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{{short description|American funk bass guitarist and singer}}
{{short description|American funk bass guitarist and singer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{BLP sources|date=July 2011}}
{{use American English|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = George Porter Jr.
| name = George Porter Jr.
| image = Georgeporterjr2004.jpg
| image = GPJR 2024.jpg
| caption = Porter Jr. performing in 2004
| caption = Porter in 2024
| image_upright = 1.2
| image_upright = 1.2
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| alias =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1947|12|26}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1947|12|26}}
| birth_place = [[New Orleans, Louisiana]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[New Orleans]], Louisiana, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| instrument = Bass, vocals
| instrument = {{hlist|Bass|vocals}}
| genre = [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]], [[Music of New Orleans|New Orleans]], [[funk]]
| genre = {{hlist|[[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]|[[funk]]}}
| occupation = Musician, songwriter
| occupation = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter}}
| years_active = 1965–present
| years_active = 1965–present
| label = [[Rounder Records|Rounder]], Transvideo
| label = {{hlist|[[Rounder Records|Rounder]]|Transvideo}}
| website = {{URL|georgeporterjr.com}}
| website = {{URL|georgeporterjr.com}}
}}
}}
'''George Porter Jr.''' (born December 26, 1947) is an American musician, best known as the bassist and singer of [[The Meters]]. Along with [[Art Neville]], Porter formed the group in the mid 1960s and came to be recognized as one of the progenitors of funk.<ref name="georgeporterjr1">{{cite web|url=http://www.georgeporterjr.com/ |title=The Official Website |publisher=George Porter Jr. |access-date=August 27, 2014}}</ref> The Meters disbanded in 1977, but reformed in 1989. Today the original group still plays the occasional reunion but the Funky Meters, of which Porter and Neville are members, most prominently keeps the spirit alive.<ref name="georgeporterjr1"/>


'''George Porter Jr.''' (born December 26, 1947) is an American musician, best known as the bassist and singer of [[the Meters]]. Along with [[Art Neville]], Porter formed the group in the mid 1960s and came to be recognized as one of the progenitors of funk.<ref name="georgeporterjr1">{{cite web|url=http://www.georgeporterjr.com/ |title=The Official Website |publisher=George Porter Jr. |access-date=August 27, 2014}}</ref> The Meters disbanded in 1977, but reformed in 1989. The original group played the occasional reunion, with the Funky Meters, of which Porter and Neville are members, keeping the spirit alive, until Neville's retirement in 2018 and death the following year.<ref name="georgeporterjr1"/>
Porter has his own group the Runnin' Pardners, and also other projects such as The Trio with [[Johnny Vidacovich]], New Orleans Social Club, Deep Fried, and Porter Batiste Stoltz. He has been performing and recording with wide range of artists including [[Soul Rebels Brass Band]], [[Dr. John]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Robbie Robertson]], [[Willy DeVille]], [[Robert Palmer (singer)|Robert Palmer]], [[Patti Labelle]], [[Jimmy Buffett]], [[David Byrne (musician)|David Byrne]], [[Johnny Adams]], [[Harry Connick Jr.]], [[Earl King]], [[Warren Haynes]], [[Tori Amos]], and [[Snooks Eaglin]] among many others.<ref name="georgeporterjr1"/>


Porter has his own group the Runnin' Pardners, and also other projects such as The Trio with [[Johnny Vidacovich]], New Orleans Social Club, Deep Fried, and Porter Batiste Stoltz. He has been performing and recording with wide range of artists including [[Soul Rebels Brass Band]], [[Dr. John]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Robbie Robertson]], [[Willy DeVille]], [[Robert Palmer (singer)|Robert Palmer]], [[Patti LaBelle]], [[Jimmy Buffett]], [[David Byrne (musician)|David Byrne]], [[Johnny Adams]], [[Harry Connick Jr.]], [[Earl King]], [[Warren Haynes]], [[Tori Amos]], and [[Snooks Eaglin]] among many others.<ref name="georgeporterjr1"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-02 |title=Paul McCartney |url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-greatest-bassists-of-all-time-13565/paul-mccartney-13608/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Rolling Stone Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref>
Porter joined [[John Scofield]]'s Piety Street Band in 2008 to tour and to record. [[Jon Cleary (musician)|Jon Cleary]] and [[Ricky Fataar]] are also members of this band. In 2010, he replaced [[Reed Mathis]] in [[Bill Kreutzmann]]'s newest band, [[7 Walkers]].<ref>Greenhaus, Mike https://jambands.com/features/2011/03/11/it-s-all-just-music-george-porter-jr-and-brian-stoltz-maintain-the-meters-legacy/ Jambands.com</ref> Also in 2010 he performed with Runnin' Pardner at New Orleans' [[Voodoo Experience]].<ref>Humphress, Corey. "Weezer, Drake, Muse, MGMT Lead Voodoo Experience Festival 2010 Lineup." Pastemagazine.co. Paste Media Group, July 17, 2010. Web.</ref>


Porter joined [[John Scofield]]'s Piety Street Band in 2008 to tour and to record. [[Jon Cleary (musician)|Jon Cleary]] and [[Ricky Fataar]] are also members of this band. In 2010, he replaced [[Reed Mathis]] in [[Bill Kreutzmann]]'s renewest band, [[7 Walkers]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jambands.com/features/2011/03/11/it-s-all-just-music-george-porter-jr-and-brian-stoltz-maintain-the-meters-legacy/|title="It's All Just Music": George Porter Jr. and Brian Stoltz Maintain The Meters Legacy|date=March 11, 2011|website=Jambands.com|access-date=November 26, 2022}}</ref> Also in 2010 he performed with Runnin' Pardner at New Orleans' [[Voodoo Experience]].<ref>Humphress, Corey. "Weezer, Drake, Muse, MGMT Lead Voodoo Experience Festival 2010 Lineup." Pastemagazine.co. Paste Media Group, July 17, 2010. Web.</ref>
== Biography ==


== Biography ==
===Early life and career with the Meters===
===Early life and career with the Meters===
Porter's parents were both avid lovers of music. His father frequently listened to [[Duke Ellington]] and his mother sang in the local church choir. He grew up in New Orleans next to future Meters bandmate, [[Ziggy Modeliste|Joe "Zigaboo" Modeliste]], and the two became friends when George was 10 years old. As teenagers, they played jam sessions together with Porter playing a box guitar.<ref name="autogenerated1">Berry, Jason; Foose, Jonathon; Jones, Tad. ''Up The Cradle From Jazz: New Orleans Music Since World War II.'' Lafayette, LA: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press, 2009. Print.</ref> Porter was inspired to play bass guitar by another New Orleans native, Benjamin "Poppi" Francis who also gave Porter some lessons on the instrument.<ref name="sullivan1">{{cite web|last=Limnios |first=Michalis |url=http://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/an-interview-with-george-porter-jr-new-orlens-premier-bass-player |title=New Orleans' premier bassman George Porte Jr. talks about Meters, Earl King, Snooks Eaglin, & Saints City's Music |publisher=Blues.Gr |date=April 23, 2012 |access-date=August 27, 2014}}</ref> When Porter was still in his teens, he sat in with [[Earl King]]. After one of the shows, [[Art Neville]] came up to him saying he was trying to start a band and asked if he would like to join. Porter agreed spawning the beginnings of [[The Meters]]. At first the band was known as Neville Sound and consisted of seven men including Cyril and Aaron Neville as vocalists and Gary Brown on saxophone. After a short time, however, the band was trimmed down to four core members - Art Neville, Zigaboo Modeliste, [[Leo Nocentelli]] and Porter Jr. The four were playing six nights a week at a Bourbon Street bar called Ivanhoe when they were approached by [[Allen Toussaint]] and asked if they wanted to sign a record deal. After the deal, the label wanted the band to change their name to something that better reflected their sound. They settled on "The Meters." By the early seventies, Porter was touring coast to coast with [[The Meters]]. At the same time, [[The Meters]] were performing as session musicians on numerous hit records, including "[[Right Place, Wrong Time (song)|Right Place, Wrong Time]]," "[[Lady Marmalade]]," "[[Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley]]," and "[[Southern Nights (song)|Southern Nights]]." In 1975, they were touring as the opening act to the [[Rolling Stones]].<ref name="autogenerated1"/> Porter has said that the best moment in his musical career is when he and the other Meters were opening for the Stones in Paris in 1976. The crowd started to boo them, when [[Keith Richards]] and [[Mick Jagger]] came out in support of The Meters and told the crowd to shut up and listen to the music. He said that moment kept The Meters alive for the time being <ref name="sullivan1"/> By 1977, however, the band broke up due to personal differences. After the breakup, Porter Jr. formed a band called Joyride.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
Porter's parents were both avid lovers of music. His father frequently listened to [[Duke Ellington]] and his mother sang in the local church choir. He grew up in New Orleans next to future Meters bandmate, [[Ziggy Modeliste|Joe "Zigaboo" Modeliste]], and the two became friends when George was 10 years old. As teenagers, they played jam sessions together with Porter playing a box guitar.<ref name="autogenerated1">Berry, Jason; Foose, Jonathon; Jones, Tad. ''Up The Cradle From Jazz: New Orleans Music Since World War II.'' Lafayette, LA: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press, 2009. Print.</ref> Porter was inspired to play bass guitar by another New Orleans native, Benjamin "Poppi" Francis who also gave Porter some lessons on the instrument.<ref name="sullivan1">{{cite web|last=Limnios |first=Michalis |url=http://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/an-interview-with-george-porter-jr-new-orlens-premier-bass-player |title=New Orleans' premier bassman George Porte Jr. talks about Meters, Earl King, Snooks Eaglin, & Saints City's Music |publisher=Blues.Gr |date=April 23, 2012 |access-date=August 27, 2014}}</ref> When Porter was still in his teens, he sat in with [[Earl King]]. After one of the shows, [[Art Neville]] came up to him saying he was trying to start a band and asked if he would like to join. Porter agreed spawning the beginnings of [[the Meters]]. At first the band was known as Neville Sound and consisted of seven men including Cyril and Aaron Neville as vocalists and Gary Brown on saxophone. After a short time, however, the band was trimmed down to four core members - Art Neville, Zigaboo Modeliste, [[Leo Nocentelli]] and Porter Jr. The four were playing six nights a week at a Bourbon Street bar called Ivanhoe when they were approached by [[Allen Toussaint]] and asked if they wanted to sign a record deal. After the deal, the label wanted the band to change their name to something that better reflected their sound. They settled on "The Meters." By the early seventies, Porter was touring coast to coast with the Meters. At the same time, the Meters were performing as session musicians on numerous hit records, including "[[Right Place, Wrong Time (song)|Right Place, Wrong Time]]," "[[Lady Marmalade]]," "[[Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley]]," and "[[Southern Nights (song)|Southern Nights]]." In 1975, they were touring as the opening act to the [[Rolling Stones]].<ref name="autogenerated1"/> Porter has said that the best moment in his musical career is when he and the other Meters were opening for the Stones in Paris in 1976. The crowd started to boo them, when [[Keith Richards]] and [[Mick Jagger]] came out in support of the Meters and told the crowd to shut up and listen to the music. He said that moment kept the Meters alive for the time being.<ref name="sullivan1"/> By 1977, however, the band broke up due to personal differences. After the breakup, Porter Jr. formed a band called Joyride.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>


===After the Meters===
===After the Meters===
[[File:George Porter Jr. at Bimbo's 365.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Porter performs at [[Bimbo's 365 Club]], San Francisco, May 2011]]
[[File:George Porter Jr. at Bimbo's 365.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Porter performs at [[Bimbo's 365 Club]], San Francisco, May 2011]]
Porter played with Joyride and with many other New Orleans musicians in the 1980s. In 1989, Porter reunited with Art Neville and Leo Nocentelli as The Meters, replacing Joe Modeliste on drums with Russell Batiste Jr.<ref>Spera, Keith. "Latest Meters Reunion to Roll on at Least through Voodoo Fest." Nola.com. The Times-Picayune, August 17, 2011.</ref> In 1990, he started a band called The Runnin' Pardners; a band that is still playing today. Also in the 1990s, Porter became a highly coveted bass player in the studio playing with artists like [[David Byrne]] and [[Tori Amos]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.offbeat.com/2012/01/01/best-of-the-beat-lifetime-achievement-in-music-award-george-porter-jr/ |title=Best of the Beat Lifetime Achievement in Music Award: George Porter Jr. |publisher=Offbeat.com |date=January 1, 2012 |access-date=August 27, 2014}}</ref> In 1994, Porter and Neville re-collaborated to form the band The Funky Meters to carry on The Meters sound. They were joined by Brian Stoltz on guitar and Russell Batiste Jr. on drums. Stoltz left the band in 2007 but rejoined in 2011 and the band still plays today.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://funkymeters.com/about |title=About |publisher=funky METERS |access-date=August 27, 2014}}</ref>
Porter played with Joyride and with many other New Orleans musicians in the 1980s. In 1989, Porter reunited with Art Neville and Leo Nocentelli as the Meters, replacing Joe Modeliste on drums with Russell Batiste Jr.<ref>Spera, Keith. "Latest Meters Reunion to Roll on at Least through Voodoo Fest." Nola.com. The Times-Picayune, August 17, 2011.</ref> In 1990, he started a band called The Runnin' Pardners; a band that is still playing today. Also in the 1990s, Porter became a highly coveted bass player in the studio playing with artists like [[David Byrne]] and [[Tori Amos]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.offbeat.com/2012/01/01/best-of-the-beat-lifetime-achievement-in-music-award-george-porter-jr/ |title=Best of the Beat Lifetime Achievement in Music Award: George Porter Jr. |publisher=Offbeat.com |date=January 1, 2012 |access-date=August 27, 2014}}</ref> In 1994, Porter and Neville re-collaborated to form the band The Funky Meters to carry on the Meters sound. They were joined by Brian Stoltz on guitar and Russell Batiste Jr. on drums. Stoltz left the band in 2007 but rejoined in 2011 and the band still plays today.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://funkymeters.com/about |title=About |publisher=funky METERS |access-date=August 27, 2014}}</ref>


=== 2000 to present ===
=== 2000 to present ===
In 2000, the original four Meters reunited for a show at the [[Warfield]] in San Francisco. Modeliste wanted to make the reunion a permanent one but the other members and their management objected. In 2006, however, The Meters performed at the [[New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://swagland.com/jazzfest/cubes/2006/20060430.html |title=2006 - 1ST SUNDAY - APRIL 30, 2006 |website=Swagland.com |date=April 30, 2006 |access-date=August 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>Sublette, Ned. ''The Year Before The Flood: A Story of New Orleans.'' Chicago, Illinois: Lawrence Hill Press, 2009. {{ISBN|978 1 55652 824 8}}</ref> This was the first Jazz Fest since [[Hurricane Katrina]] so the fact that The Meters reunited for it meant a lot to the city. In 2012, Porter, Leo Nocentelli, Joe Modeliste, and [[Phish]] keyboardist [[Page McConnell]] performed two concerts as The Metermen. Limited shows followed in 2013 and 2014 with two more night shows during Jazz Fest.
In 2000, the original four Meters reunited for a show at the [[Warfield]] in San Francisco. Modeliste wanted to make the reunion a permanent one but the other members and their management objected. In 2006, however, the Meters performed at the [[New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://swagland.com/jazzfest/cubes/2006/20060430.html |title=2006 - 1ST SUNDAY - APRIL 30, 2006 |website=Swagland.com |date=April 30, 2006 |access-date=August 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>Sublette, Ned. ''The Year Before The Flood: A Story of New Orleans.'' Chicago, Illinois: Lawrence Hill Press, 2009. {{ISBN|978 1 55652 824 8}}</ref> This was the first Jazz Fest since [[Hurricane Katrina]] so the fact that the Meters reunited for it meant a lot to the city. In 2012, Porter, Leo Nocentelli, Joe Modeliste, and [[Phish]] keyboardist [[Page McConnell]] performed two concerts as The Metermen. Limited shows followed in 2013 and 2014 with two more night shows during Jazz Fest.


Porter appears in performance footage in the 2005 documentary film ''[[Make It Funky (film)|Make It Funky!]]'', which presents a history of [[Music of New Orleans|New Orleans music]] and its influence on [[rhythm and blues]], [[Rock music|rock and roll]], [[funk]] and [[jazz]].<ref name="IAJE">{{cite journal |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=April 2005 |title=IAJE What's Going On |journal=Jazz Education Journal |location=Manhattan, Kansas |publisher=International Association of Jazz Educators |volume=37 |issue=5 |page=87 |issn=1540-2886 |id={{ProQuest|1370090}} }}</ref> In the film, he performs with [[Snooks Eaglin]] and house band on "[[Come On (Earl King song)|Come On (Let the Good Times Roll)]]", and is seen in clips with other musicians, including [[Art Neville]].<ref>{{cite AV media |date=2005 |title=Make It Funky! |type=DVD |language=en |time= |location=Culver City, California |publisher=Sony Pictures Home Entertainment |id=11952 |isbn=9781404991583 |oclc=61207781}}</ref>
Porter appears in performance footage in the 2005 documentary film ''[[Make It Funky (film)|Make It Funky!]]'', which presents a history of [[Music of New Orleans|New Orleans music]] and its influence on [[rhythm and blues]], [[Rock music|rock and roll]], [[funk]] and [[jazz]].<ref name="IAJE">{{cite journal |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=April 2005 |title=IAJE What's Going On |journal=Jazz Education Journal |location=Manhattan, Kansas |publisher=International Association of Jazz Educators |volume=37 |issue=5 |page=87 |issn=1540-2886 |id={{ProQuest|1370090}} }}</ref> In the film, he performs with [[Snooks Eaglin]] and house band on "[[Come On (Earl King song)|Come On (Let the Good Times Roll)]]", and is seen in clips with other musicians, including [[Art Neville]].<ref>{{cite AV media |date=2005 |title=Make It Funky! |type=DVD |language=en |time= |location=Culver City, California |publisher=Sony Pictures Home Entertainment |id=11952 |isbn=9781404991583 |oclc=61207781}}</ref>


Since Hurricane Katrina, Porter has done some activist work with other New Orleans musicians informing people of the dangers of eroding wetlands threatening the future of the city.<ref>Swenson, John. ''New Atlantis: Musicians Battle for the Survival of New Orleans.'' New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print.</ref> Porter still tours consistently with the Runnin' Pardners, Joyride, and The Funky Meters. He plays sporadically with the four original members of The Meters, now known as The Original Meters and also frequently collaborates with other musicians, many of whom are from New Orleans. On February 24, 2018, Porter sat in with [[Dead & Company]] during their New Orleans concert at the Smoothie King Center, playing bass on several songs including "Smokestack Lightning", "Bertha" and taking lead vocals on "Sugaree".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jambase.com/article/dead-company-welcomes-george-porter-jr-new-orleans|title=Dead & Company Welcomes George Porter Jr. In New Orleans|date=February 25, 2018|website=JamBase.com|access-date=August 23, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
Since Hurricane Katrina, Porter has done some activist work with other New Orleans musicians informing people of the dangers of eroding wetlands threatening the future of the city.<ref>Swenson, John. ''New Atlantis: Musicians Battle for the Survival of New Orleans.'' New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print.</ref> Porter still tours consistently with the Runnin' Pardners, Joyride, and The Funky Meters. He plays sporadically with the four original members of the Meters, now known as The Original Meters and also frequently collaborates with other musicians, many of whom are from New Orleans. On February 24, 2018, Porter sat in with [[Dead & Company]] during their New Orleans concert at the Smoothie King Center, playing bass on several songs including "Smokestack Lightning", "Bertha" and taking lead vocals on "Sugaree".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.jambase.com/article/dead-company-welcomes-george-porter-jr-new-orleans|title=Dead & Company Welcomes George Porter Jr. In New Orleans|date=February 25, 2018|website=JamBase.com|access-date=August 23, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>


He plays sporadically with [[Steve Kimock]] on various projects including Voodoo Dead.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}
He plays sporadically with [[Steve Kimock]] on various projects including Voodoo Dead.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Porter was raised [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], and once considered becoming a priest.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Thompkins|first=Gwen|title=George Porter Jr.: Boom-Bop-Boom-Bop!|url=https://www.wwno.org/post/george-porter-jr-boom-bop-boom-bop-0|access-date=2021-04-05|website=www.wwno.org|language=en}}</ref>
Porter was raised [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], and once considered becoming a priest.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Thompkins|first=Gwen|title=George Porter Jr.: Boom-Bop-Boom-Bop!|url=https://www.wwno.org/post/george-porter-jr-boom-bop-boom-bop-0|access-date=2021-04-05|website=Wwno.org|language=en}}</ref>

== Awards and honors ==

=== [[OffBeat (music magazine)|''OffBeat'']]'s Best of The Beat Awards ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Category
!Result
!Ref.
|-
|1995
|Best New Orleans Style R&B Band or Performer
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2011-09-08 |title=Best of the Beat Award Winners: Complete List |url=https://www.offbeat.com/best-of-the-beat-award-winners-complete-list/,%20https://www.offbeat.com/best-of-the-beat-award-winners-complete-list/ |access-date=2024-03-01 |website=[[OffBeat (music magazine)|OffBeat Magazine]] |language=en-US |archive-date=August 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230814182218/https://www.offbeat.com/best-of-the-beat-award-winners-complete-list/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|1996
|Best New Orleans Style R&B Band or Performer
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|1997
| rowspan="12" |Best Bass Player
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|1998
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|1999
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2000
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2001
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2002
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2003
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2004
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2006
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2008
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2009
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2010
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
| rowspan="2" |2011
|Lifetime Achievement in Music
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|Best Bass Player
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2012
|Best Bass Player
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2013
|Best Bass Player
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
| rowspan="3" |2015
|Best R&B/Funk Band or Performer
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|Best R&B/Funk Album (for ''It's Time to Funk'')
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|Best Bass Player
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2016
| rowspan="7" |Best Bass Player
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2017
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2018
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2019
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2020
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2021-22
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|2023
|{{won}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|}


==Discography==
==Discography==
{{expand section|date= August 2021}}
{{expand section|date=August 2021}}
*''Runnin' Partner'' (1990), [[Rounder Records|Rounder]]
*''Runnin' Partner'' (1990), [[Rounder Records|Rounder]]
*''Things Ain't What They Used to Be'' (1994)
*''Things Ain't What They Used to Be'' (1994)
Line 60: Line 191:


=== Collaborations ===
=== Collaborations ===
* ''[[Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley]]'' - [[Robert Palmer (singer)|Robert Palmer]] (1974)
* ''[[In the Right Place]]'' - [[Dr. John]] (Atco Records, 1973)
* ''[[Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley]]'' - [[Robert Palmer (singer)|Robert Palmer]] (Island Records, 1974)
* ''Keep On Lovin' You'' - [[Z. Z. Hill]] (1975)
* ''[[Patti LaBelle (album)|Patti LaBelle]]'' - [[Patti LaBelle]] (1977)
* ''[[Nightbirds]]'' - [[Labelle]] (Epic Records, 1974)
* ''New Orleans Heat'' - [[Albert King]] (1978)
* ''[[Desitively Bonnaroo]]'' - Dr. John (Atco Records, 1974)
* ''[[Victory Mixture]]'' - [[Willy DeVille]] (1990)
* ''Keep On Lovin' You'' - [[Z. Z. Hill]] (Hill Records, 1975)
* ''[[Storyville (album)|Storyville]]'' - [[Robbie Robertson]] (1991)
* ''[[Phoenix (Labelle album)|Phoenix]]'' - Labelle (Epic Records, 1975)
* ''[[Uh-Oh (David Byrne album)|Uh-Oh]]'' - [[David Byrne]] (1992)
* ''[[Patti LaBelle (album)|Patti LaBelle]]'' - [[Patti LaBelle]] (Epic Records, 1977)
* ''Soul of the Blues'' - [[Solomon Burke]] (1993)
* ''New Orleans Heat'' - [[Albert King]] (Tomato Records, 1978)
* ''[[There's Room for Us All]]'' - [[Terrance Simien]] (1993)
* ''[[Victory Mixture]]'' - [[Willy DeVille]] (Sky Ranch Records, 1990)
* ''[[Under the Pink]]'' - [[Tori Amos]] (1994)
* ''[[Storyville (album)|Storyville]]'' - [[Robbie Robertson]] (Geffen, 1991)
* ''[[Boys for Pele]]'' - Tori Amos (1996)
* ''[[Uh-Oh (David Byrne album)|Uh-Oh]]'' - [[David Byrne]] (Warner Bros. Records, 1992)
* ''[[From the Choirgirl Hotel]]'' - Tori Amos (1998)
* ''Soul of the Blues'' - [[Solomon Burke]] (Black Top Records, 1993)
* ''[[Maestro (Taj Mahal album)|Maestro]]'' - [[Taj Mahal (musician)|Taj Mahal]] (2008)
* ''[[There's Room for Us All]]'' - [[Terrance Simien]] (Black Top Records, 1993)
* ''[[Bible Belt (album)|Bible Belt]]'' - [[Diane Birch]] (2009)
* ''[[Under the Pink]]'' - [[Tori Amos]] (Atlantic Records, 1994)
* ''Good Road to Follow'' - [[John Oates]] (2014)
* ''[[Boys for Pele]]'' - Tori Amos (Atlantic Records, 1996)
* ''[[From the Choirgirl Hotel]]'' - Tori Amos (Atlantic Records, 1998)
* ''[[Maestro (Taj Mahal album)|Maestro]]'' - [[Taj Mahal (musician)|Taj Mahal]] (Heads Up, 2008)
* ''[[Bible Belt (album)|Bible Belt]]'' - [[Diane Birch]] (S-Curve Records, 2009)
* ''Good Road to Follow'' - [[John Oates]] (Elektra Records, 2014)


==References==
==References==
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*{{official website|http://www.georgeporterjr.com/}}
*{{official website|http://www.georgeporterjr.com/}}
*{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p115294}}
*{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p115294}}
*Berry, Jason; Foose, Jonathon; Jones, Tad. ''Up The Cradle From Jazz: New Orleans Music Since World War II.'' Lafayette, LA: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press, 2009. Print.
*Sublette, Ned. ''The Year Before The Flood: A Story of New Orleans.'' Chicago, Illinois: Lawrence Hill Press, 2009. Print.
*Swenson, John. ''New Atlantis: Musicians Battle for the Survival of New Orleans.'' New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print.
*[http://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/an-interview-with-george-porter-jr-new-orlens-premier-bass-player Limnios, Michael. ''New Orleans' Premier Bassman George Porter Jr. Talks About Meters, Earl King, Snooks Eaglin, and Saints City's Music.'' Transcribed by Denise Sullivan. 2013.]
*[http://blues.gr/profiles/blogs/an-interview-with-george-porter-jr-new-orlens-premier-bass-player Limnios, Michael. ''New Orleans' Premier Bassman George Porter Jr. Talks About Meters, Earl King, Snooks Eaglin, and Saints City's Music.'' Transcribed by Denise Sullivan. 2013.]
*[http://www.offbeat.com/2012/01/01/best-of-the-beat-lifetime-achievement-in-music-award-george-porter-jr/ Rawls, Alex. ''New Orleans Off Beat Magazine. Best of the Beat Lifetime Achievement Award: George Porter Jr.'' January, 2012.]
*[http://www.offbeat.com/2012/01/01/best-of-the-beat-lifetime-achievement-in-music-award-george-porter-jr/ Rawls, Alex. ''New Orleans Off Beat Magazine. Best of the Beat Lifetime Achievement Award: George Porter Jr.'' January, 2012.]
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[[Category:African-American guitarists]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:American male singers]]
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[[Category:American funk bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American funk bass guitarists]]
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Revision as of 17:08, 16 July 2024

George Porter Jr.
Porter in 2024
Porter in 2024
Background information
Born (1947-12-26) December 26, 1947 (age 76)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instruments
  • Bass
  • vocals
Years active1965–present
Labels
Websitegeorgeporterjr.com

George Porter Jr. (born December 26, 1947) is an American musician, best known as the bassist and singer of the Meters. Along with Art Neville, Porter formed the group in the mid 1960s and came to be recognized as one of the progenitors of funk.[1] The Meters disbanded in 1977, but reformed in 1989. The original group played the occasional reunion, with the Funky Meters, of which Porter and Neville are members, keeping the spirit alive, until Neville's retirement in 2018 and death the following year.[1]

Porter has his own group the Runnin' Pardners, and also other projects such as The Trio with Johnny Vidacovich, New Orleans Social Club, Deep Fried, and Porter Batiste Stoltz. He has been performing and recording with wide range of artists including Soul Rebels Brass Band, Dr. John, Paul McCartney, Robbie Robertson, Willy DeVille, Robert Palmer, Patti LaBelle, Jimmy Buffett, David Byrne, Johnny Adams, Harry Connick Jr., Earl King, Warren Haynes, Tori Amos, and Snooks Eaglin among many others.[1][2]

Porter joined John Scofield's Piety Street Band in 2008 to tour and to record. Jon Cleary and Ricky Fataar are also members of this band. In 2010, he replaced Reed Mathis in Bill Kreutzmann's renewest band, 7 Walkers.[3] Also in 2010 he performed with Runnin' Pardner at New Orleans' Voodoo Experience.[4]

Biography

Early life and career with the Meters

Porter's parents were both avid lovers of music. His father frequently listened to Duke Ellington and his mother sang in the local church choir. He grew up in New Orleans next to future Meters bandmate, Joe "Zigaboo" Modeliste, and the two became friends when George was 10 years old. As teenagers, they played jam sessions together with Porter playing a box guitar.[5] Porter was inspired to play bass guitar by another New Orleans native, Benjamin "Poppi" Francis who also gave Porter some lessons on the instrument.[6] When Porter was still in his teens, he sat in with Earl King. After one of the shows, Art Neville came up to him saying he was trying to start a band and asked if he would like to join. Porter agreed spawning the beginnings of the Meters. At first the band was known as Neville Sound and consisted of seven men including Cyril and Aaron Neville as vocalists and Gary Brown on saxophone. After a short time, however, the band was trimmed down to four core members - Art Neville, Zigaboo Modeliste, Leo Nocentelli and Porter Jr. The four were playing six nights a week at a Bourbon Street bar called Ivanhoe when they were approached by Allen Toussaint and asked if they wanted to sign a record deal. After the deal, the label wanted the band to change their name to something that better reflected their sound. They settled on "The Meters." By the early seventies, Porter was touring coast to coast with the Meters. At the same time, the Meters were performing as session musicians on numerous hit records, including "Right Place, Wrong Time," "Lady Marmalade," "Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley," and "Southern Nights." In 1975, they were touring as the opening act to the Rolling Stones.[5] Porter has said that the best moment in his musical career is when he and the other Meters were opening for the Stones in Paris in 1976. The crowd started to boo them, when Keith Richards and Mick Jagger came out in support of the Meters and told the crowd to shut up and listen to the music. He said that moment kept the Meters alive for the time being.[6] By 1977, however, the band broke up due to personal differences. After the breakup, Porter Jr. formed a band called Joyride.[5]

After the Meters

Porter performs at Bimbo's 365 Club, San Francisco, May 2011

Porter played with Joyride and with many other New Orleans musicians in the 1980s. In 1989, Porter reunited with Art Neville and Leo Nocentelli as the Meters, replacing Joe Modeliste on drums with Russell Batiste Jr.[7] In 1990, he started a band called The Runnin' Pardners; a band that is still playing today. Also in the 1990s, Porter became a highly coveted bass player in the studio playing with artists like David Byrne and Tori Amos.[8] In 1994, Porter and Neville re-collaborated to form the band The Funky Meters to carry on the Meters sound. They were joined by Brian Stoltz on guitar and Russell Batiste Jr. on drums. Stoltz left the band in 2007 but rejoined in 2011 and the band still plays today.[9]

2000 to present

In 2000, the original four Meters reunited for a show at the Warfield in San Francisco. Modeliste wanted to make the reunion a permanent one but the other members and their management objected. In 2006, however, the Meters performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.[10][11] This was the first Jazz Fest since Hurricane Katrina so the fact that the Meters reunited for it meant a lot to the city. In 2012, Porter, Leo Nocentelli, Joe Modeliste, and Phish keyboardist Page McConnell performed two concerts as The Metermen. Limited shows followed in 2013 and 2014 with two more night shows during Jazz Fest.

Porter appears in performance footage in the 2005 documentary film Make It Funky!, which presents a history of New Orleans music and its influence on rhythm and blues, rock and roll, funk and jazz.[12] In the film, he performs with Snooks Eaglin and house band on "Come On (Let the Good Times Roll)", and is seen in clips with other musicians, including Art Neville.[13]

Since Hurricane Katrina, Porter has done some activist work with other New Orleans musicians informing people of the dangers of eroding wetlands threatening the future of the city.[14] Porter still tours consistently with the Runnin' Pardners, Joyride, and The Funky Meters. He plays sporadically with the four original members of the Meters, now known as The Original Meters and also frequently collaborates with other musicians, many of whom are from New Orleans. On February 24, 2018, Porter sat in with Dead & Company during their New Orleans concert at the Smoothie King Center, playing bass on several songs including "Smokestack Lightning", "Bertha" and taking lead vocals on "Sugaree".[15]

He plays sporadically with Steve Kimock on various projects including Voodoo Dead.

Personal life

Porter was raised Catholic, and once considered becoming a priest.[16]

Awards and honors

OffBeat's Best of The Beat Awards

Year Kategorie Result Ref.
1995 Best New Orleans Style R&B Band or Performer Won [17]
1996 Best New Orleans Style R&B Band or Performer Won [17]
1997 Best Bass Player Won [17]
1998 Won [17]
1999 Won [17]
2000 Won [17]
2001 Won [17]
2002 Won [17]
2003 Won [17]
2004 Won [17]
2006 Won [17]
2008 Won [17]
2009 Won [17]
2010 Won [17]
2011 Lifetime Achievement in Music Won [17]
Best Bass Player Won [17]
2012 Best Bass Player Won [17]
2013 Best Bass Player Won [17]
2015 Best R&B/Funk Band or Performer Won [17]
Best R&B/Funk Album (for It's Time to Funk) Won [17]
Best Bass Player Won [17]
2016 Best Bass Player Won [17]
2017 Won [17]
2018 Won [17]
2019 Won [17]
2020 Won [17]
2021-22 Won [17]
2023 Won [17]

Discography

  • Runnin' Partner (1990), Rounder
  • Things Ain't What They Used to Be (1994)
  • Count On You (1994) - Japan release
  • Funk This (1997), Transvideo - EP
  • Funk 'n' Go Nuts (2000), Transvideo
  • We Came to Play (2003) - as Johnny Vidacovich, June Yamagishi and George Porter Jr.
  • Searching for a Joyride (2005), Night Train
  • Expanding the Funkin Universe (2007), OUW Records - as Porter Batiste Stoltz
  • It's Life (2007), Transvideo
  • Can't Beat the Funk (2011)

Collaborations

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Official Website". George Porter Jr. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  2. ^ "Paul McCartney". Rolling Stone Australia. July 2, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
  3. ^ ""It's All Just Music": George Porter Jr. and Brian Stoltz Maintain The Meters Legacy". Jambands.com. March 11, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  4. ^ Humphress, Corey. "Weezer, Drake, Muse, MGMT Lead Voodoo Experience Festival 2010 Lineup." Pastemagazine.co. Paste Media Group, July 17, 2010. Web.
  5. ^ a b c Berry, Jason; Foose, Jonathon; Jones, Tad. Up The Cradle From Jazz: New Orleans Music Since World War II. Lafayette, LA: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Press, 2009. Print.
  6. ^ a b Limnios, Michalis (April 23, 2012). "New Orleans' premier bassman George Porte Jr. talks about Meters, Earl King, Snooks Eaglin, & Saints City's Music". Blues.Gr. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  7. ^ Spera, Keith. "Latest Meters Reunion to Roll on at Least through Voodoo Fest." Nola.com. The Times-Picayune, August 17, 2011.
  8. ^ "Best of the Beat Lifetime Achievement in Music Award: George Porter Jr". Offbeat.com. January 1, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  9. ^ "About". funky METERS. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  10. ^ "2006 - 1ST SUNDAY - APRIL 30, 2006". Swagland.com. April 30, 2006. Retrieved August 27, 2014.
  11. ^ Sublette, Ned. The Year Before The Flood: A Story of New Orleans. Chicago, Illinois: Lawrence Hill Press, 2009. ISBN 978 1 55652 824 8
  12. ^ "IAJE What's Going On". Jazz Education Journal. 37 (5). Manhattan, Kansas: International Association of Jazz Educators: 87. April 2005. ISSN 1540-2886. ProQuest 1370090.
  13. ^ Make It Funky! (DVD). Culver City, California: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 2005. ISBN 9781404991583. OCLC 61207781. 11952.
  14. ^ Swenson, John. New Atlantis: Musicians Battle for the Survival of New Orleans. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print.
  15. ^ "Dead & Company Welcomes George Porter Jr. In New Orleans". JamBase.com. February 25, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  16. ^ Thompkins, Gwen. "George Porter Jr.: Boom-Bop-Boom-Bop!". Wwno.org. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab "Best of the Beat Award Winners: Complete List". OffBeat Magazine. September 8, 2011. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
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