How a Toy Keyboard Led Matthew Whitaker to Music’s Biggest Night
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, the journey from playing “Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star” on a toy keyboard to walking the red carpet at the Grammy Awards is a rare one, but for 24-year-old Matthew Whitaker, it’s just the latest movement in a lifelong symphony.
This Sunday, the Hackensack native has the chance to bring a trophy back to North Jersey. Whitaker is nominated for his brilliant work on “Super Mario Praise Break”—a gospel-infused jazz reimagining of iconic video game themes performed with the 8-Bit Big Band.
The Making of a Prodigy: A Gift Beyond Sight
Blind since birth, Whitaker’s connection to music was immediate and profound. At just three years old, he didn’t just play the notes of nursery rhymes; he intuitively understood full chord progressions.
His resume reads like a “Best Of” list in music history:
-
A Historic Start: At age five, he became the youngest student ever at the Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School for the visually impaired.
-
Apollo Legend: By nine, he won the Apollo Theater’s “Child Stars of Tomorrow.” By ten, he was opening for Stevie Wonder—the very man he is most often compared to.
-
Global Performer: Today, he tours the world with his own band, has released four studio albums, and was the first artist-in-residence at Augustana University.
Leveling Up: The 8-Bit Big Band and “Super Mario”
A lifelong fan of video games, Whitaker has been a devotee of the 8-Bit Big Band—a jazz-pop orchestra that turns video game scores into big band masterpieces—since high school.
His dream came full circle when he co-arranged and played organ on “Super Mario Praise Break.” The track merges high-energy gospel with the nostalgia of Mario, earning a Grammy nod for its arrangement. The album it calls home is also up for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.
“I was shocked when I found out about the Grammy nomination… I love video games, and to hear these arrangements reimagined was absolutely incredible.” — Matthew Whitaker
Giving Back: Church, Choir, and Accessibility
Despite his international fame, Whitaker remains deeply rooted in his Hackensack community. When he isn’t on a world tour, you can find him:
-
Directing the Choir: He serves as the organist and choir director at New Hope Baptist Church.
-
Championing Accessibility: He works with gaming companies to help make video games more accessible to blind players, ensuring everyone can experience the “reimagined” worlds he loves.
Whether or not he takes home the Grammy this Sunday, Matthew Whitaker has already proven that vision isn’t about what you see—it’s about how you hear the world.
Tell your story #TheRidgewoodblog , #Indpendentnews, #information, #advertise, #guestpost, #affiliatemarketing,#NorthJersey, #NJ , #News, #localnews, #bergencounty, #sponsoredpost, #SponsoredContent, #contentplacement , #linkplacement, Email: [email protected]
