PJ Morton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids PJ Morton
Morton in 2011
Born	Paul Sylvester Morton Jr. (1981-03-29) March 29, 1981 (age 44) New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Occupation	Musician singer songwriter record producer
Years active	2005–present
Spouse(s)	Kortni Morton ​ (m. 2008)​
Children	3
Musical career
Genres	R&B pop soul funk rock Christian jazz fusion
Instruments	Vocals keyboards
Labels	Young Money Cash Money Republic 222 Interscope Morton Recordings A&M/Octone

P.J. Morton (born Paul Sylvester Morton Jr. on March 29, 1981) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is well-known for his solo music and for being the keyboard player in the popular band Maroon 5. He joined Maroon 5 as a touring member in 2010 and became an official member in 2012.

Morton released his first solo music, an EP called Following My First Mind, in 2012. An EP is like a mini-album with fewer songs. His first full album, New Orleans, came out in 2013. Later, his album Gumbo (2017) was nominated for two Grammy Awards.

In 2019, Morton announced a project to restore the home of jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden in New Orleans. He plans to turn it into a museum and community center.

Early Life and Education

P.J. Morton was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father is Bishop Paul S. Morton, a famous gospel singer and church leader. His mother is Dr. Debra Brown Morton, who is also a pastor.

Morton went to St. Augustine High School. He then studied marketing at Morehouse College, graduating in 2003.

Music Career

Joining Maroon 5

In 2010, P.J. Morton's friend, Adam Blackstone, who was Maroon 5's music director, asked him to try out for the band. They needed a keyboard player and a singer for their live shows. Morton was the first person to audition and made a great impression.

He started playing with Maroon 5 in concerts. In 2012, he officially became a full-time member of the band. He played keyboards and sang on their albums like Overexposed (2012), V (2014), Red Pill Blues (2017), and Jordi (2021).

Solo Music and New Orleans

P.J. Morton's solo music caught the attention of Mack Maine from Young Money Entertainment. Morton signed with them in 2011. His first EP, Following My First Mind, was released in March 2012.

On May 14, 2013, Morton released his first major album, New Orleans, with Young Money Records. The song "Only One", which features the legendary Stevie Wonder, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2014.

Gumbo and Paul Albums

In 2016, Morton moved back to New Orleans. He started his own record label called Morton Records. He wanted it to be like a modern version of the famous Motown record label, but based in New Orleans.

He then started working on his album Gumbo. He named it Gumbo because the dish is a mix of many different ingredients that create something wonderful. He wanted to mix different topics in his songs, like how divided the world felt at the time. Since he made it in New Orleans, the name "Gumbo" fit perfectly.

Before the album, he released a mixtape called Bounce & Soul Vol. 1 in March 2016. This mixtape had new versions of his songs in the New Orleans bounce style. In July 2016, he released the Sticking to My Guns EP. The full Gumbo album came out on April 14, 2017.

Gumbo received very good reviews from music critics. It earned Morton two Grammy nominations for Best R&B Album and Best R&B Song. In 2019, he released his sixth album, Paul, which included the song "Say So" with singer JoJo.

Gospel and Piano Albums

In 2020, P.J. Morton recorded a live album called The Piano Album. It featured songs from his previous albums, Gumbo and Paul. On August 28, 2020, he released his gospel album, Gospel According To PJ. This album featured many other gospel artists like The Clark Sisters and Yolanda Adams. A documentary was also released about the making of this album and his connection to gospel music through his father.

Other Creative Work

P.J. Morton has won several awards for his songwriting and producing. He won Dove and Stellar Awards in 2008 for his work on India.Arie's music.

He also worked with famous composer AR Rahman on the song "Sajna" for the movie Couples Retreat. Morton has produced and written songs for many other artists, including Monica, LL Cool J, and Heather Headley. In 2009, he wrote a book called 'Why Can't I Sing About Love?'.

In 2016, he wrote "Battle Field" for Chinese singer Jane Zhang, which was used in the movie The Great Wall. In 2023, he was featured on a song called "Ego" by Portuguese singer Bárbara Bandeira. Morton also wrote "Special Spice" for the new theme park ride Tiana's Bayou Adventure, inspired by Disney's The Princess and the Frog.

Personal Life

P.J. Morton married his wife, Kortni Morton, on December 25, 2008. They grew up attending the same church. They have three children together.

Filmography

Composer Work

Discography

As Solo Artist

Studio Albums

• Emotions (2005)
• Walk Alone (2010)
• New Orleans (2013)
• Gumbo (2017)
• Christmas with PJ Morton (2018)
• Paul (2019)
• Gospel According to PJ: From the Songbook of PJ Morton (2020)
• Watch the Sun (2022)
• Cape Town to Cairo (2024)

Live Albums

• Live from LA (2008)
• Live Show Killer (2015)
• Gumbo Unplugged (2018)
• The Piano Album (2020)
• Watch the Sun Live: The Mansion Sessions (2023)

Mixtape

• Bounce & Soul Volume 1 (2016)

EPs

• Following My First Mind (2012)
• Sticking to My Guns (2016)

With the PJ Morton Band

• Perfect Song (2007)

With Maroon 5

• Overexposed (2012)
• V (2014)
• Red Pill Blues (2017)
• Jordi (2021)

Remixes

2017

• "The Cat Looks at the King (PJ Morton Remix)" – Collapsing Scenery featuring Good Joon and Buddy

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

See also

In Spanish: PJ Morton para niños