Adam Lambert was born January 29, 1982 in Indianapolis to Eber Lambert, a program manager for a wireless company, and his wife Leila, in whose Jewish religion Adam was raised. The family moved to San Diego, where Lambert attended Mesa Verde Middle School and Mount Carmel High School. He performed in professional productions of musicals at the Starlight Theatre, the Lyceum, and other venues. After high school, he worked for ten months as a cruise ship entertainer and in 2003 toured Europe in a production of Hair. He subsequently worked in musical productions in Los Angeles, from where he was hired as an ensemble member and understudy in Wicked for the role of Fiyero.
Lambert’s big break came in 2009 when he finished as runner-up to singer Kris Allen in Season Eight of American Idol, covering such songs as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Black or White,” “The Tracks of My Tears,” “Mad World,” “If I Can’t Have You,” “One,” “Cryin’,” “A Change Is Gonna Come,” and “No Boundaries.” Prior to the finals, Lambert was outed as a gay man, which some observers thought may have alienated conservative viewers who voted for the winner.
Lambert released a studio album “For Your Entertainment,” in November 2009. It debuted as number three on the Billboard 200. Lambert’s song, “Whataya Want from Me” was nominated for a Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In 2010 People Magazine honored him as among the Most Beautiful People. That same year Lambert’s first video Glam Nation Live debuted at number one. In 2012, his second studio album, “Trespassing” debuted as number one on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2013 Lambert performed in live concert with Queen. In 2017, Queen + Adam Lambert set off on a worldwide tour. In 2019, they became the first rock band to open the Oscars. Frequent television appearances, worldwide concert dates, and a succession of successful albums have marked his career since.
Tomorrow, January 30: Saul Alinsky
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SDJW condensation of a Wikipedia article.