PJ Morton

PJ Morton

Morton in 2011
Background information
Birth name Paul Morton, Jr.
Born (1981-03-29) March 29, 1981
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
Years active 2005–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website pjmortononline.com

PJ Morton (born as Paul Morton, Jr.; March 29, 1981) is an American R&B singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is most famously known as the keyboardist in the multi-platinum Grammy Award-winning band Maroon 5, since 2010. On March 27, 2012, Morton released his debut solo EP, Following My First Mind, through the record label Young Money. Adam Levine was featured on the lead single, "Heavy"; other musicians on the EP include Lil Wayne, Jazmine Sullivan and Chantae Cann. On May 14, 2013, Morton released his first major-label debut album, New Orleans. In 2016, he released his mixtape Bounce & Soul Vol. 1 in March and the Sticking to My Guns EP in July.

Personal life

Morton was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father is Canadian-born American gospel singer, Paul S. Morton. His mother is Debra Brown Morton. He is married to Kortni Morton.[1]

Morton graduated St. Augustine High School and majored in marketing at Morehouse College, graduating in 2003.[2]

Career

Maroon 5

In 2010, Morton's friend and Maroon 5's musical director Adam Blackstone asked him to audition for a position in the band as keyboardist backing vocalist. Morton was the first to audition and left an indelible mark on the group.[3] Since then, he has played with Maroon 5 in concerts and other live performances. From 2012 to 2014 Morton filled-in for the band's keyboardist, Jesse Carmichael, who was on an indefinite hiatus from performing with the group, as stated on their official website in March 2012.[4] In 2012, he joined the band as a full-time member, contributing his vocal and keyboard parts on Maroon 5's fourth studio album, Overexposed, and continuing to do so during the process of recording the band's 2014 album, V.

Signing to Young Money and New Orleans

Morton's solo work won the attention of Mack Maine, who signed him to his production company, Soothe Your Soul, and Young Money Entertainment in 2011.[5] The Following My First Mind EP was released on March 27, 2012.

On May 14, 2013, Morton released his debut studio album on YMCMB, entitled New Orleans. The lead single, "Only One", featuring Stevie Wonder, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2014. On March 25, 2016, Morton released his mixtape, Bounce & Soul Vol. 1, to SoundCloud. The mixtape features collaborations from other hip hop artists such as Mack Maine, Mannie Fresh, Juvenile, Dee-1, and 5th Ward Weebie. On July 1, he released the Sticking to My Guns EP, featuring the single of the same name.[6]

Other work

After winning Grammy Awards for his songwriting and production on India.Arie's Interested, Morton won Dove and Stellar Awards in 2008.

Morton was also noticed by AR Rahman, composer for Slumdog Millionaire, who asked Morton to contribute "Sajna" to the soundtrack and movie for the Vince Vaughn comedy Couples Retreat. Morton has also produced and written for musicians such as Jermaine Dupri, LL Cool J, Jagged Edge, Monica, India.Arie, gospel musicians Fred Hammond, Men of Standard, and Heather Headley. In 2009, he published a book entitled Why Can't I Sing About Love?[7]

Discography

As a solo artist

Studio albums
Mixtapes
Live albums
EPs
Singles

With the PJ Morton Band

With Maroon 5

References

  1. ↑ "USA GRAMMY ARWARDS 2014". naver.com.
  2. ↑ "Printing – Discovery: PJ Morton – Interview Magazine". interviewmagazine.com.
  3. ↑ "PJ Morton Talks Transition From Writing Gospel Music to Singing with Young Money Records". UGospel.Com. May 8, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
  4. ↑ "Band Announcement – Jesse Carmichael". maroon5.com. March 9, 2012. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
  5. ↑ "Maroon 5's PJ Morton Talks Young Money Deal". AllHipHop.Com. March 26, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-08.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "Why Can't I Sing About Love?". WhyCan'tISingAboutLove.Com. Retrieved 2012-04-17.
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