Actor/Singer Chris Grant Jr. has been acting, singing and dancing since he could walk. He's a ham who's always loved imitating his favorite entertainers by mimicking their movements, voices ...Show More
Actor/Singer Chris Grant Jr. has been acting, singing and dancing since he could walk. He's a ham who's always loved imitating his favorite entertainers by mimicking their movements, voices and accents for any audience. Chris performed in his own music video at age seven, and his affinity for the spotlight led him to audition for major acting roles at nine. Chris' very first audition was an open call for the role of young Simba in Disney's The Lion King. He made it to the final round of four out of thousands of kids who'd auditioned. The thrill of performing for an audience was something Chris decided he couldn't give up. Within a month he would audition for Nickelodeon's the Backyardigans and book the role of speaking voice of "Tyrone" for season 4. In 2009 Chris made his theater debut as "The Baker" in the children's opera "Brundibar and the Children of Theresienstadt" for the International Opera House in Philadelphia. The opera honors children of the Holocaust, and was Chris' first experience acting on stage in a serious role. "It gave me a chance to think of acting as more than focusing on technique...it can be meaningful in lots of other ways," he noted at the end of the performance run. He reprised the role of "The Baker" in 2010, and in 2011 he landed the lead role. Performing in Brundibar Chris got to explore his serious side, but he's ridiculously funny as Tyrone on The Backyardigans. He has been complimented on his ability to do both kinds of acting well.After so much acting, it's easy to forget that what initially got Chris on stage is his notable singing voice. He has an uncanny ability to sing very different styles of music equally well. Now 19, he is a versatile singer with uncommon depth for his age. He'll do a hip hop number that makes you want to hit the dance floor, and then have you crooning along on an R&B ballad. But watch out-he can stand and deliver a rock tune that's totally authentic. Chris taught himself to play guitar and piano, and he's been writing and producing his own songs for almost as long. Now a freshman at Berklee College of Music, he describes the atmosphere as a continuation of that growth. "It's a dream come true...all music, all the time," he says. When not in class, Chris is hard at work on songs for his upcoming debut album, Departure. It certainly won't have a stereotypical "teen" sound. Chris sings about life from a teen's perspective, but with wisdom beyond his years. He's been aptly described as a renaissance performer who deftly blends elements of pop, R&B, and rock to deliver songs that significantly raise the bar for young artists.Today's entertainment scene is full of young talent, but be on the lookout. Chris Grant Jr.'s compelling and instinctive artistry sets him apart as someone destined to make a rare impact on the world stage. Hide
