Jim Verraros

Email Address: alumni@bilerico.com

Location: Chicago, IL

Project Contributor Since: October 2007

Entries by this Contributor: 1

Jim Verraros auditioned for the first season of American Idol at the suggestion of a friend while he was attending Columbia College as a musical theater major in Chicago.
Jim was undoubtedly one of the most talented and talked about contestants to ever appear on the hit Fox TV show American Idol. Jim placed 9th on the first season and become one of the most memorable contestants to ever appear on the hit show. Because he was raised by deaf parents, he is fluent in American Sign Language. As a child, Jim ironically excelled in singing and acting at a very early age so much so, that school music teachers had the task of explaining his talent to his parents who were naturally unaware of Jim’s abilities.

After the show ended, Jim won the hearts all across America as a featured performer on the 2002 American Idols Live Tour which played to sold out stadiums in 30 cities across the country. Jim was also a contributing artist on the Certified Gold “American Idol: Greatest Moments” album along with 2 time Grammy Award winner Kelly Clarkson. But his popularity really soared after he came "out" in The Advocate in January 2003.

Jim's indie-CD, Unsaid & Understood, won an Out Music Award: Outstanding New Recording Debut - Male. On April 26, 2005, Jim released his mainstream debut, “Rollercoaster” on Koch Records. The album garnered a top 20 Billboard Dance Hit, “You Turn It On,” along with a breakout hit; “You’re Getting Crazy.” Along with this debut, his film “Eating Out,” was released on DVD through Ariztical Entertainment.

Jim is now writing and recording the follow up to his debut album, “Rollercoaster,” (TBA) and has his second film, the sequel to “Eating Out,” (selling more than 50,000 copies to date) “Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds,” reprising his role as Kyle. The film has made its way to film festivals all across the world. The DVD was officially released on May 29th, 2007. He has also signed onto do a film, "Copacabana: Of Love And Shadows," co-starring Peter Paige in March of 2008. Principal photography starts in March in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

• Better Know a Contributor: Steve Ralls

  - Serena Freewomyn

• Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you!

  - Ricci Levy

• In Response To Meghan Stabler

  - Rebecca Juro

• The Rotweiller of God Prada Steps His Way Though Sydney

  - Robert Ganshorn

• Making a Dent in China

  - Patricia Nell Warren

• Songs for Sunday

  - Steve Ralls

• When is a Marriage Not a Marriage?

  - Eric Marcus

• John McCain vs. "The Muslims"

  - Alex Blaze

• John McCain isn't the decider

  - Bil Browning

• It's the Weekly Round-up!

  - Serena Freewomyn

• HRC's Project Win Back, Part II

  - Marti Abernathey

• Bi the Way, Outfest: You've Got a Ways to Go in the "B" Department

  - Jessica Hoffmann