Jon Batiste facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jon Batiste
Batiste in 2023
Background information
Birth name	Jonathan Michael Batiste
Born	(1986-11-11) November 11, 1986 (age 38) Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.
Education	Juilliard School (BM, MMus)
Genres	Jazz R&B soul hip hop pop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter musician composer bandleader television personality
Instruments	Vocals piano keyboards guitar melodica
Years active	1998–present
Labels	Naht Jona Razor & Tie Concord Verve M.O.D. Technologies Blue Engine Tiger Turn Walt Disney

Batiste at Carnegie Hall

Jonathan Michael Batiste (born November 11, 1986) is an American musician, singer, and composer. He is also a bandleader and a television personality. Jon Batiste has worked with many famous artists. These include Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, and Prince.

From 2015 to 2022, he was the bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. His band was called Stay Human. In 2020, he helped create the music for the Disney Pixar movie Soul. For this, he won an Oscar and a Golden Globe. He shared these awards with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

Jon Batiste has won seven Grammy Awards from 22 nominations. This includes Album of the Year for his album We Are (2021). In 2023, a documentary called American Symphony was made about him. It showed him writing his first symphony. In 2024, he acted in the movie Saturday Night. He played musician Billy Preston and also composed the film's music.

Early Life and Education

Jon Batiste was born in Metairie, Louisiana. He grew up in Kenner, Louisiana. His family, the Batiste family, is well-known for music in New Orleans. Many of his relatives are musicians.

When he was eight, Jon played drums with his family's band. At age 11, he started playing the piano. He took classical piano lessons for seven years. He also learned piano by playing songs from video games. Some of these games were Street Fighter Alpha and Final Fantasy VII.

At 17, Jon released his first album, Times in New Orleans. He went to high school in New Orleans. Then, he studied at the Juilliard School. He earned two music degrees there. While at Juilliard, he released his second album. By 2006, he had performed in many countries.

His Music Career

Batiste plays at the 2014 Monterey Jazz Festival

In 2007, Jon Batiste performed his own show in Amsterdam. He also taught music classes to young people there. He was invited to Carnegie Hall to create another show. He performed with six young musicians from the Netherlands.

Over the years, Batiste released many music projects. Social Music (2013) was a popular jazz album. He also released The Late Show EP (2016) with his band Stay Human. A holiday album, Christmas with Jon Batiste, came out in 2016. His song "St. James Infirmary Blues" was nominated for a Grammy in 2019. His first solo album, Hollywood Africans, was released in 2018.

Batiste has performed at many important events. He played at the 60th annual Grammy Awards to honor Chuck Berry and Fats Domino. He also played the National Anthem at the 2017 NBA All Star Game. He has helped organize concerts like the Global Citizen Advocacy Concert.

Jon Batiste also appeared in the HBO TV show Treme. He played himself in several seasons. He composed music for director Spike Lee's film Red Hook Summer. He also appeared in other films by Spike Lee.

Stay Human

Jon Batiste and Stay Human perform at the 2015 Newport Jazz Festival

In 2005, Jon Batiste started performing with his friends from Juilliard. They formed a band called Stay Human. The name means that live music can bring people together. The band often performs surprise street shows. Batiste calls these "love riots." Famous musicians like Wynton Marsalis sometimes joined them.

In 2011, Stay Human released an album called MY N.Y.. They recorded the entire album on New York City Subway trains. This idea came from Batiste wanting to connect with people. In 2017, the band played at the March for Science rally in Washington, D.C. In 2014, Batiste and Stay Human performed on The Colbert Report.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

On June 4, 2015, it was announced that Jon Batiste and Stay Human would be the house band for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The show started on September 8, 2015. On the show, Batiste and Stay Human played with many stars. These included Billy Joel, Will Smith, and John Legend.

On August 11, 2022, Stephen Colbert announced that Jon Batiste would not return to the show. Batiste wanted to focus on his own projects.

Juneteenth 2020 Celebration

Batiste performs at Juneteenth.

In June 2020, Jon Batiste took part in a Juneteenth celebration in Brooklyn, New York. This day included protests and rallies. It was to "celebrate, show solidarity, and fight for equal rights for Black people." Batiste performed on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library.

The 2020 Juneteenth happened during the protests against police brutality. It also happened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Batiste said that music has always helped people heal and share messages. He believes it's important to remember how ancestors used music. He said, "The world, at large, sees music as entertainment. It's never been that, at its root."

Soul and We Are

Jon Batiste composed music for the 2020 film Soul. He worked with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. They won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for their work.

On March 19, 2021, Batiste released his album We Are. He said it was "a culmination of my life, to this point." He felt it showed who he was as an artist. In July 2021, he released a live album called Live at Electric Lady.

At the 64th Grammy Awards, Batiste received 11 nominations. He won five awards, including Album of the Year. He was the second Black artist to win this award since 2008.

World Music Radio

In June 2023, Batiste announced a new album called World Music Radio. It was released on August 18, 2023. This album featured artists like Lana Del Rey, Lil Wayne, and NewJeans. The song "Calling Your Name" was released from this album.

American Symphony

On September 22, 2022, Jon Batiste led the first performance of his composition American Symphony. It took place at Carnegie Hall in New York. A review said it was "Batiste's story" and a "truly shining hour."

In 2023, a documentary film called American Symphony was released. It was directed by Matthew Heineman. Barack and Michelle Obama were executive producers. The film showed Batiste creating his first symphony. It also showed his wife, Suleika Jaouad, dealing with her leukemia.

Uneasy Tour and Streams

Batiste performing at the National Book Awards in 2024

Batiste performing the National Anthem at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana

In 2024, Batiste went on his first concert tour as a main performer, called the Uneasy Tour. He also did solo shows called "STREAMS: Jon Batiste At The Piano." In these shows, he played piano and melodica freely. A review called him a "Modern maestro" who showed his "magic."

In November 2024, Batiste performed as a musical guest at the National Book Awards in New York City. In February 2025, he performed the national anthem at Super Bowl LIX. He was joined by deaf actress Stephanie Nogueras, who used American Sign Language.

Influences and Music Style

Jon Batiste has been influenced by many artists. Some of them are Mahalia Jackson, James Brown, Louis Armstrong, and Stevie Wonder. He told Forbes magazine that music connects people to a "higher power." He said jazz brings people together. He explained that jazz shows how different cultures can create beautiful music together.

For his 2024 album Beethoven Blues, Batiste said Beethoven's music has an "African" feel. He noted it has "polyrhythms" and the "feeling" of the blues. One of his songs on the album, "Dusklight Movement," was inspired by Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata and B.B. King's "The Thrill Is Gone."

Activism and Philanthropy

Jon Batiste's family has a history of fighting against racial segregation in the United States. His grandfather was involved in a labor strike for better wages and conditions.

Batiste supports civil rights and fights against racism. He has taken part in many public demonstrations. This includes marches for the Black Lives Matter movement. After the murder of George Floyd in June 2020, Batiste organized peaceful protests in New York City.

He supports the Equal Justice Initiative through his song "We Are." Batiste also helps other groups. These include the Innocence Project and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Personal Life

Jon Batiste is married to journalist and author Suleika Jaouad. They met when they were teenagers at band camp. In April 2022, they shared that they had married in a private ceremony in February 2022.

Batiste grew up in the Catholic Church. He also attended Baptist and AME churches. He identifies as a Christian and often talks about his faith.

Discography

Studio Albums

Collaborative Albums

Soundtrack Albums

Live Albums

Extended Plays

Singles

As Lead Artist

As Featured Artist

Awards and Honors

Jon Batiste has received many awards. Forbes magazine included him in their "30 Under 30" music list in 2016. He was also named Grand Marshal of the Endymion Parade in New Orleans in 2018.

He has won the American Jazz Museum Lifetime Achievement Award. He also received the Harry Chapin ASCAP Humanitarian Award. In 2017, he got an honorary degree from Salve Regina University. In 2018, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best American Roots Performance for "Saint James Infirmary Blues." In 2020, he received two more Grammy nominations for his albums.

In 2020, Batiste, along with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, composed the music for the film Soul. They won a Golden Globe, a Critics' Choice Award, a BAFTA Award, and an Oscar. Batiste was only the second Black composer to win an Oscar in this category. In 2021, Batiste received 11 nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards. This made him the most nominated artist that year.

In 2022, Batiste won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Time magazine also named him one of the "Top 100 Most Influential People" in 2022. He was featured on the 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival poster. In May 2025, Batiste received an honorary doctorate degree in music from Brown University.

See also

In Spanish: Jon Batiste para niños