Gregory Porter at the Hard Rock Live

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Gregory Porter was raised in Bakersfield, California, and cites the Bakersfield Southern Gospel sound, as well as his mother’s Nat King Cole record collection, as fundamental influences on his own sound. Porter began singing in jazz clubs in San Diego while attending San Diego State University on a football scholarship.

Eventually, Porter moved to New York City to pursue music full-time, and his career began to ascend with the release of his first two albums—Water (2010) and Be Good (2012)—both of which received GRAMMY nominations. In 2013, he released his breakout Blue Note debut, Liquid Spirit, which grew into a global phenomenon, selling more than a million albums and earning Porter his first GRAMMY Award, with NPR declaring him “America’s Next Great Jazz Singer.”

His 2016 follow-up, Take Me to the Alley, won Porter his second GRAMMY Award and firmly established him as his generation’s most soulful jazz artist. In 2017, Porter released the heartfelt tribute album Nat King Cole & Me, and in 2020 returned to his original songwriting on the uplifting ALL RISE, both of which received GRAMMY nominations. His 2021 release, Still Rising, collected new songs, covers, duets, and a selection of his most-loved hits.

In 2023, Porter released his first-ever holiday album, Christmas Wish. Gregory has become one of the most successful jazz vocalists of his generation. He recently received the 2025 Edison Jazz Lifetime Achievement Award.

With a voice that has been described as "liquid gold," Gregory Porter has captivated audiences around the world with his soulful baritone and deeply emotional performances. His unique blend of jazz, soul, and gospel has earned him critical acclaim and huge global success.

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