Kendrick Lamar might be the highlight musician performing at this year’s Super Bowl. However, the national anthem singer is arguably one of the greatest musicians of the 21st century. The musician honoring the stars and stripes is Grammy Winning musical savant, Jon Batiste.
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Jon Batiste resides in every corner of the music business, but unlike other musicians, he’s seemingly not in the game for the clout. Instead, he lurks in the backdrops and plays music for music’s sake. In other words, he’s a purist and a musician who honors the craft. So, before you tune into the game on Sunday, here are three facts about the national anthem singer.
He’s Been Playing Since the Age of Eight
When we said Batiste was a savant, we meant it quite literally. Hailing from Metairie, Lousiana, Batiste joined his first band at eight-years-old as a drummer playing alongside his brothers in their band called, the Batiste Brothers Band. Though, at the age of 11, his mother urged him to make a major transition to piano.
At 11, Batiste put drums to the side and started learning and practicing classical piano. He went on to take lessons every single Saturday for seven years, and if you’ve heard the guy tickle the ivories, then you know the lessons paid off immensely.
Jon Batiste Attended The Juilliard School
Given that Batiste is a one-of-a-kind musical mind, it comes as no surprise that the man attended the most rigorous art school in the world. During his time at Julliard, Batiste acquired a degree in Jazz in 2008 and a master’s degree in jazz in 2011.
During his time at Julliard, Batiste released his second album, Live in New York: At the Rubin Museum of Art. Released in 2006, Batiste was approximately 20-years-old. Lastly, he also formed the band Stay Human, which often performed street performances called “Love Riots.”
He Used to Be The Band Leader for Stephen Colbert
Before Jon Batiste pursued his solo career in 2022, he was the bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Serving as the bandleader for seven seasons, Batiste was an integral part of the show, and the band his named after his college group, “Stay Human.”
During his seven seasons on the show, Batiste performed with John Legend, Billy Joel, Will Smith, and several other acclaimed musicians. Since his departure, Batiste has been back on the show several times and reunited with his former co-star, Stephen Colbert.
Jon Batiste GettyImages-1500690605
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