Wistful beginnings, a beat drop follows kicking into a propulsive disco groove as Billy Porter triumphantly promises: A change starts today, better wipe those tears away. The GRAMMY®, EMMY®, & Tony® Award-winning actor, singer, director, composer, playwright, & author unveils a brand new single entitled “Children” out now.“It’s a song that is inspired by my life reflecting everything I’ve gone through to get here.” he says, with Porter empathizing:
“See I know times are hard, Yeah I mean it from the heart
You’re not losing the fight, love will make it alright
Cos i’ve been there, done that, worn that dress,
so you know mama knows it best”
The single marks Billy’s debut under his newly minted joint partnership with Island UK and Republic Records. “Children” is a high-energy dance floor anthem co-written with GRAMMY ®Award-nominated songwriter MNEK [H.E.R.,Dua Lipa] and Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall. Speaking about the inspiration behind the track Billy says, “Music is my first love,” “I grew up singing in the church.” Delivering the song’s show-stopping hook, “Gotta let these children know what time it is,” punctuated with his jaw-dropping range.
“For the first time, my music is what I want it to be, what I want it to say, which is hope and love,” “We have to choose it every day so we can fight the evil. We can only fight it with love and I am so excited for my music for that.” The G.E.T awarded performer recalls his commercial music debut in 1997 as a time for the world to catch up. With the release of his self-titled (aka Untitled) debut album which spawned the Top 10 “Bubbling Under” single, “Show Me,” and the monster ballad, “Love Is On The Way,” which also appeared at the pivotal moment in the film, “First Wives Club.” The industry was not ready for all this Black Boy Joy! He went on to release “At the Corner of Broadway + Soul” (2005), “Billy’s Back on Broadway” (2014), and “The Soul of Richard Rodgers” (2017) featuring Pentatonix, India.Arie, Leslie Odom Jr. and Cynthia Erivo, among others. Porter scored his first #1 with “Love Yourself” in 2019 on the US Dance Club Songs Chart. He followed that up with his 2020 reimagining of the legendary Buffalo Springfield anthem, “For What It’s Worth,” and a fierce collab with The Shapeshifters on “Finally Ready.”
Make way children! Daddy’s back. Hopeful yet thrilled to entrust this next chapter of his music career to the Island/Republic team. 2021 saw Porter covering Juliet Roberts club classic “Caught in The Middle” for Red Hot + Free, which supports underserved communities afflicted with HIV/AIDS. He was also enlisted by multiplatinum international superstar Jessie J for “I Want Love.” Also delivering a fierce turn on Earth, Wind, and Fire’s iconic “Shining Star” as Fab G, the Fairy Godmuva, in the new remake of “Cinderella.” Porter is a veteran of the theater (Miss Saigon, Angels in America, Grease). He won a Tony® in the category of “Best Leading Actor in a Musical” for Kinky Boots in 2013, and a Grammy® for the latter’s Official Soundtrack in the category of “Best Musical Theater Album” in 2014. Porter took home the Emmy® Award for “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series” in 2019 for his work as Pray Tell on Pose, making history in being the first openly gay man to do so. Time Magazine named him one of the “100 Most Influential People” of 2020. This October, Billy will release his highly anticipated memoir, “Unprotected.” His directorial film debut, “What If,” is set to drop in 2022. Billy kicks off his next chapter in music, his first love, with a new album coming soon.
