George Porter Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Porter Jr.
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| Born | December 26, 1947 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
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| Years active | 1965–present |
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George Porter Jr. is an American musician born on December 26, 1947. He is famous as the bass player and singer for the band the Meters. George Porter Jr. helped create the unique sound of funk music. He formed The Meters in the mid-1960s with Art Neville.
The Meters broke up in 1977 but got back together in 1989. George Porter Jr. also has his own band called The Runnin' Pardners. He has played and recorded with many famous artists like Dr. John, Paul McCartney, and Tori Amos.
Contents
About George Porter Jr.
Early Life and The Meters
George Porter Jr. grew up in New Orleans, a city famous for its music. His parents loved music, and his mother sang in church. He became friends with Joe "Zigaboo" Modeliste when he was 10 years old. They often played music together as teenagers.
George learned to play the bass guitar from Benjamin "Poppi" Francis. When he was still a teenager, Art Neville asked him to join his new band. This was the start of the Meters. The band first had seven members and was called Neville Sound. Later, it became a four-person group with Art Neville, Zigaboo Modeliste, Leo Nocentelli, and George Porter Jr.
The band played music six nights a week at a club in New Orleans. They were then asked to sign a record deal. The record company wanted them to change their name, and they chose "The Meters."
The Meters' Success
By the early 1970s, The Meters were touring all over the country. They also played as session musicians on many hit songs. This means they played instruments for other artists' recordings. Some of these famous songs include "Right Place, Wrong Time" and "Lady Marmalade."
In 1975, The Meters toured as the opening act for the legendary band Rolling Stones. George Porter Jr. remembers a special moment in 1976. When the crowd in Paris started booing The Meters, Keith Richards and Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones came out. They told the crowd to be quiet and listen to the music. George said this moment helped The Meters keep going for a while. However, the band eventually broke up in 1977. After that, George Porter Jr. started a new band called Joyride.
After The Meters
After The Meters broke up, George Porter Jr. continued to play with Joyride and other musicians in New Orleans. In 1989, he reunited with Art Neville and Leo Nocentelli as The Meters again.
In 1990, he started his band, The Runnin' Pardners, which still plays today. In the 1990s, George became a very popular bass player for studio recordings. He played with artists like David Byrne and Tori Amos. In 1994, he and Art Neville formed The Funky Meters to continue playing The Meters' style of music.
2000s to Today
The original four members of The Meters reunited for a show in San Francisco in 2000. They also played at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 2006. This was a very important event for the city after Hurricane Katrina.
George Porter Jr. appeared in the 2005 movie Make It Funky!. This film tells the story of New Orleans music. In the movie, he performs with Snooks Eaglin.
Since Hurricane Katrina, George Porter Jr. has also worked to help his city. He has informed people about the dangers of wetlands disappearing, which threatens New Orleans. He still tours regularly with The Runnin' Pardners and The Funky Meters. He also plays with the original members of The Meters, now called The Original Meters. He often works with other musicians, especially those from New Orleans.
Personal Life
George Porter Jr. was raised Catholic. He once thought about becoming a priest.
Awards and Honors
George Porter Jr. has won many awards for his music. He has received several "Best Bass Player" awards from OffBeat magazine. He also won a Lifetime Achievement in Music award in 2011. In 2015, he won awards for Best R&B/Funk Band and Best R&B/Funk Album for his album It's Time to Funk.
Discography
George Porter Jr. has released several albums with his own bands:
- Runnin' Partner (1990)
- Things Ain't What They Used to Be (1994)
- Funk This (1997)
- Funk 'n' Go Nuts (2000)
- Searching for a Joyride (2005)
- It's Life (2007)
- Can't Beat the Funk (2011)
He has also played on many albums for other artists, including:
- In the Right Place by Dr. John (1973)
- Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley by Robert Palmer (1974)
- Nightbirds by Labelle (1974)
- Storyville by Robbie Robertson (1991)
- Uh-Oh by David Byrne (1992)
- Under the Pink by Tori Amos (1994)
See also
In Spanish: George Porter, Jr. para niños
