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AWARDED: Gregory Porter

AMERICAN JAZZ singer-songwriter Gregory Porter has become the first MOBO Award winner of 2017, winning the MOBO Outstanding Contribution to Music Award last night (Nov 7) in front of an audience at London’s Gresham Centre.

Of his award, the critically-acclaimed musician said, “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.”

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 5 in over 10 years in 2016.

Porter’s most recent album Nat “King” Cole & Me is his highest charting success yet – debuting at No.3 on the UK Album Charts last week to become his third consecutive Top 10 smash in the UK.

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