Stage Name: JERO (ジェロ) Real Name: Jerome White, Jr. Birthday: 1981.09.04 Birth place: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania JERO was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His mother was half-Japanese, and his Japanese grandmother got him interested in enka music from a young age. He first went to Japan at age 15 to participate in a Japanese language speech contest. In high school he was captain on the dance team. He enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in information science, and graduated in 2003. During this time, he went on a three month exchange to a university in Kansai, and during his stay was when he decided he would become an enka singer. After graduating, he returned to Japan and worked as a teacher at an eikaiwa school in Wakayama-ken, as well as being a computer engineer in Osaka. In his spare time he appeared on NHK singing programs, and entered many karaoke competitions and winning an array of awards. In particular, he entered a karaoke competition sponsored by Sakamoto Fuyumi and won first place, which is what caught the eye of Victor and got him scouted. He practiced for two years, and finally in February 2008 debuted with the single Umiyuki. Singles: [2008.02.20] Umiyuki (海雪; Ocean Snow) Umiyuki PV - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwTFJ-Vwbgs He's not that bad. What surprised me most as it would with everyone else was the way he dressed. He's all 'gansta', hip hop and everything, you expect him to start rapping, but no- he sings enka. It was a really nice surprise. Though the video... just doesn't go with the song at all. Hip hop dancing with enka? It just doesn't really mix. But I'll let it go since he's good.
guy is actually pretty good if you can get past the fact that he's african american. but given the fact that he can actually sing with a good voice.
