"You don't know what bravery is until you overcome fear."

• Born Nov. 2, 1967, in Chicago
   
• Kurt Elling signed to Blue Note Records after catching the label's attention with an early demo that he created with the help of pianist Laurence Hobgood. The tracks on that demo later went on to be included in his GRAMMY-nominated debut, 1995's Close Your Eyes.
   
• The jazz vocalist won his first career GRAMMY for 2009 for Best Jazz Vocal Album for Dedicated To You: Kurt Elling Sings The Music Of Coltrane And Hartman.
   
• Elling has cited Tony Bennett and the Woody Herman Band as among his early music influences.
   
• He was among the performers at the inaugural GRAMMY Park in 2016, the first GRAMMY-branded, multiday live music experience held in New York.
   
• In 2003 Elling was elected as Vice Chair for The Recording Academy and went on to serve two terms.