Gregory Porter

Jazz, soul and gospel singer, songwriter, and actor Gregory Porter was born in Los Angeles but grew up in Bakersfield, California, where his mother was a minister. As a child, he fell under the spell of his mother's Nat King Cole records, learning to imitate Cole, but his early aspirations involved sports. He was awarded a football scholarship to San Diego State University, but after an injury to his shoulder derailed his sports career, he began performing in local jazz clubs, where he met saxophonist, composer, and pianist Kamau Kenyatta. Kenyatta became Porter's mentor, intr...