PJ Morton

PJ Morton
Morton in 2011
Born
Paul Sylvester Morton Jr.

(1981-03-29) March 29, 1981 (age 43)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2005–present
Spouse
Kortni Morton
​
(m. 2008)​
Children3
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
Labels
Member ofMaroon 5
Websitepjmortononline.com

P.J. Morton (born Paul Sylvester Morton Jr.; March 29, 1981) is an American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. Since 2012, he has been the keyboardist for the pop band Maroon 5. Morton originally joined the band as a touring member in 2010 and became an official member in 2012 after Jesse Carmichael went on a short hiatus (he returned to the lineup playing guitar in 2014).

Morton released his debut solo EP, Following My First Mind, in March 2012, through the record label Young Money. Adam Levine and James Valentine were featured on the lead single, "Heavy". In May 2013, Morton released his first major-label debut album, New Orleans. In 2016, he released his mixtape Bounce & Soul Vol. 1 in March and the Sticking to My Guns EP in July. On April 14, 2017, Morton released his first self-released studio album Gumbo, earning Morton two Grammy Award nominations for Best R&B Album and Best R&B Song at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.[1]

In April 2019, Morton said he would begin a project to restore the New Orleans home of jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden and create a museum and community space at the site.[2] Bolden's former home has been owned by Morton's father's church for more than a decade, and had been cited for demolition by neglect.[3]

  1. ^ "60th Annual GRAMMY Awards". May 22, 2018.
  2. ^ Bebco, Joe (April 10, 2019). "PJ Morton Working to Save Buddy Bolden House". The Syncopated Times. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  3. ^ MacCash, Doug (March 29, 2019). "Jazz pioneer Buddy Bolden's historic house cited for demolition by neglect". NOLA.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.