Greg Porée

Greg Porée has been blessed. He grew up in a multi-cultural environment and was exposed to a wide variety of music ranging from Bach to The Beatles. He settled on guitar at age 15 and immediately began interpreting with his hands all the beauty that filled his head and heart.

His first break in the music business came when he was asked to be musical director for Sonny & Cher. Work for other musical icons soon followed — artists such as Gladys Knight & the Pips, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Diana Ross. He can be heard on landmark albums for Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and more recently Ozomatli. Greg produced groundbreaking solo albums in association with Sting for world music master, Vinx. He was also lead guitarist for eight years on the hit BBC TV show, Dancing with the Stars.

Following success as a musical director and guitarist, Greg shifted his focus from studio work to composition. His album, Inventions, is a prime example of the innovative style and personality he infuses into every piece. The music revolves around classical guitar, but at a Greg Porée live performance you might also find violin, accordion, or vibraphone filling out the band.

Greg hosts a podcast called SonicTonic for the California Jazz Foundation. It highlights members of the local jazz community. The non-profit organization’s mission is to assist musicians who have fallen on hard times. Being so blessed, Greg likes to give back. And it’s something he does for the audience at every performance.