Jared Cotter

Background

Born and raised on Long Island, Cotter grew up in a family of musicians.

Career

He has hosted a number of television shows, and he co-wrote the number 1 song "Down" by Jay Sean. Cotter"s great grandfather, James Reese Europe was the first African American jazz player to perform at Carnegie Hall. Cotter"s father, Robert Cotter, played in the late 1970s with Nile Rodgers and the late Bernard Edwards of the Big Apple Band, later known as Chic.

Cotter listed as his influence artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Brian McKnight.

Cotter"s recording career began when he was 15. He performed and released music as JL Cotter, and co-wrote songs such as "Make U Cry", "My Girl", "She Likes lieutenant" and the Notorious B.I.G inspired "Somebody"s Gotta Go".

He has worked with Joshua Thompson, Rob Fusari and Jeremy Skaller, and has also collaborated with other songwriters including Andre Deyo, Teron Beal and worked with producer and songwriter, Quincy Patrick. Cotter has performed on Black Entertainment Television"s 106 & Park, and opened for platinum-selling artist Avant.

He has also performed at BlackBerry King"s in Times Square, Village Underground, Soul Café and SOB"son

In 2005, he independently released "The Before the ". Cotter appeared on the sixth season of and reached the semifinal stage of the competition. He sang Stevie Wonder"s "Lately" for his audition. performances Television He signed a worldwide deal with Electric and Music Industries Publishing in 2009.

He has been nominated for Best Male Rhythm & Blues Vocalist at the Underground Hip Hop Awards.

Achievements

• He co-wrote a number of songs on Jay Sean"s album All or Nothing, including the number one song, "Down", which was the seventh-best selling single of 2009, and for which he received an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers award as a writer for one of the "Most Performed Songs" of the year.