PJ Morton

Keyboardist, songwriter, and producer PJ Morton, who grew up in New Orleans, distinguishes himself through his command of R&B, gospel, and pop across his own catalog while also logging extensive studio contributions for a wide range of other acts. Early notice arrived in the 2000s via sessions with Kierra "Kiki" Sheard, DeWayne Woods, and Musiq Soulchild, after which he issued his initial releases. The sequence Emotions (2005), Perfect Song (2007), Walk Alone (2010), and New Orleans (2013) preceded the breakthrough acclaim surrounding the Grammy-nominated Gumbo (2017), whose Grammy-winning highlight was a duet with Yebba covering Bee Gees' "How Deep Is Your Love." By that point Morton had also established himself as a longtime member of Maroon 5, sharing in the group's ongoing string of Top Ten LPs and related honors. Independently he extended his Grammy count through the 2019 JoJo duet "Say So," the 2021 release Gospel According to PJ: From the Songbook of PJ Morton, and the 2023 Susan Carol duet "Good Morning."

Born in New Orleans in 1981 to recording artist Bishop Paul S. Morton and Pastor Dr. Debra Brown Morton, Morton immersed himself in music from childhood and later earned a marketing degree from Morehouse College in 2003. Around the same time he entered the industry, issuing a recording with the short-lived group Freestyle Nation and appearing on India.Arie's Grammy-winning 2002 album Voyage to India. Subsequent years brought genre-spanning independent projects such as Emotions and Perfect Song alongside work with Anthony David, Faith Evans, Monica, and Kierra "KiKi" Sheard, plus the gospel breakthrough "Let Go" written for DeWayne Woods. His own rendition appeared on the 2010 album Walk Alone, and he joined his father for a live performance of the GMA Dove winner on Bishop Morton Celebrates 25 Years of Music.

Morton eventually settled in Los Angeles. In 2010 he entered Maroon 5 as keyboardist and background vocalist and was later elevated to full membership. Solo activity continued unabated; after signing with Young Money he delivered New Orleans in May 2013, which included guest turns from Stevie Wonder, Busta Rhymes, and Maroon 5's Adam Levine. The single "Only One" earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song.

Discontent with Los Angeles prompted a return to New Orleans, where he established Morton Records. The 2017 album Gumbo arrived next, featuring BJ the Chicago Kid and the Hamiltones, and received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album. Its Bee Gees cover "How Deep Is Your Love," performed with Yebba, secured Morton and his partner the Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance. A live recreation, Gumbo Unplugged, followed in 2018 and earned another Best R&B Album nomination. After Christmas with PJ Morton, further releases sustained Recording Academy attention: the 2019 album Paul was nominated for Best R&B Album, while its tracks "Built for Love" with Jazmine Sullivan and "Say So" with JoJo also received nominations, the latter winning Best R&B Song. Entirely written and produced by Morton, the 2020 set Gospel According to PJ: From the Songbook of PJ Morton retained a collaborative spirit through contributions from his father, the Clark Sisters, Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, and additional gospel figures. In 2021 Morton joined BJ the Chicago Kid, Kenyon Dixon, and Charlie Bereal on a Grammy-nominated version of Sam Cooke's "Bring It on Home to Me" and was enlisted by Jon Batiste to co-write and perform on "Boy Hood" from the Album of the Year-winning We Are.

The 2022 album Watch the Sun quickly followed, fronted by the introspective "Ready to Love" yet enriched by appearances from Stevie Wonder—whose 1970s work clearly shaped that track—El DeBarge, and Jill Scott. In 2023 Morton issued the Susan Carol duet "Good Morning," a cover of Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill's "The Sweetest Thing," and Watch the Sun Live: The Mansion Sessions. "Good Morning" brought Morton his third Grammy, again in Best Traditional R&B Performance.