Jacob Lusk

Jacob Lusk's voice was shaped in church. Born in Compton, California, he began singing at four, performed in his congregation from five and led his school choir in Long Beach. He is still a minister of music, and his influences run from his father, a music producer who died when Lusk was twelve, to Billie Holiday, Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston. Before fame he worked as a spa concierge and, in 2007, joined InNate Praise, a gospel group formed by Nate Dogg.

National attention came with the tenth season of American Idol, where Randy Jackson judged his Hollywood-round 'God Bless the Child' the best he had seen on the show. Lusk went out on 5 May 2011 in fifth place, having sung with Kirk Franklin and Gladys Knight in the finale. In 2016 he formed Gabriels with Ari Balouzian and Ryan Hope. He joined Elton John at Glastonbury in June 2023 for 'Are You Ready for Love', and that October won the Breakthrough Award at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards. In March 2024 he performed at the Gershwin Prize tribute to John and Bernie Taupin, and in April 2026 he appeared with Moby at Coachella.