Eric Wortham

Eric Wortham II is a Philadelphia-born pianist, keyboardist, composer, songwriter and producer whose work spans jazz, gospel, R&B, pop and classical music.

Raised in Philadelphia's Germantown and Mt. Airy area as the son of a bishop, Wortham developed his musical foundation in the church. He became fascinated with keyboards around age six after watching a church organist use music to shape the congregation's emotions. Wortham initially learned by ear, experimenting on his sisters' piano and the family keyboard. Because his family's piano was not always functional, he practiced at Cunningham Piano Company's former Germantown location.

He later attended the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA), where he studied classical music, jazz improvisation, choral music, Broadway and popular music. Pianist and educator Kevin Rodgers was among his most influential teachers.

Shortly after graduating from high school, Wortham served as musical director for Grammy Award-winning Philadelphia singer Jill Scott. He subsequently developed an international career performing and recording with artists including Adele, Jill Scott, Jazmine Sullivan, Seal, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Vivian Green, Aloe Blacc, Musiq Soulchild, Kindred the Family Soul, Jeff Bradshaw and Polish singer Natalia Przybysz.

Wortham has worked as Adele's pianist and accompanist since 2016, touring internationally andappearing with her on Adele at the BBC, Adele Live in New York City and the live Church Studios performance of “When We Were Young.” He performed more than 100 shows during Adele's three-year Las Vegas residency and participated in her special ten-show residency in Munich, Germany.

His television appearances include Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Ellen Show, Good Morning America, The View and Live! with Kelly and Michael. He has also appeared at the Grammy Awards, NAACP Image Awards and Marian Anderson Awards and completed a three-month “Jazz in Shanghai” residency at the House of Blues in Shanghai, China. As a songwriter, producer and recording musician, Wortham contributed to multiple selections from Jill Scott's albums The Original Jill Scott from the Vault, Vol. 1 and The Light of the Sun. His listed credits include “Le BOOM Vent Suite,” “Rolling Hills” and “When I Wake Up.”Wortham is a Yamaha-endorsed artist. He has also partnered with Pianote to create the instructional series R&B Piano for Beginners.