MLK Keynote Speaker 2025
PJ Morton
PJ Morton is a soul singer, songwriter, performer and producer based in New Orleans. He is a 5x GRAMMY-winner and 20x GRAMMY nominee who has earned numerous nominations for BET, Soul Train and NAACP Image Awards, in addition to selling out countless shows at historic venues like the Apollo Theater, Kennedy Center and others around the world. On top of running his own record label (Morton Records) and serving as Maroon 5's full-time keyboardist for the past 14 years, he has collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Jon Batiste, Nas, Lil Wayne, JoJo, Yebba, Jill Scott and many others.
In 2024, PJ Morton became the first Black composer to ever write an original song for a Disney attraction - Tiana's Bayou Adventure, now open at Disney World and coming soon to Disneyland. He also released Cape Town to Cairo, an album entirely written, recorded and produced during a 30-day trip across Africa, and publish a new book titled Saturday Night, Sunday Morning. Arriving November 12th via Worthy Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, the memoir sees him recounting and reflecting upon a trailblazing path that continues to defy expectations and straddle the tensions of music and faith, race and culture, expression and identity. Furthermore, he recently wrote the closing song for Regina King's Netflix film Shirley. He is working on music for an unannounced Dr. Seuss series and is featured in Apple's new iPhone 15 commercial.
