Papa Grows Funk is a funk ban from New Orleans, Louisiana. The band was started by frontman John "Papa" Gros early 2000, developing from a series of Monday night jam sessions helmed by Gros at New Orleans’ Maple Leaf Bar. Gros would invite some friends down to play, and the impromptu jams became a common bond for a handful of musicians, including guitarist June Yamagishi, sax player Jason Mingledorf, bassist Marc Pero and drummer Jeffery “Jellybean” Alexander, who now make up Papa Grows Funk.