John Papa Gros

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin changed the world with her voice. She gives me chills every time. I am just as inspired by her piano playing. It’s understated, it supports the melody and it is always grooving. Because she was blessed, we were blessed. Rest in the Heavens, my Queen....

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Just Be Yourself

After college, I was very much into the New Orleans funk thing. But all I was playing was wedding & tuxedo high-society gigs, where you played a little of this and a little of that - some jazz, some dance music, and then you went home. I was doing well and making...

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Vocal Performance

In the old days it was common for my voice to go out. I couldn't sing more than two days in a row on the road, and often times my voice would go out by the end of the first show. I couldn't even talk. I wasn’t singing. I was yelling and screaming trying to be heard...

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Who I Am

I try to incorporate elements of who I am as a musician in each song I write. Sometimes it’s obvious, sometimes not.

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2018 Summer Tour Kicks Off

My quiet summer is finally over and I'm excited to be headed up North to throw down the grooves! I'm hoping to escape the suppressing heat and humidity of New Orleans and get some cool evening air. There's got to be some relief in New York State, New Jersey and...

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Respect Across The Stage

When you share the stage with somebody, there is a respect that goes across the stage. You just can't afford to let that person down. It's like lying to your mom. If you let them down, it's going to come back to haunt you. You just can't do it. Now the whole ship...

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That Primal Energy

I'm a musician. I write music. I play songs. That's what I do. I'm in the music business and that's what I have to do first. I fell in love with music as a kid, listening to songs, sitting at the piano playing songs, going over to friends' houses, “Hey, I learned this...

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