Pushkin

Hey everyone, today we begin our month-long celebration of Black Music Month with PJ Morton,

the New Orleans-based singer-songwriter, producer and keyboardist of Maroon 5.

Morton recently earned a Grammy Award for Abum of the Year, for his contributions to John Batisse we are.

But even though he's been up for multiple Grammys, he almost gave up on the idea of a solo career altogether.

But then he moved back home to New Orleans and reconnected with what got him interested in music in the first place.

Now, Morton's releasing his eighth studio album, Watch the Sun.

The new album was made up of 11 original songs and features collaborations with artists like Stevie Wonder, Nas, Joe Scott and Wall-A.

On today's episode, PJ Morton talks to Bruce Hadlam about what it was like growing up with preacher's son,

and how his relationship with gospel impacted the way he makes music.

He also talks about being a recovering workaholic and his friendship with the great Stevie Wonder.

This is Broken Record, liner notes for the digital age. I'm Justin Richmond.

Here's Bruce Hadlam and PJ Morton.

You played Oregon growing up, right?

Oh, yeah. What was the Oregon in your church?

Yeah, like a B3. Oh, it was okay.

Yeah, it was a B3.

My brother-in-law taught me, I learned on the job basically, and by ear, you know, but he taught me to draw bars and settings.

And I kind of just built from there.

I was amazed to hear that, well, I heard it on your record. You said it. You don't read music.

I don't read music, yeah.

So you learned to play in church, by ear, by ear, yeah, 100%.

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