VIDEO: Matthew Morrison Croons 'It Don't Mean a Thing' on 'Today'

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Emmy-, Golden Globe- and Tony-nominated actor Matthew Morrison is out with his second studio album, "Where It All Began." He stopped by NBC's 'Today' show this morning to perform one of the classic standards featured on the album, "It Don't Mean a Thing." Check out the appearance below!

The Emmy, Tony, and Golden Globe-nominated star may have come to national prominence through his role as the perpetually optimistic high school teacher Will Schuester on Fox TV's "Glee," but the Southern California native was turning heads years earlier on the Great White Way.

So it seems only appropriate that Morrison's new album, "Where It All Began," is a collection of standards, many first made famous in Broadway musicals.

After studying musical theater, vocal performance and dance at Tisch School of The Arts in New York, Morrison made his debut on Broadway in "Footloose," followed by "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." However, it was his role as Link Larkin in the original cast of the Broadway production of "Hairspray" that served as his breakthrough and led to Morrison being cast in the critically acclaimed "The Light In The Piazza." His portrayal of young lover Fabrizio Naccarelli garnered him a Tony nomination for best performance by a featured actor in a musical. He subsequently received a Drama Desk nomination for outstanding actor in the off-Broadway musical "10 Million Miles" and reprised the role of Lieutenant Cable in Lincoln Center's Tony-nominated production of "South Pacific."

Morrison is the first artist signed to 222 Records, the new label started by Adam Levine, the leader of multi-platinum group Maroon 5. Following a stint on Mercury Records, Morrison is happy to be part of a label that is run by a fellow artist. "Adam's been part of whole big label system and he knows completely what works and doesn't," Morrison says. "He wanted to make an artist-friendly label and he's completely backed my vision 100%. He trusts what we're doing."

Though Morrison enjoys making records, they are a means to an end. The stage is where Morrison comes alive. "Performing live, I can't even say it's in my heart or in my soul. It's so far down below that...It's almost a spiritual relationship you have with an audience and how you can get them invested. It's a beautiful partnership. It's my oxygen, my food. It's my water. I love it more than anything."

Morrison's new album of standards is a salute to the music that means the most to him. In 2011, Morrison released his first album, a pop collection of mainly originals featuring such guests as Elton John and Gwyneth Paltrow. He remains proud of that set, but admits part of the goal was to separate himself from his "Glee" character. "'Where It All Began' is the album I've always wanted to make," he says. "This is my love, the songs I grew up listening to. These songs are so timeless and it's something everyone can appreciate. I felt a responsibility to breathe new life into them."

It was also vitally important to Morrison to welcome fans beyond Broadway aficionados to the project. "I wanted to make this first and foremost for my Broadway audience because I feel like I've neglected them for the last few years. But I knew a lot of people would be listening to it besides them so I didn't want to make it so strict in that big Broadway voice. I wanted to make it more general."

Morrison turned to legendary producer Phil Ramone, along with Grammy Award-winning producer Gregg Field, to create the collection. For Morrison, it was paramount that he put his own stamp on the songs, either by coming up with new tempos and arrangements or by recreating the song in a way it had never been imagined before. For example, he even shifts his take on "South Pacific's" gorgeous "Younger Than Springtime" from how he performed it at Lincoln Center. "That one is very Broadway and very big. This one I wanted to bring is down and make it very quiet and intimate." His "West Side Story" medley pops with energy and poignancy.

"Phil has quite a nice shelf of Grammy Awards. There were only a few people I was thinking about working with. Phil was the dream one," Morrison says. "I didn't think it would ever happen. He was the first one I approached."

Together, they re-envisioned the standards, while still embracing what made the songs classic in the first place. Morrison even recorded "Guys And Dolls'" "Luck Be A Lady," first made famous by Frank Sinatra, at Capitol Studios, where old Blue Eyes recorded many of his songs. "I definitely felt his presence in the room," Morrison says. "Everyone knows that song. Gregg came up with the beat, he slowed it down and made it a little more funky. We do it as a duet with Adam Levine. It's almost us fighting over a lady."

Morrison's best moment in the studio, understandably, was when the legendary Smokey Robinson joined him to record a duet of "Ease on Down The Road" from "The Wiz." "That was quite an incredible day. He was and is Motown," Morrison enthuses. "I recorded what I had before and then he came in and we just worked together on figuring out the harmonies. I let him do whatever he does. I let him get his stuff out and then I went back in and re-recorded my part. I was so inspired."

Regardless of where his multi-dimensional professional life takes him, Morrison knows he will always return to his roots. He sees "Where It All Began" as a stepping stone that sets up whatever comes next. "This is the kind of thing I want to do for the rest of my life" he says. No matter where my career takes me, singing these songs is something I will always be able to do."

Test and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia?	Play the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
How well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends.	Can you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!