Gregory Porter (born November 4, 1971, in Sacramento, raised in Bakersfield, California) is one of the most recognizable American jazz singers and songwriters of the modern era. With his velvety baritone, deeply emotional interpretation, and refined fusion of jazz, soul, gospel, and R&B, he has become a global ambassador of emotional honesty in music.
His musical foundation was shaped in childhood by his mother’s record collection of Nat King Cole, who left a lasting impression on him. He later studied under the mentorship of Kamau Kenyatta, who remains his regular collaborator and artistic advisor.
Porter’s breakthrough came with the album Liquid Spirit (2013), for which he received a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album (2014) and achieved platinum status in the UK. The singles Hey Laura and No Love Dying became modern classics.
This success was followed by acclaimed albums Take Me to the Alley (2016, second Grammy), Nat King Cole & Me (2017), and All Rise (2020), further cementing Porter’s reputation as a vocalist who blends classical elegance with contemporary social awareness.
In 2025, he embarked on an extensive European tour, with 27 concerts, including three sold-out nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall and a performance at the renowned Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia.
Porter’s creative world extends beyond music: he hosts the podcast The Hang, where he talks with artists and friends about art, life, and meaning, and the culinary series The PorterHouse, where he intertwines memories, recipes, and community values.
Gregory Porter remains a voice of contemporary soul and jazz — with warmth, reverence for tradition, and authenticity that offers the listener a sense of closeness and safety in every note.
