By PDX People

PORTLAND, Ore. – Yes, many great musicians have come from Portland Oregon over the years including Esperanza Spalding, a musical prodigy, jazz bassist and singer who has been a well-known name in the music world since she taught herself to play the violin at the age of five and started playing with the Chamber Music Society of Oregon.

Early Beginnings

Before she won four Grammy Awards, including the award for best new artist, Esperanza Spalding was a kid with a passion for music, growing up in the King, Alberta area of Portland.

Thanks to the hard work of her mother, a single parent, Spalding developed her musical talents at an early age and she soaked up music at every opportunity she could get, including accompanying her mother to her music classes in college.

Music Career

By the early 2000’s, Esperanza Spalding was regularly performing at clubs in Portland Oregon and knew that a music career was her calling in life.

Over the years, Spalding would discover a variety of instruments including the bass, double bass, violin and cello.

As she was becoming well-known in the music world, Spalding would also briefly work as a teacher for the Berklee College of Music, and by 2006 she would release her first album which she considered to be a collaborative effort.

After releasing her first album, she received acclaim for her 2011 album, including winning the Grammy Award for best new artist.

Today, at the age of 32 she continues her busy music career, touring around the world, collaborating with other musicians on their albums and recording new material. Her latest album was 2016’s Emily’s D+ Evolution

In spite of her musical success she also continues giving back and is committed to helping others including her work with Free the Slaves, an organization that works to stop human trafficking in the United States.