Singer and guitarist CJ Harris, who appeared on American Idol in 2014, has died aged 31.
Born in Jasper, Alabama, the musician (actual title Curtis Harris) got here in at sixth place on the thirteenth season of the pop actuality sequence. Harris launched his debut single, ‘In Love’, again in 2019.
Harris, who was a father to 2 youngsters, handed away final Sunday (January 15) after struggling a medical emergency, and being admitted to the Walker Baptist Medical Heart in Jasper, per Selection.
His loss of life was subsequently confirmed by a spokesperson for the Walker County Coroner’s Workplace. No additional particulars have been disclosed on the time of writing.
The late singer’s first audition on American Idol noticed him ship a rendition of The Allman Brothers Band’s ‘Soulshine’ in entrance of judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith City and Harry Connick Jr.
Harris was later voted a Wild Card by the general public, and secured a spot within the stay reveals. He was eradicated throughout the Rock ‘n’ Roll/ Nation Week with performances of The Guess Who’s ‘American Girl’ and Zac Brown Band’s ‘No matter It Is’.
The artist went on to take part within the American Idol stay tour together with the opposite finalists from that season.
Writing on social media initially of 2023 (January 2), Harris advised his followers that new music can be “coming quickly”. You’ll be able to see that publish above.
The official American Idol Instagram account just lately shared a tribute to the late contestant. “CJ Harris was an unimaginable expertise, and the information of his passing deeply saddens us,” it learn. “He might be really missed.”
Caleb Johnson, who gained American Idol season 13, shared a picture of himself with Harris on Twitter. “Completely tragic, he wrote. “You have been taken from us solution to quickly. Love you brother.”
Elsewhere, Jessica Meuse – who got here in fourth place that yr – stated she was “utterly shocked” by the information of Harris’ loss of life.
“Your expertise and smile might be missed, and the world is certainly a darker and eerily quieter place with out you in it,” she stated.
“I’ll miss your random cellphone calls asking for all times recommendation and speaking in regards to the music world. Once you undergo one thing like Idol collectively, it brings everybody concerned collectively like a giant, bizarre, dysfunctional household.”
Meuse continued: “I’m grateful that our paths crossed and that I can say you have been (and all the time might be) part of mine. There are a whole lot of issues I notice I’ll by no means perceive — you leaving us so quickly is a kind of issues. Relaxation straightforward, good friend. See you on the opposite aspect.”
Completely tragic 🥲 you have been taken from us solution to quickly . Love you brother @CJHarrisMusic pic.twitter.com/iXpLARCKY7
— Caleb Perry Johnson (@CalebJohnson) January 16, 2023
Sam Woolf, who positioned fifth on Idol 2014, described Harris as “a real and loving particular person”, and recalled how the pair had turn into “shut buddies” over the course of the sequence’ run.
“I’m very grateful to have gone by way of that unimaginable expertise with him alongside Caleb and Alex,” he wrote. “My ideas exit to his household. Relaxation straightforward my dude.”
Third place contestant Alex Preston, in the meantime, shared a “throwback” video to “easier occasions” when “CJ tied me to the door and pranked me in a daze”.
“I want we talked extra usually in our later years,” Preston added. “Final time we talked I blended some stems for him, and he sounded so good. RIP bro.”