Jesse Camp

Jesse Camp became an overnight star when in 1998 he won MTV's first "Wanna Be a VJ" contest, parlaying his popularity with the music video network's viewers into a record deal. Born November 4, 1979 in Granby, Connecticut. After graduating high school he relocated to Manhattan, playing drums in an East Village band named "Easy Action." Less than five months after his arrival in New York, Camp beat out 4000 other contestants in MTV's nationwide search for a new on-air personality, immediately rocketing to fame. A gaunt, flamboyant character with electric-shock hair and a voice suggesting Elmer Fudd on dope, Camp was the object of as much disdain as affection, however -- while supposedly homeless prior to landing his VJ gig, many pointed to his suburban upbringing as proof of his affluent background, and even his MTV victory was the subject of controversy after it was later reported in the Village Voice that one viewer voted for him some 3000 times. In any case, Camp grew so popular with audiences that he ultimately signed a contract with Hollywood Records, the biggest ever awarded to a fledgling act in label history; he assembled the 8th Street Kidz, a group comprised of onetime members of Vixen, LSD and Dogs D'Amour, he issued his debut LPJesse & the 8th Street Kidz in May 1999. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide