R. J. Helton
| R.J. Helton | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Rolando Alberto de Jesus Rivas, Jr. |
| Also known as | Richard Jason Helton |
| Born |
May 17, 1981 Pasadena, Texas |
| Origin | Cumming, Georgia |
| Genres | Christian pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | vocals, singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | GospoCentric |
Richard Jason "R.J." Helton (born May 17, 1981; as Rolando Alberto de Jesus Rivas, Jr.) is an American Christian musician, who sings Christian pop music. He has released a studio album, Real Life, with GospoCentric Records. This album was his breakthrough release upon the Billboard magazine charts.
Helton was born in Pasadena, Texas, on May 17, 1981, as Rolando Alberto de Jesus Rivas, Jr., to a Nicaraguan father, while he was adopted shortly after his birth by a couple from Cumming, Georgia, naming him Richard Jason Helton, where he was raised until moving while in high school. He graduated from Tuscola High School, in Waynesville, North Carolina, where he was in the choir. Helton stated singing in his church, when he was young.
His music career began with his fifth-place finish on season one of American Idol. This exposure got him a record deal with GospoCentric Records, where they released, Real Life, on March 23, 2004. This album was his breakthrough release upon the Billboard magazine charts, while it placed on the Christian Albums and Heatseekers Albums charts, where it peaked at Nos. 14 and 19, correspondingly.
He said on a radio show that he was gay, in 2006.
...
Wikipedia