Advertisement
Jason Weaver celebrates his hit song “I just can’t wait to be King” selling 2 million records. His mom famously turned down a $2 million upfront offer and instead made him take $100K and lifetime Royalties.
He has made well over $2 million and counting. Singer and actor Jason Weaver recently celebrated a huge milestone. His 1994 hit song, “I Just Can’t Wait to be King,” featured on “The Lion King” original soundtrack, was certified double platinum on Nov. 22 after selling two million copies.
Fans know Weaver from his starring roles in projects like “Drumline,” “Lottery Ticket,” and “The Jacksons: An American Dream.” He is also known for his for his musical talents, which he showcased in songs like “Stay with Me,” “One Call Away,” and “Love Ambition.”
Weaver’s most lucrative project came in the early ‘90s when he combined his two passions while recording the Disney animated classic “The Lion King.” Weaver was the singing voice for Young Simba, and he can be heard in the songs “Hakuna Matata” and “I Just Can’t Wait to be King.”
“Back in 1994, when I was 15 years old, Disney came to me with a $2 million check, which at the time seemed like a lot of money. The problem is that there were no royalties attached to the offer, meaning that if I accepted the payment, I’d be paid the $2 million and that would be it,” he wrote.
He continued, “But my mother, who was my manager at the time, had a vision. She knew that Disney had a reputation for re-releasing their movies and making a lot of money over time. She also knew that The Lion King was going to be a classic, and that the songs were going to be timeless. So she negotiated a deal that gave me $100,000 upfront and a share of the royalties for the rest of my life.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
