Since he was little Chris Grant Jr. has always been something of a ham, clowning around with his sister- singing, acting and dancing in little skits they'd make up. He's always loved imitating his favorite entertainers and mimicking their voices and accents. Chris performed in his own music video at age seven, and his affinity for the spotlight led him to audition for professional acting roles at nine. He has a versatility as an actor and singer unlike anyone in recent years.

Chris' very first audition was an open call for the role of little Simba in Disney's The Lion King. Though he didn't book the role Chris was one of only four boys to make it to the final round out of thousands of kids who'd auditioned. The thrill of performing for an audience was something he decided he couldn't give up. His family always knew he was talented and was not surprised that he'd done so well. His parents and sister encouraged him to keep trying and helped him look for more roles. He wouldn't have to wait long for another opportunity...within a month Chris would audition for Nickelodeon. They were impressed enough with his acting to think he'd be great as the speaking voice of "Tyrone the Moose" and booked him for the role on The Backyardigans (season 4).

In 2009 Chris made his theater debut in the children’s opera Brundibar and the Children of Theresienstadt for the International Opera House in Philadelphia. The opera honors children of the Holocaust, and was Chris' first experience acting in a show with a serious theme. "It gave me a chance to think of acting as more than focusing on technique...it can be meaningful in lots of other ways," he noted at the end of last year's performance run. He reprised the role of "The Baker" in 2010 and is pursuing more roles on stage and screen - both serious and comedic. While in Brundibar he got to explore his serious side, but he's ridiculously funny as Tyrone on The Backyardigans and has been complimented on his ability to do both kinds of acting well. Chris’ credits include voiceover for Nickelodeon Presents “Barack Obama and Some of His Favorite Things” as well as commercial work.

After so much acting, it's easy to forget that what initially got Chris on stage is his notable singing voice. With an impressive vocal range and mature sound, Chris sings about life from a teen's perspective, but with wisdom beyond his 13 years. He has an uncanny ability to sing very different styles of music equally well. He'll do a hip hop number that makes you want to hit the dance floor, and then have you crooning along on an R&B ballad. But watch out- he'll turn around and deliver a rock tune that's totally authentic. He's teaching himself to play guitar and piano while writing and working on songs for an upcoming album. It certainly won't have a stereotypical "teen" sound. Chris deftly blends elements of pop, R&B and rock to deliver songs that definitely raise the bar to new heights.

Every generation seems to produce that one artist who's a renaissance performer. While today's entertainment scene is full of young talent, be on the look out for Chris Grant Jr. His artistry is chameleon-like and instinctive. Chris Grant Jr. delivers on all fronts and is destined to make a rare impact on the world stage.
Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.