“John “Papa” Gros is a bedrock New Orleans artist, a keyboardist, singer and songwriter who draws on funk, rhythm & blues and Americana songcraft; he also knows his way around the Mardi Gras music repertoire about as well as anyone.” – Keith Spera The New Orleans Advocate
Latest News
Exploring Songs Live
It's fun exploring songs live. They have to live and breathe every time. We can't just play them by rote. The search to find new ways to make them fresh each and every night is a reward in itself.
Songwriting With The Piano
Before "River’s on Fire", it had been a long time since I had done any songwriting on the piano. Previously, I had done most of my songwriting on guitar. I found that it forced me to focus on simpler chord choices and arrangements. The piano allows me the luxury to...
Prep Work
If I’m doing a two hour show, I spend 22 hours a day mentally and physically preparing to give my all for those two hours. That's whether I’m driving or flying across the country, sleeping and / or resting at my house or hotel, or whatever I need to be doing. But 22...
Stepping Onstage
When I get ready to step onstage and play, I definitely have that mentality of “I'm John Papa Gros and I play Hammond organ and piano and I'm gonna play some New Orleans music for you, right now.” And I'm really serious about it. And that’s when the fun begins.
A Special Connection
Being a native New Orleanian has been an honor and a responsibility, especially as a musician. As a child, I grew up in Baton Rouge, 80 miles upriver from New Orleans. I was lucky enough to have New Orleans as a second home, because my Mom would bring me to stay at my...