Who are Jabu and Cornelio? ‘AGT’ Season 19 duo have collabed with Ryan Reynolds, Will Farrell and Shakira
PITTSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA: Jabu and Cornelio, the dynamic duo from North Carolina are gearing up to showcase their talents on the renowned NBC show 'America's Got Talent'.
Jabu Graybeal, a multi-talented individual, is not only a dancer, but also an actor, producer, and musical artist making waves in the R&B scene. His music effortlessly blends classic R&B elements with modern pop influences, creating a unique and captivating sound that sets him apart from the rest.
In the year 2022, Jabu appeared in the holiday film 'Spirited'. This opportunity allowed him to collaborate with esteemed actors such as Will Farrell and Ryan Reynolds, who brought their own unique talents to the project.
While having a chat with Chatham Arts Council, Jabu talked about his experience of working alongside celebrities and said, "Working with celebrities was surreal, though. I felt like I went from watching them on my couch at home to shooting a scene with them in a day."
"Ryan and Will are awesome. They’re really down to earth people. It was also cool to see how much work is put into movies, between the crew, the set design, wardrobe, and makeup. It really takes a village to make those big productions work," he added.
On the other hand, Cornelio Joseph is a talented drummer who had the incredible opportunity to perform alongside his childhood idol, the iconic Colombian singer Shakira. Their collaboration took place in September 2023 when Joseph showcased his drumming skills during Shakira's performance for the Vanguard Award at the VMA's.
This experience was undoubtedly a dream come true for Joseph, as he had long admired Shakira's music and artistry. The electrifying energy and musical chemistry between Joseph and Shakira on stage left audiences in awe, solidifying Joseph's reputation as a standout drummer in the music industry.
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'AGT' Season 19 duo Jabu and Cornelio's Jabo Graybeal is also a talented musician
Jabo from the musical duo, Jabu and Cornelio discovered his passion for producing music at the young age of 13.
In the same interview, Jabu shared, "I was always drumming and making music, but I actually started producing beats when I was about 13, which was about the same time I started taking tap dance seriously. I used to get on Garageband on my mom’s computer, making beats. I did that for about three years. It was just for fun. I didn’t really do much with it at the time."
The 'Way Way Back' singer went on to say, "But when I was 16, I started to record myself, to see how it might sound. I made my first song around that time and put it out on SoundCloud. It’s always been something I’ve enjoyed, but I haven’t really put my full energy into it to try to make it into a career. "
"My music is a totally different side of me. Tap and music are both very much part of me and who I am. I can’t really have one or the other; I like to do both. I’m definitely trying to figure out ways to combine my music and tap dance because they’ve been separate for so long," he continued.
Jabu concluded, "I’m thinking about making videos of my songs with my dancing. I would also love to tour around with a live band, singing and tap dancing, or even recording taps on an actual track. It could be fun. I’m still brainstorming."
'AGT' Season 19: Who inspires Jabu and Cornelia?
Jabu finds inspiration from a variety of sources, including Michelle Dorrance and Derick Grant, both renowned tap dancers who have made a name for themselves in the industry. He also credits his first teacher, Gene Medler, for sparking his passion for tap dancing. On the other hand, Cornelio looks up to Jordan Neely and the legendary Michael Jackson for their influence on his own musical journey.
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Jabu and Cornelio seem excited to appear on 'AGT' Season 19
Jabu and Cornelio are both thrilled to be participating in Season 19 of 'AGT'. Their excitement is evident as they each took to their official Instagram pages to share their anticipation for the upcoming episode of the NBC show.
Jabu posted a photo of himself from the set of 'America's Got Talent' on his Instagram feed. "Usually don’t do this but…#agt" he wrote in the caption of the Instagram post.
Cornelio shared a video of himself energetically drumming and jumping in the air, revealing their audition for 'AGT'.
"Secrets out! The dynamic duo @jabuworld and I auditioned for @agt. Auditions always give me chills🇵🇦🇵🇦🇵🇦🥁🥁🥁," he captioned the video.
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'America's Got Talent' Season 19 airs every Tuesday at 8 pm ET on NBC