Rayvon Owen

Rayvon Owen (born June 27, 1991) is an American musician from Richmond, Virginia and a finalist in season 14 of American Idol[2] finishing 4th overall. He released his EP Cycles August 26, 2014 prior to the contest, and his official single "Can't Fight It" in February 2016. Most recently, Owen served as the host for TBS's reality competition series The Sims Spark'd.

Rayvon Owen
Born (1991-06-27) June 27, 1991
OriginRichmond, Virginia, U.S.
GenresR&B, pop
Occupation(s)Singer
InstrumentsVocals
Years active2015–present
Associated actsSteph Jones, Jennifer Lopez,[1] Harry Connick Jr., Keith Urban
Websiterayvonowen.com

Early life

Rayvon Owen was born in Richmond, Virginia living with his single mother and one sister. He graduated from the Henrico High School Center for the Arts and Belmont University and worked as a singer and vocal coach.

Music career

2014: Early career

Rayvon has his own music video, "Sweatshirt" which premiered in November 2014. He also has a debut EP Cycles.

2015: American Idol

He auditioned to series 14 of American Idol with "Wide Awake" by Katy Perry and was chosen for Top 24 and eventually Top 12. After being in the bottom 3 in the top 11, (which guaranteed 2 people would be eliminated), Owen was deemed safe. Owen was in the bottom 2 for five consecutive weeks, but emerged victorious, thanks to Season 14's Idol Twitter Fan Save, where the bottom 2 perform and AI fans vote on the spot via Twitter for who should advance. Owen was the only recipient of the fan save in the entire season earning him the nicknames "Twitter King" and "Comeback Kid". Owen finished 4th place on Season 14 of American Idol and was included on the Idols Live Tour.

Performances and results
Episode Theme Song choice Original artist Order Result
Audition Auditioner's Choice "Wide Awake" Katy Perry N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round, Part 1 First Solo "Ordinary People" John Legend N/A Advanced
Hollywood Round, Part 2 Group Performance "Since U Been Gone" Kelly Clarkson N/A Advanced
House of Blues (Top 48) Second Solo "Lay Me Down" Sam Smith N/A Advanced
Top 24 (12 Men) Personal Choice "Jealous" Nick Jonas 12 Advanced
Top 16 Motown "My Girl" The Temptations 7 Safe
Top 12 Personal Choice "Wide Awake" Katy Perry 8 Safe
Top 11 Party Songs "Burn" Ellie Goulding 6 Safe
Movie Night "Staying Alive" Bee Gees 11 Bottom 31
Top 9 Songs from the 1980s "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" Tears for Fears 8 Bottom 22
Top 8 Evening with Kelly Clarkson "Since U Been Gone" Kelly Clarkson 6 Bottom 23
Top 7 Billboard Hot 100 "Set Fire to the Rain" Adele 7 Bottom 24
Top 6 American Classics "Long Train Runnin'" The Doobie Brothers 6 Bottom 25
"Always on My Mind" Gwen McCrae and Brenda Lee 12
Top 5 Arena Anthems "I'm Not the Only One" Sam Smith 5 Bottom 26
"Go Your Own Way" Fleetwood Mac 10
Top 4 Judges Hometown "Need You Now" Lady Antebellum 4 Eliminated
Soul "Believe" Justin Bieber 7
  • ^Note 1 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results in the particular night, Owen was in the bottom 3, but was the only contestant declared safe as both Adanna Duru and Maddie Walker were eliminated.
  • ^Note 2 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Owen was in the bottom 2, but was declared safe by Twitter vote as Daniel Seavey was eliminated.
  • ^Note 3 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Owen was in the bottom 2, but was declared safe by Twitter vote as Qaasim Middleton was eliminated.
  • ^Note 4 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Owen was in the bottom 2, but was declared safe by Twitter vote as Joey Cook was eliminated.
  • ^Note 5 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Owen was in the bottom 2, but was declared safe by Twitter vote as Quentin Alexander was eliminated.
  • ^Note 6 When Ryan Seacrest announced the results for this particular night, Owen was in the bottom 2, but was declared safe as Tyanna Jones was eliminated.

    2016-present: New music

    On the Valentine's Day weekend of 2016, Owen debuted a new single, "Can't Fight It" written with Mylen, Nate Merchant, and Isaiah Tejada. The accompanying music video acts as his official "coming out" as gay, sharing a kiss at the end with LGBT activist Shane Bitney Crone.[3][4] Owen told Billboard: "You’d be surprised at the amount of times I tried to pray the gay away from me or tried to tell God to take this away from me. No kid should have to do what I did and pray to not be who they are. That’s why I think it’s important even in 2016 to say this."[5]

    In January 2018, Owen was picked as Elvis Duran's Artist of the Month. He was featured on NBC's Today show hosted by Hoda Kotb and Meghan Trainor, the co-host for that episode broadcast nationally where Owen performed live his single "Gold".

    Personal life

    On February 14, 2016, Owen premiered a music video for his song "Can't Fight It", at the end of which he kisses a man.[6] That same day, Owen's interview with Billboard was published in which he came out as gay.[7] One day later Shane Bitney Crone, who is featured as the romantic lead in the music video, announced that he and Owen are a couple.[8] On March 3, 2018, they announced they would be getting married, after Crone proposed to Owen on stage at a Demi Lovato concert.[9]

    Discography

    EPs
    Album Details Track listing
    Cycles[10]
    • Released: August 26, 2014
    • Writers: Rayvon Owen, Cameron Bedell, David Smith,
      Ryan Key, Stevie Aiello, Ross Bridgeman,[11] Seth Jones
    • Producers: Seth Jones,[12] Ross Bridgeman
    1. "Rescue" (3:43)
    2. "Can't Pretend" (3:24)
    3. "Air" (3:53)
    4. "Sweatshirt" (3:46)

    Singles
    • 2016: "Can't Fight It"
    • 2018: "Gold"
    • 2020: "Space Between" (with Blair St. Clair)
    Digital singles
    Year Song
    2015 "Everybody Wants To Rule The World"
    "Since U Been Gone"
    "Set Fire to the Rain

    References
    1. Paragraphs, 2paragraphs. "Rayvon Owen is A ringer". 2parahraphs.
    2. Mink, Casey. "American Idol Top 8 Perform". HollywoodLife.
    3. YouTube: Music video for "Can't Fight It" by Rayvon Owen
    4. Out.com: How American Idol Brought These Two Lovers Together
    5. "'American Idol' Alum Rayvon Owen Opens Up About His Sexuality in New Video, 'Can't Fight It' | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
    6. Owen, Rayvon. "Rayvon Owen – Can't Fight It (OFFICIAL VIDEO)". YouTube.
    7. Bronson, Fred. "'American Idol' Alum Rayvon Owen Opens Up About His Sexuality in New Video, 'Can't Fight It': Exclusive". Billboard Magazine.
    8. https://www.facebook.com/ShaneBitneyCroneOfficial/posts/951697144911104
    9. Owen, Rayvon (March 3, 2018). "I SAID YES!!! i'm still in tears. last night was hands down the happiest night of my life. i am beyond excited and honored to spend the rest of my life with you, @ShaneBitney. thank you @ddlovato for giving us this extremely special moment. #tellmeyoulovemetourpic.twitter.com/P3Kow9jdgZ". @rayvonowen. Retrieved March 4, 2018.
    10. Owen, Rayvon. "Cycles EP-Rayvon Owen". Itunes.
    11. Bridgeman, Ross. "Albums – Ross Bridgeman".
    12. Jones, Seth. "Credits – Seth Jones".
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