JD McCrary

Last updated

JayDon
Birth nameJayDon McCrary
Born (2007-07-18) July 18, 2007 (age 17)
Granada Hills, California, U.S.
Genres R&B
Occupation(s)Actor, dancer, singer
Years active2014–present
Labels

JayDon McCrary [1] (born July 18, 2007), known mononymously as JayDon (formerly as JD McCrary) is an American actor, dancer and singer bringing himself into the R&B and pop genres. He starred in The Lion King (2019) as the voice of young Simba and played Kenny Payne in The Paynes on the Oprah Winfrey Network. [2] In 2025, he signed with Usher and L.A. Reid's record label Mega, as a joint venture with Gamma.

Contents

Career

2015–2019: Career beginnings and acting

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] he is also appearing as the New School Co-Captain and the Musical Guest on the hit comedy show Wild' n Out.

2024–present: Musical career

In 2024, McCrary rebranded his musical stage name to his birth-name JayDon. On November 8, 2024, he released his first single under his new stage name, "Ah! Ah!" featuring 310babii. [18] In 2025, it was announced that he officially signed with Usher and L.A. Reid's record label Mega in partnership with Larry Jackson's gamma. [19] [20]

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. [21]

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"
(with Coco Quinn)		2020
"Tell Me Why"
"Walking on Air"
"Don't Go"2022
"Reminiscin"
(featuring J.Dizzle)
"Calendar"2023
"Trip"2024
"Ah! Ah!"
(featuring 310babii)
"Lullaby"
(featuring Paradise)		2025
"I'll Be Good"

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"

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.[ permanent dead link ]
  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. ↑ "JAYDON - AH! AH! (FT. 310BABII)". Lucung.
  19. ↑ "JayDon signs with Usher, L.A. Reid's New Label 'Mega" in joint venture with Gamma + Drops new single "I'll Be Good"". bringbacksoulmusic.
  20. ↑ "JayDon Signs to Usher and L.A. Reid's Mega Label, Shares 'I'll Be Good'". RatedRNB.
  21. ↑ Jefferson, J'na (November 28, 2017). "Interview: JD McCrary Talks 'The Lion King,' Working With Donald Glover". Vibe. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
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