An Evening With the Fly Nerd, PJ Morton

Imagine how excited I was to log on to Grammy-winning songwriter and artist, PJ Morton's Myspace page and see Memphis listed as a tour stop. I'd been on PJ for awhile and now I could finally skip Myspace and Youtube and listen to him LIVE. Apart of the Def Jam promo tour with headliner, Johnta Austin, PJ became a one-man show after Austin didn't make the Memphis show. For more than an hour, PJ and his awesome band took fans on a journey with unadulterated live music that flowed from one song to another. It was live music at its best.

The New Orleans native is no stranger to music, growing up and playing in his father's church, Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Church. His father is none other than bishop and award-winning singer, Paul S. Morton, Sr. Taking a separate path from his father into R&B, soul and rock, his music is just as righteous.

PJ refers to himself at the "Son of Stevie," citing Stevie Wonder as one of his biggest influences as a songwriter. It's evident, as he sang about things that everyone could relate to. From keeping a relationship fresh to keeping the faith, PJ covered every spectrum in life. He also "took us to church" with "Heavenly Father."

Dressed in washed-purple pants, a white button-down and tie, black bomber jacket and icy-white Airforce 1's, this nerd is indeed, fly. Don't forget his signature glasses. He knows how to rock out, too. Once he invited fans to come closer, we were headbanging with the best of them to "How We Were".

Finally, PJ (and his wonderful background singers) closed out with...the "Cheers" theme song--with a soulful twist, of course. "You wanna go where everybody knows your name." We know your name now, PJ, so come back to Memphis!

Log on to www.myspace.com/pjmorton or www.myspace.com/pjmortonband for more information.

Photo courtesy of Justin Morris of www.justinvision.net