Jon Batiste

This article is about the American musician. For the American military officer and consultant, see John Batiste. Not to be confused with Jean-Baptiste.

Jon Batiste
Batiste in 2023
Batiste in 2023
Background information
Birth nameJonathan Michael Batiste[1]
Born (1986-11-11) November 11, 1986 (age 38)
Metairie, Louisiana, U.S.[1]
EducationJuilliard School (BM, MMus)
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • bandleader
  • multi-instrumentalist
  • film composer
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano, keyboards, melodica, guitar
Years active1998–present
Labels
Member ofStay Human
Spouse
​
(m. 2022)​
WebsiteJon Batiste
Batiste at Carnegie Hall

Jonathan Michael Batiste (born November 11, 1986)[2] is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, composer, and television personality.[3] He has recorded and performed with artists including Stevie Wonder, Prince, Willie Nelson, Lenny Kravitz, ASAP Rocky, Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Rey, Roy Hargrove, Juvenile, and Mavis Staples. Batiste appeared nightly with his band, Stay Human,[4] as bandleader and musical director on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert from 2015 to 2022.[5][6]

Batiste also serves as the music director of The Atlantic and the Creative Director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. In 2020, he co-composed the score for the Pixar animated film Soul, for which he received an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Grammy Award and a BAFTA Film Award (all shared with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross).[7] Batiste has garnered five Grammy Awards from 20 nominations, including an Album of the Year win for We Are (2021).[8]

In 2023, Batiste was featured in the documentary film, American Symphony, which records the process of Batiste composing his first symphony.[9] In 2024, Batiste featured in the ensemble comedy-drama film Saturday Night, directed by Jason Reitman, playing the role of musician Billy Preston, as well as composing the film's score.[10]

  1. ^ a b Stated on Finding Your Roots, January 7, 2020
  2. ^ Rose, Lacey; O'Connell, Michael; Sandberg, Bryn Elise; Stanhope, Kate; Goldberg, Lesley (August 28, 2015). "Next Gen Fall TV: 10 Stars Poised for Breakouts". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  3. ^ Wicks, Amanda (July 24, 2015). "Stephen Colbert's New Bandleader Could Change Late Night TV". The New York Observer.
  4. ^ Pogrebin, Robin (June 17, 2012). "National Jazz Museum in Harlem Plans Expansion". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Mosk, Mitch (March 19, 2021). "Interview: Jon Batiste Dives into His Inspiring, Genreless New Album 'WE ARE'". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  6. ^ Serico, Chris (June 4, 2015). "'I like this guy': Stephen Colbert chooses Jon Batiste as 'Late Show' bandleader". Today. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  7. ^ Cohn, Gabe (February 28, 2021). "Golden Globes Winners 2021: The Complete List". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference grammy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Feinberg, Dan (September 1, 2023). "American Symphony' Review: Matthew Heineman's Doc Is a Moving, Music-Filled Love Story". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  10. ^ Gajewski, Ryan (March 28, 2024). "Jon Batiste to Score, Appear in Jason Reitman Film SNL 1975 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 28, 2024.