Gregory Porter
Gregory Porter (born November 4, 1971)[1] is an American singer, songwriter… Read Full Bio ↴Gregory Porter (born November 4, 1971)[1] is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2014 for Liquid Spirit and in 2017 for Take Me to the Alley.[2]
Gregory Porter was born in Sacramento and was raised in Bakersfield, California, where his mother was a minister. A 1989 graduate of Highland High School, he received a "full-ride" (tuition, books, medical coverage, and living expenses) athletic scholarship as a football lineman to San Diego State University (SDSU Aztecs), but a shoulder injury during his junior year cut short his football career.[3] At the age of 21, Porter lost his mother to cancer, but only after she entreated him from her death bed: "Sing, baby, sing!"
Porter moved to the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn in 2004, along with his brother Lloyd. He worked as a chef at Lloyd's restaurant Bread-Stuy (now defunct), where he also performed. Porter performed at other neighborhood venues including Sista's Place and Solomon's Porch, and moved on to Harlem club St. Nick's Pub, where he maintained a weekly residency. Out of this residency evolved what would become Porter's touring band.[4]
Porter released two albums on the Motéma label together with Membran Entertainment Group, 2010's Water and 2012's Be Good, before signing with Blue Note Records (under Universal Music Group) on May 17, 2013. His third album, Liquid Spirit, was released on September 2, 2013, in Europe and on September 17, 2013, in the US.[5] The album was produced by Brian Bacchus.[6] The album won the 2014 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.[7]
Liquid Spirit enjoyed commercial success rarely achieved by albums in the jazz genre, reaching the top 10 on the UK album charts. It was certified gold by the BPI, selling over 100,000 units in the UK.[8]
In August 2014 Porter released "The 'In' Crowd" as a single.[9] On May 9, 2015 Porter participated in VE Day 70: A Party to Remember, a televised commemorative concert from Horse Guards Parade in London, singing "As Time Goes By".[10]
His fourth album, Take Me to the Alley, was released on May 6, 2016.[11] In UK's The Guardian it was Alexis Petridis's album of the week.[12]
On June 26, 2016, Porter performed on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival 2016. Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Neil McCormick said, "The portly middle-aged jazzer may be the oddest pop star on the planet but he is a refreshing testament to the notion that the most important organ for musical appreciation should always be our ears. And Porter has one of the most easy-on-the-ear voices in popular music, a creamy baritone that flows thick and smooth across a rich gateaux of juicy melody. It's a voice that makes you want to lick your lips and dive right in."[13]
In September 2016 Porter performed at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park from Hyde Park, London. He would go on to perform in the annual BBC Children in Need show in November, a night dedicated to Sir Terry Wogan, who hosted it in previous years and was a fan of Porter.[14]
In January 2017 Porter performed the song "Holding On" on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show.[15] In September 2017 he performed as part of the Later... with Jools Holland: Later 25 concert at the Royal Albert Hall.[16]
In October 2017 he performed the song "Mona Lisa" on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show with Jeff Goldblum on piano.[17]
Gregory Porter was born in Sacramento and was raised in Bakersfield, California, where his mother was a minister. A 1989 graduate of Highland High School, he received a "full-ride" (tuition, books, medical coverage, and living expenses) athletic scholarship as a football lineman to San Diego State University (SDSU Aztecs), but a shoulder injury during his junior year cut short his football career.[3] At the age of 21, Porter lost his mother to cancer, but only after she entreated him from her death bed: "Sing, baby, sing!"
Porter moved to the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn in 2004, along with his brother Lloyd. He worked as a chef at Lloyd's restaurant Bread-Stuy (now defunct), where he also performed. Porter performed at other neighborhood venues including Sista's Place and Solomon's Porch, and moved on to Harlem club St. Nick's Pub, where he maintained a weekly residency. Out of this residency evolved what would become Porter's touring band.[4]
Porter released two albums on the Motéma label together with Membran Entertainment Group, 2010's Water and 2012's Be Good, before signing with Blue Note Records (under Universal Music Group) on May 17, 2013. His third album, Liquid Spirit, was released on September 2, 2013, in Europe and on September 17, 2013, in the US.[5] The album was produced by Brian Bacchus.[6] The album won the 2014 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.[7]
Liquid Spirit enjoyed commercial success rarely achieved by albums in the jazz genre, reaching the top 10 on the UK album charts. It was certified gold by the BPI, selling over 100,000 units in the UK.[8]
In August 2014 Porter released "The 'In' Crowd" as a single.[9] On May 9, 2015 Porter participated in VE Day 70: A Party to Remember, a televised commemorative concert from Horse Guards Parade in London, singing "As Time Goes By".[10]
His fourth album, Take Me to the Alley, was released on May 6, 2016.[11] In UK's The Guardian it was Alexis Petridis's album of the week.[12]
On June 26, 2016, Porter performed on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival 2016. Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Neil McCormick said, "The portly middle-aged jazzer may be the oddest pop star on the planet but he is a refreshing testament to the notion that the most important organ for musical appreciation should always be our ears. And Porter has one of the most easy-on-the-ear voices in popular music, a creamy baritone that flows thick and smooth across a rich gateaux of juicy melody. It's a voice that makes you want to lick your lips and dive right in."[13]
In September 2016 Porter performed at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park from Hyde Park, London. He would go on to perform in the annual BBC Children in Need show in November, a night dedicated to Sir Terry Wogan, who hosted it in previous years and was a fan of Porter.[14]
In January 2017 Porter performed the song "Holding On" on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show.[15] In September 2017 he performed as part of the Later... with Jools Holland: Later 25 concert at the Royal Albert Hall.[16]
In October 2017 he performed the song "Mona Lisa" on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show with Jeff Goldblum on piano.[17]
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Gregory Porter Lyrics
1960 What 1960 what? 1960 who? 1960 what? 1960 who? 19, hey! The motor…
Bad Girl Love Everything my life has taught me A love like ours is…
Be Good Be good is her name And I sing my lion's song…
Be Good (Lion's Song) Be good is her name And I sing my lion's song…
Black Nile Hey come along with me Let your spirit run free Along the…
Bling Bling I am so rich in love And so poor in everything…
Brown Grass Brown grass On the other side nothing but brown grass Now I'…
But Beautiful Love is funny, or it's sad Or it's quiet, or it's…
Christmas Time is Here Christmas time is here Happiness and cheer Fun for all That …
Christmas Waltz Frosted windowpanes Candles gleaming inside Painted candy ca…
Christmas Wish People wonder why I don't cry for tomorrow Had a mother…
Concorde With a million stars in the galaxy When I'm floating with…
Consequence Of Love I will go To the consequence of love Whatever come what may …
Cradle in Bethlehem Sing sweet and low your lullaby 'Til angels say, "Amen" A…
dad gone thing Jack of all trade Master of everything Lived a life with a…
Day Dream He's satisfied to dream his whole life away Candy-coated cas…
Do You Hear What I Hear Said the night wind to the little lamb Do you see…
Don't Be A Fool Don't be a fool Don't give your nights to someone else While…
Don't Lose Your Steam Sitting on the top of the roof, the bridge is…
Dont Be A Fool Don't be a fool Don't give your nights to someone else While…
Don’t Lose Your Steam Sitting on the top of the roof, the bridge is…
Everything You Touch Is Gold Everything you touch is gold That is why my soul is…
Everything's Not Lost Help me just to pass this test of time I wish…
Faith in Love Your eyes, they tell the truth of your affection Your song…
FAN THE FLAMES Fan the flames of love A classy action suit to dance…
Feeling Good Birds flying high, you know how I feel, Sun in the…
Fly me to the moon Fly me to the moon And let me play among the…
Free Want to be free, got be free, want to be…
FRENCH AFRICAN QUEEN I was walking round in Paris Near the (inaudible) Zanzibar S…
God Bless the Child ( Billie Holiday Cover ) Them that's got shall get Them …
Heart For Christmas Thinking back to when I was a kid We never knew…
Hey Laura Hey Laura it's me Sorry but I had to rang…
Holding On Weight of love on my shoulders I thought that it would…
I Fall In Love Too Easily I fall in love too easily I fall in love too…
I Will Can anybody hear my song? Come and hear me now Can anybody…
If Love Is Overrated If love is overrated Let me be the one that is…
Illusion I've been searching all the corners of my room Sweeping dust…
Imitation of Life What is love without the giving Without love you're only li…
In Fashion You wear a black leather belt That holds the waist I…
In Heaven In heaven, that's where you'll see me, my love Not on…
INSANITY How did we ever lose our minds? And fall apart, knowing…
L-O-V-E L is for the way you look at me O is…
Liquid Spirit Un re-route the rivers Let the dammed water be There's some …
Little Drummer Boy "Come" they told me, pa rum pum pum pum A new…
Lonely One Did you pick the wrong one Did he break your heart He…
Lonesome Lover So long Ive been needin' your love Hear me pleadin', love My…
Long List of Troubles Just like cold steel shot hot out of a gun Just…
Love Runs Deeper When you open the door, I'll be standing there With a…
Magic Cup I just cant stop thinking about you All day long I…
Merchants of Paradise These merchants of paradise Come say what you will You selle…
merry go round Follow me around Get up on my merry-go-round Follow me aroun…
Miss Otis Regrets Miss Otis regrets She′s unable to lunch today Madam Miss Oti…
Mister Holland Hello, Mister Holland And Rosie may come out and play She's …
Moanin' (Radio Edit) Every Mornin' finds me moanin' I'm alone and crying the blue…
modern day apprentice I'm a modern day apprentice for your love I'm a modern…
Mona Lisa Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa, men have named you You′re so like…
More Than A Woman More than a woman More than a woman Now I see Now I…
Mother's Song Listen and gather 'round me children Children of a mother w…
Movin I feel just like a kite But one without a string One…
Musical Genocide I do not agree, this is not for me No, musical…
No Love Dying There will be no love that's dying here The bird that…
On My Way to Harlem I found out on my way to Harlem Ellington you don't…
Our Love They think you're weak But you're the reflection of my love…
Painted On Canvas We are like children We're painted on canvases Picking up …
Phoenix Our love Battered and worn Tired and torn You've grown tired…
PICK YOURSELF UP Pick yourself up Take a deep breath Dust yourself off Start …
Pretty Pretty balls made from sand Tassels hang from castles and…
Purple Snowflakes Softly they fall, where do they go? (Purple snowflakes) Cove…
Quizas Quizas Quizas Siempre que te pregunto Que cuándo, cómo y dónde Tú siempre …
Real Good Hands Well, maybe you know why I'm here. Your daughter and I…
Real Truth You can leave your ego at the door When you come…
Revival I try to run And I grow weary I try to walk And…
Silent Night Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yo…
Skylark Skylark Have you anything to say to me? Can you tell me…
Smile Smile though your heart is aching Smile even though it's bre…
Someday At Christmas Someday at Christmas, men won't be boys Playing with bombs l…
Song of the Wind The sun, the trees, the leaves, the ground The sound…
Sweet Home Chicago Come on Baby, don't you wanna go home Come on Baby, don't yo…
Sweet Home Chicago ) Come on Baby, don't you wanna go home Come on Baby, don't…
Take Me To The Alley Well, they guild their houses in preparation for the King An…
Thank You Thank you for making a place for me Opening my eyes,…
The "In" Crowd I'm in with the in crowd I go where the in…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at you…
The Way You Want to Live Weird one and yes, wise one Standing on rocks of compromise…
The World This world Is going up in flames And nobody Wanna take the b…
Time Is Ticking Time is ticking Time is ticking Did you dance out in the…
Water Somebody told me "Get over it" It's like water under bridges…
When Did You Learn When Did You Learn When did you learn the rules of…
When Love Was King Once was a kingdom, far far away. Love was the rule…
When You Wish Upon A Star When you wish upon a star Makes no difference who you…
Wind Song The sun, the trees, the leaves, the ground The sound…
Wisdom Traveling... far from home. Further now... as we roam. Fut…
Wolfcry The night has fallen And you have soaked your see-through si…
Work Song ( Oscar Brown Jr Cover ) Breaking up big rocks on…
You Can Join My Band They say that life, for you It ain't been no symphony They…