD McCrary became the youngest artist to sign with Disney Music Group's Hollywood Records, as he released the music video to his second single "My Name" on August 28. [10] [11] On January 24, 2019, he released the first single after signing to the label called "Keep in Touch." [12] He stars in The Paynes on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

In 2019, McCrary co-starred in the Universal comedy film Little , and provided the voice of young Simba in the live action remake of the Disney film The Lion King . [13] [14] [15] McCrary said that "Donald Glover [who voices adult Simba] is so talented that [I] actually did have to take it into consideration, because if Simba is going to grow up to be some sort of figure and you know of it, you have to keep that motive." [16] Also that year, McCrary portrayed a young Michael Jackson in the BET series American Soul , which premiered in February. On April 19, McCrary released his debut EP, Shine, which includes production from Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. [17]

Artistry

In an interview with Vibe , McCrary cited Michael Jackson as his biggest influence, as well as Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, and Chris Brown. [18]

Discography

Extended plays

TitleEP details
Shine

Singles

TitleYear
"Inviting All of You"2018
"My Name"
"Keep in Touch"2019
"Winter Wonderland"
"Where Do I Belong"
"Closer to Christmas"
"Stuck With You"
(JD McCrary with Coco Quinn)
2020
"Tell Me Why"
"Walking on Air"
"Brain on Love"2021

Guest appearances

List of guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
TitleOther artist(s)YearAlbum
"Terrified" Childish Gambino 2016 "Awaken, My Love!"
"Cautionary Tales" Jon Bellion 2018 Glory Sound Prep
"This Neverland" G Tom Mac A Lost Boys Story: The Musical (Original Score)
"I Just Can't Wait to Be King" Shahadi Wright Joseph, John Oliver 2019 The Lion King: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
"Hakuna Matata" Billy Eichner, Seth Rogen, Donald Glover

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2019 Little Isaac
The Lion King Young Simba (voice)Nominated - Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor
2022 13 Brett
2023 Wish Singing Animal

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2015 Blunt Talk Singing kidEpisode: "A Beaver That's Lost Its Mind"
2015–16 K.C. Undercover Young Ernie Cooper2 episodes
2017 Teachers AyoEpisode: "Brokebitch Mountain"
Little Big Shots HimselfEpisode: "Memory Lane"
I'm Dying Up Here Adam’s brotherEpisode: "The Unbelievable Power of Believing"
2018 The Paynes Kenny Payne
2019 American Soul Young Michael Jackson Episode: "68 BC"

Related Research Articles

<i>The Lion King</i> 1994 American animated musical drama film

The Lion King is a 1994 American animated musical coming-of-age drama film produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation and released by Buena Vista Pictures Distribution under the Walt Disney Pictures banner. The film was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff and produced by Don Hahn, from a screenplay written by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton. The film features an ensemble voice cast that includes Matthew Broderick, Moira Kelly, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Niketa Calame, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Rowan Atkinson, and Robert Guillaume. Its original songs were written by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice, with a score by Hans Zimmer. Inspired by African wildlife, the story is modelled primarily on William Shakespeare's stage play Hamlet with some influence from the Biblical stories of Joseph and Moses, and follows a young heir apparent who is forced to flee after his uncle kills his father and usurps the throne. After growing up in exile, the rightful king returns to challenge the usurper and end his tyrannical rule over the kingdom.

<i>The Lion King II: Simbas Pride</i> 1998 animated film

The Lion King II: Simba's Pride is a 1998 American animated direct-to-video musical drama film produced by Walt Disney Video Premiere. It is the sequel to Disney's 1994 animated film, The Lion King, with its plot influenced by William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, and the second installment in The Lion King trilogy. According to director Darrell Rooney, the final draft gradually became a variation of Romeo and Juliet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simba</span> Main character of The Lion King

Simba is a fictional character in Disney's The Lion King franchise. First appearing as a lion cub in The Lion King (1994), the character flees his homeland when his father, King Mufasa, is killed by his treacherous uncle, Scar. Several years later, Simba returns home as an adult to reconcile his childhood trauma, confront Scar, and reclaim his rightful place as King of the Pride Lands. He subsequently appears in sequels the The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and The Lion King 1½. Simba was originally voiced by actors Matthew Broderick and Jonathan Taylor Thomas as an adult and cub, respectively; various actors have voiced the character in sequels, spin-offs, and related media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Weaver</span> American actor

Jason Michael Weaver is an American actor and singer best known for his roles as Marcus Henderson on The WB sitcom Smart Guy, Jerome Turrell on the short-lived sitcom Thea from 1993 to 1994, and the preteen Michael Jackson on the 1992 miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream, which originally both aired on ABC. He was also the singing voice of the young Simba in Walt Disney Feature Animation's 1994 film The Lion King. He was featured on Chingy's 2004 hit single "One Call Away", which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. He played Teddy in the 2006 hit movie ATL.

Nala (<i>The Lion King</i>) Fictional character from The Lion King franchise

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The Lion King is a Disney media franchise comprising a film series and additional media. The success of animated original 1994 American feature film, The Lion King, directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff, led to a direct-to-video sequel and prequel, a live-action remake in 2019, a television film sequel, two spin-off television series, three educational shorts, several video games, merchandise, and the third-longest-running musical in Broadway history, which garnered six Tony Awards including Best Musical. The franchise is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time. The franchise as a whole has EGOT-ed, meaning it has won the four biggest awards of American show business.

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References

  1. "JD McCrary". IMDb.
  2. George, Rachel (January 29, 2018). "5 Things to Know About JD McCrary, Childish Gambino's Young Grammys Co-Star". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  3. Canter, Brian (November 2, 2016). "First Look: "KC Undercover" Returns With "Undercover Mother," "Trust No One Episodes". Headline Planet. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  4. Starling, Lankan (December 6, 2016). "JD McCrary Is The Precocious 9 Year-Old Singing on Childish Gambino's "Terrified"". The Fader. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  5. Cheatle, Juliet (May 14, 2017). "JD McCrary: Who is child singing sensation from Little Big Shots?". Monsters and Critics. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  6. Reddy, Subba (January 15, 2018). "Kid Singer JD McCrary Wows with 'Who's Loving You' Performance The Ellen Show". Whatever Life. Retrieved February 21, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  7. Nyren, Eric (January 28, 2018). "Donald Glover Sang With the Voice of 'The Lion King's' Young Simba at the Grammys". Variety . Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  8. Keaney, Quinn (December 11, 2017). "The Actor Playing Young Simba in The Lion King Reboot Blew NBA Fans Away With His Voice". Pop Sugar.
  9. "Inviting All of You - Single". iTunes.
  10. "Jd Mccrary, Youngest Solo Artist To Sign With Hollywood Records Releases 'My Name' Video". Broadway World.
  11. "THE LION KING'S JD McCrary Signs to Hollywood Records". Broadway World. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  12. "JD MCCRARY RELEASES NEW SINGLE 'KEEP IN TOUCH'". Tiger Beat. January 25, 2019.
  13. Andreeva, Nellie (January 30, 2017). "OWN Picks Up 'House of Payne' Spinoff From Tyler Perry". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  14. Galuppo, Mia (June 19, 2018). "'Lion King' Actor JD McCrary Joins Marsai Martin in 'Little' (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter.
  15. Davis, Justin (December 8, 2017). "The 10-Year-Old Playing Simba Alongside Donald Glover Has A Cooler Life Than You". Complex. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  16. "What To Expect From The Characters In The Upcoming 'The Lion King' Adaptation - Entertainment Weekly". Entertainment Weekly/YouTube . April 25, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  17. "Shine - EP by JD McCrary". iTunes. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  18. Jefferson, J'na (November 28, 2017). "Interview: JD McCrary Talks 'The Lion King,' Working With Donald Glover". Vibe. Retrieved March 22, 2018.