Jason Derulo Bio
Jason Joel Desrouleaux (born September 21, 1989), known professionally as Jason Derulo, is an American singer, songwriter and dancer from Miramar, Florida. He first gained attention as a songwriter for other recording artists before launching his solo career in 2009 with the hit single “Whatcha Say,” which topped the US Billboard Hot 100. Over the following decade, Derulo became a fixture on international pop charts, blending pop, R&B and EDM across multiple studio albums and earning dozens of platinum certifications for his singles. He has sold over 250 million singles worldwide and earned fourteen platinum singles in the United States alone.
Beyond music, Derulo has expanded into television judging, film acting and dance-focused social media content, and he launched his own record label, Future History. In 2021, he signed with Atlantic Records after departing from Warner Music Group, and he released his fifth studio album, Nu King, in 2024. He is also a co-owner of the Omaha Supernovas, a professional women’s volleyball team competing in the Pro Volleyball Federation.
Early Life and Background
Jason Joel Desrouleaux was born on September 21, 1989, in Miramar, Florida, to Haitian parents. His first language was Haitian Creole, and his mother pursued a legal education by attending law school. Growing up in South Florida gave him early exposure to a rich mix of musical traditions that would later inform his pop, R&B and EDM sound.
Derulo began singing at a young age and attended performing arts schools in Florida, where he started composing his own songs. He wrote his first song at the age of eight and continued developing his craft throughout his teenage years, eventually writing material for established artists. One early credit was contributing to the song “Bossy” for New Orleans-based rapper Birdman, on which he also made a guest vocal appearance, demonstrating his growing confidence as a performer and writer.
Path to Singing
By the time he was a teenager, Derulo had begun writing songs for major-label artists, including contributions for Diddy, Danity Kane, Donnie Klang, Sean Kingston, Cassie and Lil Wayne. He later attended The American Musical and Dramatic Academy to sharpen his vocal and performance skills, and he also acted in theatre productions such as Ragtime and Smokey Joe’s Cafe, gaining stage experience that would shape his dynamic live shows.
In 2006, Derulo won the grand prize on the season finale of the television show Showtime at the Apollo, a major early break that helped him catch the attention of established industry professionals. He was subsequently discovered by music producer J. R. Rotem, who signed him to his record label Beluga Heights Records in partnership with Warner Bros. Records. Rotem later praised Derulo’s relentless work ethic, noting that the young artist would keep producing song after song in the studio, a discipline that set the stage for his rapid rise.
Jason Derulo Career
Early Career (2006-2010)
Derulo’s first major solo single, “Whatcha Say,” was released on August 4, 2009, and was produced by J. R. Rotem with additional production by Fuego. The track sampled Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek” and climbed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 2009, earning an RIAA certification of quintuple platinum. It was followed by the top-ten singles “In My Head” and “Ridin’ Solo,” with “In My Head” reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart.
On March 2, 2010, Derulo released his self-titled debut studio album, stylized with an umlaut as Jason Derülo. He spent six weeks promoting the record as one of the opening acts for Lady Gaga’s 2009-2010 The Monster Ball Tour, further raising his international profile. The album included collaborations with artists such as Will Roush, Stat Quo, Young Buck and UK singer Pixie Lott, helping establish Derulo as a versatile crossover talent.
Breakthrough (2011-2015)
Derulo’s second studio album, Future History, was released on September 27, 2011, and was supported by the lead single “Don’t Wanna Go Home,” which reached number one in the UK and the top five in Australia. A planned eight-date UK tour was cut short in January 2012 when Derulo broke his C2 vertebrae, known as a hangman’s break, while attempting fifty consecutive backflips during rehearsal, forcing him to cancel all upcoming dates.
After recovery, Derulo returned with his third international album, Tattoos, released on September 24, 2013, which was repackaged in the United States as Talk Dirty on April 15, 2014. The project spawned worldwide hit singles including “Talk Dirty,” “Trumpets” and “Wiggle,” with “Talk Dirty” peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2015, he released his fourth studio album, Everything Is 4, led by the single “Want to Want Me,” which became the most-added track in the history of Top 40 radio, was added to 156 monitored pop stations and ultimately peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100.
Notable Works and Milestones
Across this period, Derulo cemented his reputation with signature songs such as “Whatcha Say,” “Talk Dirty,” “Want to Want Me” and “Wiggle,” earning multiple platinum certifications in the United States and abroad. He also became a judge on the 12th season of So You Think You Can Dance, joined by Paula Abdul and Nigel Lythgoe, expanding his presence on television. In 2016, he released the greatest hits album Platinum Hits, which featured eleven platinum certified singles and a new track titled “Kiss the Sky.”
Jason Derulo Award Nominations
Jason Derulo has received a number of award nominations throughout his career, primarily in the music categories of pop and dance programming. He earned a Golden Raspberry Award nomination for Worst Screen Combo for his role as Rum Tum Tugger in the 2019 film Cats, a recognition that reflected the visual effects work attached to the character rather than Derulo’s vocal performance. He has also accumulated nominations from pop and radio industry awards tied to chart performance, streaming milestones and Top 40 radio airplay for singles such as “Talk Dirty,” “Want to Want Me” and “Savage Love.”
Jason Derulo Awards Won
Derulo’s commercial achievements have translated into several industry honors tied to sales, airplay and chart success. He has earned multiple platinum certifications from the Recording Industry Association of America and equivalent bodies in other countries, recognizing sales and streaming thresholds for his singles. His early victory on Showtime at the Apollo in 2006 is widely cited as the first major award of his career and helped open the door to his record deal with Beluga Heights Records.
Jason Derulo Family
Jason Derulo is the son of Haitian parents, and his mother attended law school. He has spoken publicly about the influence of his Caribbean heritage on his early years and on his first language, Haitian Creole. Derulo also has three nieces, who later introduced him to the social media platform TikTok, where he has built one of the platform’s largest followings through dance-forward content.
Personal Life
Derulo dated American singer Jordin Sparks from 2011 to September 2014. On May 8, 2021, he welcomed a son, Jason King Derulo, with his girlfriend Jena Frumes; the couple ended their relationship approximately four and a half months later. Outside of his personal relationships, Derulo is a co-owner of the Omaha Supernovas of the Pro Volleyball Federation and is a supporter of English football club Leicester City.