Justin Guarini Illustrated Biography--Essential Justin--The Essential Justin Guarini Website


October 28, 1978	Born in Columbus, Georgia. Mother Kathy Pepino Bell (now Guarini), a former news anchor for CNN, gets a call from President Jimmy Carter on Air Force One, congratulating her on the birth of a son.
1982	Justin joins the Atlanta Boys Choir at age 4. Recognizing Justin's talent, the choir waives its requirement members be at least 6 years old.
early 1980's	Parents Kathy and Eldrin Bell divorce, Kathy remarries and eventually moves to Doylestown, PA, with Justin's stepfather, Jerry Guarini. Eldrin Bell becomes Chief of Police in Atlanta, Georgia.
1985	At age 7, Justin becomes a member of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Boys Choir.
mid-1990s	Attends Central Bucks High School in Doylestown PA. Plays the lead in several high school productions, including Zombie Prom. The director, Debbie Thompson, says of Justin: "Everybody knew Justin had the potential to do something. He was professional from the minute I met him. He was a perfect gentleman. He was poised. He did whatever he could to help make the program a success that summer, and he was just a pleasure to work with."
1992	As a student at Lenape Middle School, Justin auditions for the Bucks Country Music Festival, an annual event celebrating the top student vocalists in the county, and wins a solo of Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child. Donald Dumpson, the event director and adjunct professor of sacred music at Westminster Choir College at Rider University who worked with artists such as Boyz II Men and Patti LaBelle, said of Justin, "He was so unbelievable, so moving, so special."
June 1997	Graduated from Central Bucks High School. Justin comes in late for the graduation ceremony, and when asked by the principal what he would do to make up for it, sings the National Anthem a cappella. Turned out, the whole thing had been arranged in advance as a light-hearted prank.
1998	Attended the University of the Arts, Philadelphia (vocal performance and theater studies).
1999-2000	Attended the School for Film & Television, New York City.
2000	Places second at the 2000 Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival Mid-Atlantic Regional with The Midnight Voices, an a cappella group he and his high school friends started. The group produced an album of classical and modern songs which was recorded at a local church. Proceeds from the CD benefit a music scholarship fund at Central Bucks High School.
July- October 2001	Director/performer at the Riverside Haunted Woods in Bridgeton, Pa. where he directed the over 50 actors involved in the productions, wrote the musical score, performed, and helped build the sets for the 25 scenes that told the story of the haunted Village of Eddy Woods. "I remember Justin as the best performer I'd ever seen," Pete Griffin, the owner, said.
2002	Worked as a party motivator and sold alarm systems door to door while auditioning in New York City. Justin caught the eye of a Broadway scout and was invited to participate in master classes for the Broadway production of The Lion King. He ultimately declined an offer of a chorus/understudy role when he was selected for American Idol.
April 29, 2002	As "Number 126," Justin auditions in NYC for the then unknown show American Idol. Simon Cowell remarks: "Justin, occasionally you're very privileged when you do a competition like this to hear somebody undiscovered who has a voice like yours." As Justin leaves the room, Cowell further remarks, "You never forget someone like that . . . amazing."
June 11, 2002	American Idol premieres on FOX. Justin is an instant sensation after he is shown during the first audition show performing Who's Loving You and Blame It on the Sun. On the second audition show, filmed in Pasadena, CA, Justin performs Get Here for the first time, wowing the judges as well as his fellow contestants, who are at first left speechless before roaring their approval. One reviewer wrote of Justin, "A star fell from the sky and landed on stage".
June 25, 2002	Selected as a semi-finalist, Justin performs Ribbon in the Sky, and receives the top votes in his group to advance to the final rounds. Simon Cowell comments, "We were asked 'what is the X Factor?' It's very simple. It's you."
September 2-3, 2002	Finishes second to Kelly Clarkson on American Idol after a finale in which they were required to perform the same two power ballads, selected to favor a female soprano. For the "contestant encore," Justin performs a version of Get Here for which he arranged a haunting new opening. Justin is extremely gracious toward his co-finalist, remarking that her win was "perfect."
September 4, 2002	In an interview with Access Hollywood, Justin's parents tell of being approached by a producer of Friends interested in having Justin appear on the show. The first of many such unrealized opportunities over the next year, 19 Management contract restrictions do not allow Justin to accept.
September 16, 2002	Justin surprises fans on Oprah. The shocked fans and audience go wild, and Oprah announces "Justin, you have got 'it'."
September 22, 2002	Performs in American Idol in Las Vegas. The legend of the black vest is born.
October-November 2002	American Idols Live! tour. Justin performs three solos: Get Here, For Once in My Life, and Let's Stay Together and receives strong reviews. Noted LA Times critic Robert Hilburn called Justin a "revelation," while another reviewer commented that Justin was "the one whose combination of pipes and persona most deserves a continued place in the spotlight, and he flew around the stage with jumps that defied gravity".
November 2002	First solo magazine cover, YM.
November 28, 2002	Starting a tradition that continued in following years with other American Idol top finishers, Justin is the featured performer on a float in the Macy's Day Parade in NYC. He performs Get Here. He is later heard to comment on it having been fun but very, very cold.