Jason Derulo

But for Jason Derulo, that’s all happened in a span of just more than one year.

The Miami native’s first single, “Whatcha Say,” was released in Aug. 2009 and skyrocketed on the record charts, followed by a breakout performance at Los Angeles radio powerhouse KIIS-FM’s annual Wango Tango radio fest and two more hit singles.

Derulo managed to squeeze opening dates on The Black Eyed Peas’ tour and six weeks on Lady Gaga’s gargantuan Monster Ball outing in between.

Discovered on MySpace by the brother of acclaimed producer J.R. Rotem, Derulo’s seemingly meteoric rise has been, as is often the case, years in the making. He composed his first song on piano at age 8 and, by his late teens, was attending the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City and competing on the historic Apollo Theatre stage.

He signed on as the flagship artist in a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Rotem’s Beluga Heights labels, and is well on his way to establish himself as an entertainment quadruple-threat as a singer, songwriter, dancer and actor.

“Jason is one of those guys who can have a career like Ne-Yo, who writes songs for other people but has a career of his own,” Rotem says. “He can write female pop songs, male R&B, he can write ballads. He’s very eclectic. He’s really inspired us.”

Derulo is preparing for a European tour and will embark on a headlining North American outing in early 2011.

Winner 2010 Teen Choice Awards for best male video and new artist for “Ridin’ Solo.”

Three Top 10 singles in 2010: “Whatcha Say,” “Ridin’ Solo” and “In My Head.”