Jonathan Michael Batiste (born November 11, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader, composer, and television personality. He was born in Metairie, Louisiana to a Catholic family. He is married to journalist, musician and best-selling author Suleika Jaouad. The two met as teenagers at band camp. On Ap 22, the couple revealed in an interview on CBS News Sunday Morning that they had been married in a private ceremony at home in February 2022.
Four: Freedom
With over 18M Views on its official music video on YouTube and over 28M streams on Spotify the song “Freedom” by Jon Batiste was released as the 10th track off his album “WE ARE” on the 19th of March, 2021. It was produced by Ex Reyes, Autumn Rowe, Tearce Kizzo and DJ Khalil. “Freedom” peaked at the second spot in the R&B/ Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales Chart. “Freedom” won the award for Best Music Video at the Grammy Awards in 2022.
FYI
- At the age of 17, Batiste released his debut album “Times in New Orleans”
- Batiste also serves as the music director of The Atlantic and the Creative Director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
- In 2020, he co-composed the score for the Pixar animated film Soul, for which he received an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Grammy Award and a BAFTA Film Award (all shared with Trent Renor and Atticus Ross).
- He has recorded and performed with artists including Stevie Wonder, Prince, Willie Nelson, Lenny Kravitz, Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Rey, Roy Hargrove, Juvenile, and Mavis Staples.
Three: It’s Alright
“It’s Alright” is a 1963 song recorded by The Impressions having being one of the two top ten singles for the group on the Billboard Hot 100 but in 2020, Jon Batiste recorded two cover for the Pixar animated movie called “Soul”. Basically serving as the soundtrack of the movie which features the end credits version of the original song by The Impressions in the movie. The song has garnered over 31M streams on Spotify and over 7.1M views on its official lyric video on YouTube.
Two: Drink Water Ft Jon Bellion & Fireboy Dml
Garnered over 5.5M streams on Spotify and 152k views on its official visualizer “Drink Water” is a song by American singer Jon Batiste featuring vocals from talented artist and producer Jon Bellion and Nigeria’s own Fireboy DML. The song was released on the 12th of July, 2023, written by Batiste, Jon Bellion, FireBoy DML, Nappi, Johnny Simpson and Elisha Noll.
Award / Nominations
- Batiste has garnered 5 Grammy Awards from 20 nominations, including an Album of the Year win for his album “We Are” (2021).
- He has been awarded the American Jazz Museum Lifetime Achievement Award.
- In 2021, Batiste received 11 nominations and became the most nominated artist at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
- In 2022, Soul the animated movie won the award for Best American Roots Performance, Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Contemporary Classical Composition at the Grammy Awards.
Discography
- Times In New Orleans (2005)
- Jazz in Now (2013)
- Social Music with Stay Human (2013)
- Christmas with Jon Batiste (2016)
- Hollywood Africans (2018)
- We Are (2021)
- World Music Radio (2023)
One: I Need You
With over 20M views on its official music video on YouTube “I Need You” is a song by American artist, singer and songwriter Jon Batiste which was released on the 22nd of January 2021. The song serves as the fourth single from the album “We Are” which won the 2022 Grammy of the Year in 2022 for Album of the Year. His work shows a fresh sound of Jazz capable of transmitting joy, freedom and warmth. The song was written by Tearce Kizzo, Autumn Rowe and Jon Batiste. “I need You” peaked at the number seven spot on the R&B Digital Song Sales Chart.
