John “Papa” Gros (pronounced Grow) is a New Orleans pianist, organist and singer-songwriter whose career reflects the city itself—resilient, rhythmic, steeped in tradition, and always evolving. For more than thirty years, Gros has served as both a keeper and a translator of New Orleans music, blending funk, R&B, jazz, blues, rock, and Americana into a sound that is deeply rooted yet forward-looking.

Born in New Orleans in 1966, Gros maintains a constant pull toward his hometown’s culture, absorbing its music and spirit. He began playing piano and French horn at age eleven and in 1984 attended Loyola University, graduating with a degree in French horn performance four and a half years later. While his formal training provided discipline and technique, Gros’ real education came from the school of hard knocks in the clubs and on the streets—learning the language of groove, feel, and restraint from elders who had built the city’s sound.

That apprenticeship took shape in the late 1990s, when Gros evolved into a first-call sideman for some of New Orleans’ most revered artists. His tenure with George Porter Jr.’s Runnin’ Pardners placed him in direct lineage with The Meters and the architects of New Orleans funk, while performances with Snooks Eaglin, Earl King, Better Than Ezra, Anders Osborne, Irma Thomas and others sharpened his musical instincts and sense of purpose. These years cemented Gros not just as a formidable keyboardist, but as a musician entrusted with carrying cultural weight.

In 2000, Gros stepped into leadership with Papa Grows Funk, a band that would become synonymous with modern New Orleans funk. Anchored by a legendary twelve-year Monday-night residency at the fabled Maple Leaf Bar, the group fused deep grooves with jazz spontaneity and unfiltered live energy. Papa Grows Funk released six albums, including Needle in the Groove, co-produced by Allen Toussaint, toured extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad, building a devoted following before disbanding in 2013, all documented in the independent film, Do U Want It? 

After Papa Grows Funk ended its run, Gros returned to sideman work, contributing to high-profile tributes honoring Dr. John and the Neville Brothers. The 2014 Music Mojo of Dr. John concert—later released as a live album—featured Gros alongside Bruce Springsteen, Mavis Staples, Jason Isbell, and John Fogerty, and allowed him to perform with both Dr. John and Allen Toussaint, two of his most influential mentors.

Hurricane Katrina in 2005 reshaped Gros’ purpose, deepening his commitment to telling New Orleans’ story through music. That sense of responsibility carried forward into his solo work, beginning with Day’s End (2004), followed by River’s On Fire (2016), a bold statement of artistic independence and maturity. In 2020, Gros released Central City, a joyful, intergenerational celebration of New Orleans songcraft featuring an all-star cast of local icons and collaborators.

Gros’ music has also reached wide audiences beyond the stage. His performances and compositions have appeared in HBO’s Treme, NCIS: New Orleans, The Judge, and C.L.A.W.S., reinforcing his role as an authentic musical voice of the city. His songs have additionally been broadcast during Major League Baseball Championship games and NBA playoff broadcasts, placing the New Orleans funk tradition on some of the largest stages in American sports media.

The years that followed tested Gros yet again. During the pandemic, he forged new connections with listeners through weekly livestreams. In 2022, Hurricane Ida destroyed his family home and rehearsal space, prompting another long rebuilding process. From that upheaval emerged Silent S Recording Studio, where Gros slowly and deliberately recorded his most reflective project to date.

That project, Giants (2026), is a groove-driven tribute to the artists who shaped Gros’ musical DNA—Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, The Meters, Levon Helm, and Billy Preston. Recorded live in New Orleans with support from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and the Threadhead Cultural Foundation, the album captures songs refined through years of performance and delivered with equal parts reverence and risk.

Today, John “Papa” Gros stands as a bridge between generations: a masterful keyboardist, seasoned songwriter, and powerful live performer who honors the past by making it move in the now—loudly, joyfully, and in real time.