Greg Porter

Greg Porter

Photo: Bob Hannan

Born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Greg was nurtured by his college professor parents and encouraged to take part in any creative endeavor he wished. He began playing the violin at age 4 and within a few years found his afternoons filled with violin and piano lessons, and his evenings spent at theater, chorus, ballet rehearsals and performances.

It wasn't until the age of 15 that he turned his attention to the electric bass, inspired by the fact that the instrument was bigger than a guitar and had more of a cool factor in the photographs of punk and new wave bands he had tacked to his wall. As with all things, he developed his instrumental skills quickly, dwarfing the competition in his first band (where he met Alan), known as The HANG. So good was he, that within a year he had taken a leave of absence from this ever-hopeful, but destined-for-obscurity band to attend a summer arts program at the North Carolina Governor's School, a school for academically and artistically gifted students.

Greg, Alan and another HANG band mate Holden Thorp plotted to break away from their small town music scene the following year to attend a summer session at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. The musically vibrant city spoke to Greg on a fundamental level, and despite a brief return to finish high school he has remained a citizen of the hub, and its environs, ever since.

While in Boston after finishing the Berklee stint, and working on a tip from his father, Greg ventured down Mass Ave, making a right onto Huntington, to check out an obscure program called Third Stream Studies at the New England Conservatory of Music. Alan, in a mild panic at being left alone in the Berklee dorm, decided to tag along, a decision with long-term ramifications for them both. While exploring the practice rooms in the dark basement under the Conservatory's Jordan Hall, the two interlopers were discovered. But rather than being thrown out or arrested, they were escorted into an office and put on the phone with the director of Third Stream Studies, Ran Blake, idiosyncratic musical visionary and MacArthur Genius Grant recipient. Encouraged by their conversation with Mr. Blake, both Greg and Alan applied and were accepted into the Conservatory the following fall.

At NEC, Greg played both electric and upright bass studying with Miroslav Vitous and Mick Goodrick. He soon developed a reputation for versatility and hipness throughout the building; being called upon to play in any situation that demanded rock bass, funk popping, delay effects, or a stylish haircut. Along with Alan and a number of other musicians (including future Birdsong auxiliary drummer Ben Wittman), he formed a world music/jazz/pop ensemble called Danse Real. He also met Juliana Nash with whom he would form a longstanding musical collaboration that continues to this day.

Greg and Juliana later formed the band Talking To Animals which quickly ascended to the upper echelons of the Boston music scene, eventually signing a record deal with Columbia/Q Division Records. The record was ultimately released by former CBS head Walter Yetnikoff's new label, Velvel. Upon release of the album, Talking to Animals did two tours with Lilith Fair, performing alongside musicians such as Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Liz Phair and Natalie Merchant.

While still a member of Talking to Animals, Greg also played for Aimee Mann on her first tour as a solo artist, on recordings by Merrie Amsterburg, Martin Sexton, Patty Larkin, and Patty Griffin, and could often be found performing along with Ben Wittman as permanent special guests in Alan's band Knots and Crosses. Greg first collaborated with Darleen in this period as well; working on a record she produced for former Third Streamer Liz Hamill, as well as other projects, including a much-enjoyed stint with Midwest gals, The Chenille Sisters.

True to his versatile nature Greg also built a successful career outside of music. He was integral to the growth of a small start up design firm specializing in home accessories. This was quite impressive to all who knew him, as he now had something none of his other friends had – a job, with health insurance! He also met and married his beautiful wife, Susanna Vennerbeck, former soloist with Boston Ballet. They live in the rural surroundings outside Boston with their two sons, sometimes known as Batman and Robin. The boys, like their parents have already demonstrated an incredible aptitude for all things creative and athletic.

Talking To Animals eventually disbanded and, disillusioned with the music business, Greg packed his bass guitars away in the attic of his new home. But being an artist at heart, and wanting to impart his passion for music to his children, Greg began rediscovering the joy of improvising on the piano in his living room, now devoid of new wave posters. And what could be more satisfying than to come full circle and resume his long history of musical collaboration with Alan where it all started.