National recognition for Morehouse alumni in the arts continued this week with three Morehouse Men receiving Grammy nominations for their outstanding work in music.
Alumnus PJ Morton ’03, a solo artist and keyboardist for the pop band Maroon 5, scored three Grammy nominations. His self-released album “Gumbo Unplugged (Live),” an acoustic remake of his Grammy-nominated 2017 album "Gumbo," received a nod for best R&B album. His song “First Begin” is up for best R&B performance, and his collaboration “How Deep Is Your Love,” is a contender for best traditional R&B performance.
Two other Morehouse Men became first-time Grammy nominees.
Music producer Kennard Garrett ’01 and singer/songwriter Kameron Corvet are reeling after learning that a song that they collaborated on inside Morehouse’s Ray Charles Performing Arts Center in 2015 earned them a first-time Grammy nomination. The song “Don’t Make Me Wait,” featuring rock icon, Sting, and reggae superstar, Shaggy, was included on the much-anticipated album recorded by the unlikely duo “44/876,” and the project is up for Best Reggae Album of the Year.
Released under A&B/Interscope, “Don’t Make Me Wait” debuted in the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Reggae Digital Sales chart earlier this year. It was performed live at last year’s Grammy’s and at Super Bowl LII’s tailgate show before the Sting and Shaggy took the song on the road, singing it on late night talk shows and morning news programs.
“I used to sit and dream about being at the Grammy’s and having my music played, and then I watched it happen,” Garrett said, recalling the song’s debut last year. He was floored to hear that the album is now a Grammy contender.
Garrett mentors young composers/producers and teaches music production and recording sciences at Morehouse College. He is credited as a musician, composer, arranger, or producer on more than a dozen albums since he graduated from Morehouse. He worked with The Pussycat Dolls, Case, Jesse McCartney, Scarface, Drake, J. Cole and Sean Garrett over the year.
Corvet, a recording artist, has toured with Sting and Shaggy promoting the album. He recently released his latest project, “Early Riser.” As a songwriter, Corvet also has written for Freddie Jackson, Angie Stone, Case, Avery Sunshine and international pop artist Mr. Probz. As a performer, Kameron has traveled the world opening for the likes of: Adele, Marsha Ambrosius, Bilal, Dwele, Tamia, Robert Glasper, TY Dolla $ign, and others.
Another Morehouse Man is also anticipating a Grammy win for his artists.
Steve Pamon ’91, the Chief Operating Officer of Parkwood Entertainment, has two singers who have been nominated for Best New Artist. The duo Chloe X Halle visited Morehouse last month.
The 61st Grammy Awards will air on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019.