R. J. Helton


Richard Jason "R.J." Helton 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.

Early life and background

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 school choir. Helton stated singing in his church, when he was young.

''American Idol''

Performances

Music career

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.

Personal life

He said on a radio show that he was gay, in 2006.

Discography