Gregory Porter

Gregory Porter Born November 1971 Is A Grammy Award-Winning American Jazz Vocalist Songwriter And Actor. Porter Won The 2014 Grammy For Best Jazz Vocal Album Liquid Spirit. Gregory Porter Was Born In Los Angeles And Was Raised In Bakersfield California Where His Mother Was A Minister. A 1989 Graduate Of Highland High School He Received A Full-Ride Athletic Scholarship To San Diego State University SDSU Aztecs . A Shoulder Injury During His Junior Year Of High School Restricted His Football Career. His Debut Album Water Released In 2010 Via Motéma Music Was Nominated For Best Jazz Vocal Album At The 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. He Was Also A Member Of The Original Broadway Cast Of It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues. His Second Album Be Good Which Contains Many Of Porter's Compositions Was Released On February 14 2012 And Garnered Critical Acclaim For Both His Distinctive Singing And His Compositions Such As "Be Good Lion's Song "Real Good Hands" And "On My Way To Harlem". The Title Track Was Also Nominated For Best Traditional R&B Performance At The 55th Annual Grammy Awards. Porter Always Wears A Modified Flat Cap For Public Appearances. The Reason For This Is Not Entirely Clear But He Has Mentioned Its Role As A Security Blanket And Refers To It As His "jazz Hat." In An Interview With Jazzweekley.Com Conducted By George W. Harris On November 3 2012 When Asked "what’s With The Ubiquitous Hat?" Porter Replied "I’ve Had Some Surgery On My Skin So This Has Been My Look For A Little While And Will Continue To Be For Awhile Longer. People Recognize Me By It Now. It Is What It Is." He Was Signed By Blue Note Records Universal Music Group On May 17 2013 And His Third Album Liquid Spirit Was Released On September 2 2013 In Europe And On September 17 2013 In The US. The Album Is Produced By Brian Bacchus. The Album Won The 2014 Grammy For Best Jazz Vocal Album. read less