Bio
Richardson was born in Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe Hospital in Belgium to Phyllis and Danny Richardson. His father spent 20 years in the Air Force and his mother was once crowned "Miss Great Bridge High School". Richardson moved to Chesapeake, Virginia, in 1999. Before Idol, Richardson was a kitchen supervisor for a Hooters restaurant. He graduated from Great Bridge High School in 2002 and studied music composition at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, for a year, playing football there as well. He continued his music studies at Tidewater Community College.