Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Jesse Campbell is the second contestant we met on The Voice in Season 2. And talk about making a quick first impression.

Within 10 seconds of Jesse launching into “A Song for You.” three of the show’s four judges turned their chairs around.

Within 25 seconds, Blake Shelton joined Christina, Adam and Cee Lo in wanting Jesse on his team.

“I would have been grateful if just one turned around,” Jesse told The Voice afterward. “To have all four turn around … I was just honored and flattered.”

Jesse went with Christina, and advanced to the live shows with another impressive performance as the show-closer in the first battle round episode.

None of which would likely surprise the folks back in the Chicago area, where Jesse started singing in his father’s church, leading songs during worship by the time he was 16.

Jesse recalls that The Winans used to stay over at his house whenever they were in town — because of his mother’s cooking, he told Windy City Live — and he was featured on at least one of their recordings, according to his website.

He also landed his own record deal with Underworld Records (then a branch of Capital Records) and released a 1995 pop album of love songs entitled “Never Let You Go,” on which he co-wrote six of the 12 tracks.

Jesse followed that up with a song on the “Dead Presidents” soundtrack and appeared on “Showtime at the Apollo” and “Soul Train.”

But his career hasn’t been all smooth sailing, he told The Voice. After moving to Los Angeles, he was also homeless for a time, iving out of his car with his daughter, now 11.

Now he makes his living singing at churches and weddings and wherever else he’s needed. He’s also performed on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Calif., for the past two years.

He’s also released more recent music that goes back to his church roots — “Hymns from the Heart” in 2006 and “Sessions” in 2009, both of which are available on iTunes.

Now 42, Jesse credits his brother for helping him get back on his feet and says he’s hoping to do well on the show in part to better support his daughter. He’s a single dad.

If you want to follow Jesse on Facebook, head here. On Twitter he’s @singjessesing.

Now, here’s some Jesse Campbell music.

“What a Wonderful World” from “Sessions”

“Human Nature”

The Voice audition — “Song for You”