R&B star and North Philly native Guordan Banks to play Johnny Brenda’s

Guordan Banks struggled with a stutter as a boy. But his grandmother noticed the problem went away when he belted out hymns at his family’s church in his native North Philadelphia.

The independent artist and Grammy winner, who had a No. 1 hit on Billboard’s rhythm and blues chart, is returning to his hometown for a concert at Johnny Brenda’s on Saturday at 8 p.m.

At the show, Banks will sing his latest original single, “Tears Never Cried,” from his upcoming self-titled studio album, which he plans to release in May.

These days Banks splits his time between Tampa, Fla., and Los Angeles, but he said the adversities he overcame in North Philly continue to inform his soulful voice.

“You have to see some things to be from a place like this,” Banks said.

Growing up on Erie Avenue, Banks was one of eight siblings born into a family with lots of musical talent. His grandfather was a jazz organist and his grandmother and father were both accomplished singers.

When he was 2, Banks’ grandmother started bringing him to the Bible Believing Baptist Church on North 10th Street so he could sing in the choir. The church no longer exists.

When Banks had trouble getting his words out, his mother would tell him to sing them instead.

“Now people even pay me to speak, which is kind of wild,” he said.

By the time Banks was 22, he had enough self-confidence to begin his music career.

He would spend hours at a home studio in the basement of a Southwest Philadelphia apartment building where he wrote and recorded more than 200 songs.

It was around this time that Banks met Mars Parker, another Philly R&B artist who sometimes goes by Neowolf. He’s a concert promoter who helped organize Saturday’s show, where artists ESQ and Cashmarie will also perform.

Parker said Banks was a staple in the Philly music scene back in the day and that the singer hasn’t forgotten his roots.

“He’s the first mainstream artist that’s stayed in communication with me,” Parker said. “He’s always been humble.”

Banks got one of his first big breaks in 2013 when he was featured on Meek Mill’s track “Heaven or Hell.” He moved to Los Angeles in 2015 to further his career.

The singer released “Keep You in Mind,” his biggest hit to date, in 2016. It spent three weeks at the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s R&B chart.

That same year, he won a songwriting Grammy for his work on R&B singer Lalah Hathaway’s track “Mirror.”

As a behind-the-scenes songwriter, he has helped craft tunes for artists like John Legend, Keyshia Cole, and 50 Cent.

Banks accomplished all of this without signing to a major label, releasing much of his catalog through Bank On It Records, a company he started in 2013. In many situations, independent artists don’t carry the same prestige in the industry as comparable major label acts.

Naturally enough, Banks’ dedication to independent music has required sacrifices; despite having a No. 1 hit in 2016, he wasn’t invited to the BET Awards.

While he believes he would be bigger if he were with a major label, he is working to support a new generation of independent artists through Bank On It Distro, a company he created to provide services like marketing and digital distribution to up-and-coming musicians.

The company is involved with several Philadelphia artists including rappers Meer Colon and A-Game.

Banks has also founded an organization called Stand In Stand Out, which educates middle schoolers about the industry through a multiday program. He tested the organizations’s pilot program at the F. Amedee Bregy School in South Philly, which his nephew attends.

“Tears Never Cried” will probably not be Banks’ final release, as he said he has more than 300 unreleased songs.

Tickets are $17. The event is open to people 21 and older. More information at http://bit.ly/3WyYPbe.