Why is Gregory Porter wearing a hat? Singer releases album “Christmas Wish” before London shows

Acclaimed US jazz and blues singer Gregory Porter has an impressive series of performances planned in London this autumn, including an evening at the Royal Albert Hall.

On Friday, the 52-year-old released “Christmas Wish,” a collection of festive songs, and will tour Europe and then the United States this season.

But it is not just his voice that makes Porter unmistakable, because during his performances he always wore a deerstalker cap that was modified to cover his face.

This is the background of the man with the unique voice and appearance.

Who is Gregory Porter?

Porter is something of a late bloomer, rising to fame in the 2010s when he was in his forties. His 2014 album Liquid Spirit won him the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album, while a Disclosure remix of the title track introduced him to younger audiences in the UK.

He appeared on Jools Holland's BBC shows and enjoyed further success in 2017 with the album “Take Me to the Alley”, which also won a Grammy.

Christmas Wish contains mostly cover versions as well as three original songs, Heart For Christmas and Everything's Not Lost, as well as the title song.

Why does Gregory Porter wear a hat?

Porter has remained tight-lipped about his reasons for wearing a hat, other than that he has scars from facial surgery. Whether or not these have fully healed is unknown, as Porter doesn't like to talk about them.

“People recognise me by it now,” he told the BBC. “It is what it is.” He added that he did not want the hat to be the focus, but rather his “heart and soul”.

What kind of hat does Gregory Porter wear?

The singer is known for wearing a black deerstalker cap, which resembles a flat cap but has been modified to fit around his chin like a balaclava.

It is not known if it is just one hat or if he has several.

When does Gregory Porter perform in London?

Gregory Porter will be singing and signing at Pryzm in Kingston on Tuesday, November 7th from 6pm. Tickets for the intimate show are now sold out.

This all comes ahead of his headlining performance at the Royal Albert Hall on December 13, for which tickets are now on sale.

It is not his first visit either. In 2016, he told the Evening Standard that his late mother had predicted he would play at the Royal Albert Hall.