Jon Batiste (born Jonathan Michael Batiste on November 11, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. Rising to fame as the bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015–2022), he is an acclaimed, genre-defying artist who has won seven Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe.Early Life and EducationNew Orleans Roots: Born into the renowned Batiste musical family, he grew up in Kenner and Metairie, Louisiana. He began playing percussion for the Batiste Brothers Band at age eight before switching to the piano at age 11.Juilliard Training: Batiste attended the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, where he earned both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in jazz studies.Career HighlightsStay Human: During his time at Juilliard, he formed the band Stay Human, bringing freewheeling street-style musical performances to New York's subways and gaining a grassroots following.The Late Show: Batiste served as the musical director and bandleader for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert from 2015 to 2022, injecting vibrant jazz, funk, and R&B into the nightly broadcast.Scoring "Soul": He co-composed the score for the Pixar animated film Soul alongside Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Score.Grammy Success: He made Grammy history by receiving 11 nominations across seven categories for his 2021 studio album We Are, ultimately winning five of them—including Album of the Year. He followed this up with his subsequent studio albums, World Music Radio (2023) and the critically acclaimed BIG MONEY.
