| Born: Genre: Style: |
1971 – Sacramento, California, USA Jazz Contemporary Jazz |
| Year | Album Title | Label | In House |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Water | Motema | On Website |
| 2012 | Be Good | Motema | On Website |
| 2013 | Liquid Spirit | Blue Note | On Website |
| 2014 | Issues Of Life (Features And Remixes) | Membran | On Website |
| 2016 | Take Me to the Alley | Blue Note | On Website |
| 2017 | Nat King Cole & Me | Blue Note | On Website |
| 2020 | All Rise | Blue Note | YES |
| 2021 | Still Rising – The Collection | Blue Note | YES |
| 2023 | Christmas Wish | Blue Note | YES |
Gregory Porter discovers Nat King Cole's music through his mother. When he records his own song at the age of five, his mother exclaims "Boy, you sound like Nat King Cole." From that moment on, Gregory wants to know everything about this singer. He starts listening to all the records his mother has in her closet. Porter learns from them, but develops his own style that ranges from soul, gospel, jazz, soul, funk and R&B. Later in life, Porter organizes a tribute to Nat King Cole's music. During the performance, Porter tells how Nat King Cole came into his life. After high school, he received a sports scholarship as an American football player at San Diego State University. A shoulder injury put an end to his top sports ambitions. He started singing in local jazz clubs and came into contact with Kamau Kenyatta, who became his mentor in the field of music.
In addition to his full, polished voice and friendly, personable demeanor during his performances, Porter has also become known for his inseparable headgear, which leaves only his face uncovered.
Porter has performed and sung in the musicals It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues and The Civil War. He has also appeared on David Letterman's TV show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show and The Today Show. In 2006, Porter performed with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. But Nat King Cole remains a common thread in his life. Together with flutist Hubert Laws, he recorded Cole's hit Smile for Lawas' album Remembers the Unforgettable Nat King Cole. With Ronnie and Debra Laws, he sings the song Journey. Porter has entered into more collaborations, but also has solo projects. In 2010, his first album Water was released, produced by Kenyatta, and he broke through to an international audience. He received a Grammy nomination for this album, as "Best Jazz Vocal Album".
In 2012 he released his second album Be Good. The album reached the tenth place in the Dutch album chart. In 2013 his first album was released by the famous Blue Note Records: Liquid Spirit. What is special is that Porter was given free rein in his choice of music and musicians for this album. The album reached the sixth place in the Dutch album chart. The German DJ Claptone made a remix of the title track that quickly became popular in the spring of 2015. Later that year he made the track Holding On together with the British duo Disclosure.
