Musician, record producer, television personality. Born Randall Matthew Jackson on June 23, 1956 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A music industry veteran, Randy Jackson has become a famous television personality from his work as a judge on the popular singing competition American Idol. He first started playing bass guitar at the age of 13. The youngest of three children, Jackson used to slip out of his family's home at night to play at local clubs.

Jackson went to nearby Southern University to study music. Graduating in 1979, he pursued his dream of being a professional musician, playing with everyone from Herbie Hancock to Bob Dylan. He was even a temporary member of the 80s rock band Journey in 1983 and 1986. Jackson also recorded and toured with such well-known artists as Jerry Garcia, Mariah Carey, Bruce Springsteen and Madonna. Working behind the scenes, Jackson spent years as as a record producer and an executive with Columbia Records and MCA Records.

Jackson became one of the judges on the hit Fox talent search contest American Idol along with Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul in 2002. Highly regarded within the music industry, Jackson is respected among contestants for his constructive criticism. Sharing his secrets for success, Jackson wrote the 2004 book What's Up Dawg? How to Become a Superstar in the Music Business.

For the MTV cable channel, Jackson helped develop and produce America's Best Dance Crew, which premiered in February 2008. "It's very much more street than whatever you've seen...It's really kind of raw and has a lot of great imagery," he explained to People magazine. The following month, Jackson released a compilation album, which featured performances from his American Idol cohort Paula Abdul, as well as musicians Joss Stone, Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, and Mariah Carey among others. "It's kind of a Quincy Jones record with all sorts—country, pop, hip-hop, R&B, and jazz songs," Jackson told Entertainment Weekly.

In addition to his American Idol duties, Jackson hosts a syndicated radio program, Randy Jackson's Hit List, for Westwood One. He has also branched out into eyewear. Known for his distinctive glasses, Jackson has his own line of frames through Zyloware eyewear.

While millions may know his name and face, they probably don't know he has type 2 diabetes. However, because of his celebrity, Jackson feels that he can—and should—make a difference by telling others about the dangers of diabetes. "I know first hand what it's like to live with the disease and how it affects your life," he says. "This is why it's so important for me to get the word out about type 2 diabetes and its connection with cardiovascular disease."
Jackson was caught off guard when he was diagnosed. In his mid-40s at the time, he had a family history of diabetes, but didn't realize that it was to blame for his feeling so tired and being dehydrated. The Louisiana native decided he needed to make some major changes for a healthier lifestyle.
"When I found out that I had type 2 diabetes, I was like, 'Wow,' I have a serious disease. It not only had a physical, but also an emotional impact on me." He understands how hard it may be for people to make the necessary crucial lifestyle changes diabetes demands. "It was hard to change my eating habits because food for me is emotional—I often found comfort in eating food that happened to be unhealthy."

"Today, I know that regular checkups with a doctor, healthy food choices, and an active lifestyle are extremely important for managing type 2 diabetes. There is no magic cure, and it's not always easy. But I believe everyone has the potential to take charge and manage the disease in his or her own way. I am living proof that type 2 diabetes can be managed. In fact, taking charge of my lifestyle and making a change to be healthier has made me a stronger, happier person."

A supporter of many charitable organizations, Jackson has served as the spokesperson for the American Heart Association's "Heart of Diabetes" campaign. He also established the Randy Jackson Childhood Obesity Foundation.

Jackson lives in Los Angeles with his wife Erika. The couple has been married since 1995, and they have two children together, daughter Zoe and son Jordan. He also has a daughter, Taylor, from his first marriage.

© 2011 A&E Television Networks. All rights reserved.