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]
Skylark
Gregory Porter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have you anything to say to me?
Can you tell me where my love can be?
Is there a meadow in the mist
Where someone's waiting to be kissed?
Skylark
Is there any valley green with spring
Over the shadows and the rain
To a blossom covered lane?
And
And in your lonely flight
Haven't you heard
The music in the night?
Wonderful music
Faint as the will o' the wisp
Crazy as a loon
Sad as a gypsy
Serenading the moon
Skylark
I don't know if you can find these things
But my heart is riding on your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?
And in your lonely flight
Haven't you heard
The music in the night?
Wonderful music
Faint as a will o' the wisp
Crazy as a loon
Sad as a gypsy
Serenading the moon
Skylark
I don't know if you can find
These things
But my heart is riding on
Your wings
So if you see them anywhere
Won't you lead me there?
Won't you lead me there?
Won't you lead
Me
There
"Skylark" is an emotionally poignant song written by Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer. The song perfectly captures the feeling of hopelessness and longing associated with missing someone special. The song addresses a skylark and asks if it has seen the singer's lover. The singer asks if there is a special meadow or valley where his lover can be found waiting to be kissed. He yearns to find his love in a place where the shadows of the night and the rainfall are abundant. The song's use of natural imagery and melodious quality creates a sense of romance and whimsy.
The singer's journey through the dark night sky represents his quest to find his love who has been missing for some time. He doesn't know where to look or where to find her, but he pleads with the skylark to guide him to where she might be waiting. The refrain of the song, where the singer asks the skylark to lead him there, is a constant reminder of his desire - and hope - to find his love, wherever she may be.
The song's overarching theme is about the power of romantic love to help one overcome great obstacles. The singer is willing to trust his faith in nature and the mysterious powers of the universe to help him find his love. The beautiful, melancholy melody of 'Skylark' serves to convey the deep sense of longing in the singer's heart and the aching desire he feels to be reunited with his lost love. The song's power lies in its ability to evoke a deep sense of empathy in the listener and to inspire feelings of hope and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Skylark
Addressing the bird, who is seen as a symbol of hope and freedom.
Have you anything to say to me?
Asking the bird if it knows anything that can help find the love that has been lost.
Can you tell me where my love can be?
Again asking the bird to help locate the lost love.
Is there a meadow in the mist Where someone's waiting to be kissed?
Wondering if the lost love might be waiting in a beautiful and romantic setting, hoping for a reunion.
Is there any valley green with spring Where my heart can go a-journeying Over the shadows and the rain To a blossom covered lane?
Asking the bird if there is any place where the heart can find solace and peace, and urging it to lead to such a place.
And in your lonely flight Haven't you heard The music in the night? Wonderful music Faint as the will o' the wisp Crazy as a loon Sad as a gypsy Serenading the moon
Noting the bird's lonely flight and asking if it has heard the music of the world, which can evoke many different emotions - joy, madness, sadness, and romance among others.
Skylark I don't know if you can find these things But my heart is riding on your wings So if you see them anywhere Won't you lead me there?
Acknowledging that the bird might not be able to help find the lost love or the tranquil and romantic places, but asking it to lead the heart to such places if they are spotted during its flight.
Won't you lead me there? Won't you lead me there? Won't you lead Me There?
Reiterating the request, hoping that the bird would help the heart find the much-needed respite and happiness.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GREGORY PORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CLUTCH_AND STICK
Someone commented..
Man ... this is gonna be our new Barry White
I said..
Now for (no particular order) this generation's....
Eddie Levert, Al Green, Teddy Pendergrass, Peabo Bryson, Freddie Jackson, Ronald Isley, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Donny Hathaway, Eddie Kendricks, Charlie Wilson, Jeffrey Osborne all of whom have or had careers that easily overlap one another or are still active.
John Legend, Tyrese, Chris Brown, T Pain, The Weeknd, etc etc better get busy. LOL.
Francesca Darien-Hyde LLB MA
He is so majestic when he sings - so sublime. Meeting him briefly after his concert many years ago was a honour! Cescalovesjazz! Water is my favourite album of his.
Nai amall
Gregory is a phenomenal singer , I can and most often do listen to him everyday his vioce and music is a balm it makes me feel good !
Michael Alexander
This voice definitely brings a spotlight to jazz vocalists. The quality of his sound pierces the atmosphere like any fine fresh tuned intrument. It grabs attention because it is very resonant with the right force of power behind it. Kudos to Gregory Porter!
Elisa Williams
What a beautiful song and his voice is just so heavenly!!!!! My heart is being massaged!!!!! I love Aretha's version and Diane"s also!! Welcome my brother!!!!
Shirley Rice
Gregory Porter has an unique style of singing - And the Jazz background is awesome.
Hats Off To Gregory Porter
Mali Song
If you think, all these beautiful Jazz standard ballads was been interpreted and sang in all possible different ways ... Well, Gregory Porter teaches us otherwise and shows us there is a wonderful and G.Porter-way to interprete, transpose and 're-invent' it on a new, gorgeous and most new-romantic level.
Thank you sharing the song!
Anishika Jontae
Well stated. I tell everyone I meet, THIS might be my most favorite rendition of this song I've ever heard
Mali Song
Anishika Jontae Well, there are many beautiful interpretations from the past. Ella Fitzgerald, Maxine Sullivan, Aretha Franklin and Melanie Scholtz ... But male interpreters ... Yeah, Gregory is doing just perfect!
F Brown-Williams
Can't explain the joy my heart feels when I hear this rendition by Porter and the instrumentals are perfecto.
Germaine Traeye-Smith
I'am in LOVE with this Man's Voice. It's like he's singing to my Soul.