Gregory Porter wins MOBO Award
Acclaimed jazz singer-songwriter wins for outstanding contribution to music
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED American jazz singer-songwriter Gregory Porter has become the first MOBO Award winner of 2017, taking home the MOBO Outstanding Contribution to Music Award, recently, in front of an intimate audience at London’s Gresham Centre.
“I am truly privileged to receive the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award from the MOBOs. It is a great honour, and I would like to thank everyone who has supported me in my career so far. Nat King Cole was my earliest musical inspiration, so it seems fitting that I dedicate this award to him,” said Porter.
Widely recognised as one of this generation’s best male jazz vocalists, the California-born singer and adopted British national treasure has released five studio albums – three of which have been UK Top 10 hits. He won Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album for 2013’s Liquid Spirit, as well as his critically lauded album,
Take Me To The Alley, which became the first jazz record to break into the UK top five in over 10 years in 2016. Porter’s latest album, Nat
‘King’ Cole & Me, is his highest-charting success yet – debuting at No. three on the UK Album Charts last week to become his third consecutive Top 10 smash in the UK. He was also announced as the biggestselling jazz artiste of 2017.
The third annual Pre-MOBO Awards Show will be held in London on November, Monday 20.
World-class performers confirmed to perform on the night include neo-soul singer Floacist (one-half of Grammynominated duo Floetry), reggae artiste Kiko Bun, awardwinning French jazz pianist Tony Tixier, jazz/soul singer Zara McFarlane (who won Best Jazz Act in the 2014 MOBO Awards), R&B/soul singer Rachel Kerr (former MOBO Award winner for Best Gospel Act) and soul singer Josh Daniel (who appeared on the 2015 X Factor).
Winners for the 2017 MOBO Awards for Best R&B/Soul, Best Jazz, Best Gospel and Best Reggae acts will be announced in the evening.
This year’s nominees in the Best Reggae Act category include: Aidonia, Alkaline, Chronixx, Damian Marley and Popcaan.