Charles Jason Grigsby, Jr. was born on September 15, 1978 in Oberlin, Ohio. He is the youngest of six children and has been singing since he was three years old. He got his earlier singing experiences from participating in his middle and high school choir, performing in some talent shows and as opening acts for some major artists. He studied computer aided design in Detroit, Michigan for a while but was forced to leave when he received failing marks. After some time, he decided to audition for season 2 of American Idol. Apart from singing, Charles can also play the piano (by ear) and guitar and he has an uncanny ability to harmonize. He enjoys listening to R&B and Hip-Hop.

Being on season 2 of American Idol wasn't always such a fun-filled experience for Charles. During the semifinals, he acquired a terrible stomach flu, which deprived him of proper sleep and meals. Nevertheless, he gave his all when he performed Stevie Wonder's "Overjoyed," and Simon was deeply impressed and so were the viewers, as their votes swiftly put Charles through to the Finals. Unfortunately, Charles' talent and charm weren't enough to push him far in the Finals, for after singing "How Sweet It Is" on the first week and "You Can Win" the following week, Charles was the second to be voted off the show.

Although Charles' career did not pick up speed right away, he has slowly earned considerable success in the music industry. He released his first album on November 23, 2004. The album contains 6 songs, namely "Baby I Love Your Way," "5W's," "Those Loving Eyes," "Tell Me," "That Could'a Been Me," and "After Party." The album made it to the Top 10 in the Top 40 radio.

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