1. Jonathan Michael Batiste was born on November 11,1986 and is an American singer, songwriter, musician, composer, bandleader, television personality and actor.
43 Facts About Jon Batiste
1. 2.
Jon Batiste serves as the music director of The Atlantic and the Creative Director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
3.
Jon Batiste has garnered five Grammy Awards from 20 nominations, including an Album of the Year win for We Are.
4.
In 2023, Jon Batiste was featured in the documentary film, American Symphony, which records the process of Jon Batiste composing his first symphony.
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In 2024, Jon 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.
6.
Jon Batiste was born in Metairie, Louisiana, to a Catholic family.
7.
Jon Batiste further developed his piano skills by transcribing songs from video games such as Street Fighter Alpha, Final Fantasy VII and Sonic the Hedgehog.
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At 17, Jon Batiste released his debut album, Times in New Orleans.
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Jon Batiste attended St Augustine High School and New Orleans Center for Creative Arts with Trombone Shorty in New Orleans and graduated in 2004.
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Jon Batiste then went on to attend the Juilliard School, receiving a Bachelor of Music in 2008 and a Master of Music in 2011, both in jazz studies.
11.
In 2007, at the age of 20, Jon Batiste made his debut at the Concertgebouw, in Amsterdam, producing and performing his own show.
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Jon Batiste conducted music clinics, classes, and workshops throughout the Netherlands in inner-city schools and underprivileged neighborhoods.
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Jon Batiste was invited to Carnegie Hall to produce and perform in his own show, with six young musicians from the Netherlands.
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Jon Batiste's cover of "St James Infirmary Blues" was nominated for a Grammy in 2019, in the category of Best American Roots Performance.
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Jon Batiste was cast in the HBO television series Treme, appearing as himself in seasons 2,3, and 4.
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Jon Batiste appears in the films Da Sweet Blood of Jesus by Spike Lee and Thrive by Paul Szynol.
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In 2005, Jon Batiste began performing regularly in New York with his Juilliard peers, bassist Phil Kuehn and drummer Joe Saylor.
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Jon Batiste later added Eddie Barbash on alto saxophone and Ibanda Ruhumbika on tuba.
19.
Jon Batiste named the band Stay Human, which draws its moniker from the belief that human interaction during a live musical performance can uplift humanity in the midst of the "plug in, tune out" nature of modern society.
20.
The band leads impromptu street performances, which Jon Batiste calls "love riots".
21.
Notable artists were often seen accompanying Jon Batiste, including Wynton Marsalis.
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In 2014, Jon Batiste and Stay Human appeared on The Colbert Report to perform the group's single, "Express Yourself", written and produced with Austin Bis.
23.
On June 4,2015, it was announced that Jon Batiste and Stay Human would serve as the house band on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
24.
Jon Batiste composed music for the 2020 film Soul, collaborating with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
25.
On March 19,2021, Jon Batiste released We Are, his fifth solo studio album.
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Billy Preston Jason Reitman Trombone Shorty Spike Lee Wynton Marsalis Stephen Colbert Trent Reznor Atticus Ross Matthew Heineman Michelle Obama Suleika Jaouad Bruce Springsteen Django Reinhardt Louis Armstrong Mahalia Jackson John Coltrane Stevie Wonder Miles Davis James Brown Nina Simone Harry Chapin 26.
In July 2021, Jon Batiste released a live EP, Live at Electric Lady, performed in one day at Electric Lady Studios.
27.
At the 64th Grammy Awards, Jon Batiste earned 11 nominations: eight for We Are, and three for Soul.
28.
In June 2023, Jon Batiste announced a new album World Music Radio.
29.
On September 22,2022, Jon Batiste conducted the premiere of his composition American Symphony at Carnegie Hall, New York.
30.
In 2023, Jon Batiste was featured in the documentary film American Symphony, directed by Matthew Heineman, executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, which records the process of Jon Batiste composing his first symphony, while his wife, Suleika Jaouad, suffers the return of her leukemia.
31.
In November 2024, Jon Batiste performed at the National Book Awards in New York City as a musical guest.
32.
In February 2025, Jon Batiste performed the national anthem at Super Bowl LIX accompanied by deaf actress Stephanie Nogueras in American Sign Language.
33.
Jon Batiste cites, among the artists who have most influenced his artistic and musical choices, Mahalia Jackson, James Brown, Louis Armstrong, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, John Coltrane, Nina Simone, Miles Davis and Django Reinhardt.
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About his 2024 album Beethoven Blues, Jon Batiste told The New York Times that Beethoven's music "is so very African, filled with polyrhythms" and the "feeling" of the blues.
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Jon Batiste was born into a family active in the struggle against racial segregation in the United States; his grandfather, David Gauthier, was president of the Louisiana Postal Workers Union, involved in the 1968 labor strike sponsored by the Memphis, Tennessee, Department of Public Works for higher wages and safer working conditions.
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Jon Batiste is among the sponsors of several initiatives, including Innocence Project, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and The Legacy Museum.
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Jon Batiste is married to journalist, musician, and best-selling author Suleika Jaouad.
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Jon Batiste has received several accolades, including being placed in the 2016 Forbes 30 Under 30 music list, and being named Grand Marshal of Endymion Parade in New Orleans in 2018.
39.
Jon Batiste has been awarded the American Jazz Museum Lifetime Achievement Award, the Harry Chapin ASCAP Humanitarian Award and the Movado Future Legend Award.
40.
In May 2017, Jon Batiste received an honorary degree from Salve Regina University for his musical achievements and contributions to Newport's 2014 International Jazz Day.
41.
In 2021, Jon Batiste received 11 nominations and became the most nominated artist at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
42.
In 2022, Jon Batiste won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
43.
Jon Batiste was named in Time magazine's 2022 "Top 100 Most Influential People", in the Icons category.