Branford Marsalis Biography

Quick Facts

NAME: Branford Marsalis
OCCUPATION: Saxophonist
BIRTH DATE: August 26, 1960 (Age: 52)
EDUCATION: Southern University, Berklee College of Music
PLACE OF BIRTH: Beaux Bridge, Louisiana
ZODIAC SIGN: Virgo

Best Known For

An innovative saxophonist, Branford Marsalis has been making jazz albums for over 30 years and was briefly the musical director on the Tonight Show.

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Branford Marsalis

APA Style

Branford Marsalis. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 06:52, Jun 18, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/branford-marsalis-16194687.

Harvard Style

Branford Marsalis. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/branford-marsalis-16194687 [Accessed 18 Jun 2013].

MLA Style

"Branford Marsalis." 2013. The Biography Channel website. Jun 18 2013, 06:52 http://www.biography.com/people/branford-marsalis-16194687.

MHRA Style

"Branford Marsalis," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/branford-marsalis-16194687 [accessed Jun 18, 2013].

Chicago Style

"Branford Marsalis," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/branford-marsalis-16194687 (accessed Jun 18, 2013).

CBE/CSE Style

Branford Marsalis [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 Jun 18] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/branford-marsalis-16194687.

Bluebook Style

Branford Marsalis, http://www.biography.com/people/branford-marsalis-16194687 (last visited Jun 18, 2013).

AMA Style

Branford Marsalis. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/branford-marsalis-16194687. Accessed Jun 18, 2013.

Synopsis

Branford Marsalis is the oldest of four brothers, all of whom are jazz musicians. A brilliantly innovative saxophonist, Marsalis released his first album, Scenes in the City, in 1984. In 1985 he played in Sting's backup band and toured with Miles Davis. In 1992, Marsalis signed on to be musical director for Jay Leno's Tonight Show, a job that lasted only until1995. He still records music today.

Profile

Musician. Born August 26, 1960, in Beaux Bridge, Louisiana. Branford is the oldest of four brothers, all of whom are jazz musicians along with their father, Ellis. A brilliantly innovative saxophonist, Marsalis studied at Southern University and Berklee before beginning his professional career with Art Blakey's big band in 1980. In 1984, he released his first album, Scenes In the City. He joined his brother Wynton's group a couple years later, but left in 1985 to play in Sting's backup band, as well as to tour with Miles Davis.

In 1986, Marsalis formed his own group with pianist Kenny Kirkland, bassist Bob Hurst, and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts. Marsalis became a national celebrity in 1992 when he signed on to be musical director for Jay Leno's Tonight Show, a job which lasted only until1995. With the intent of combining jazz and hip-hop, the musician formed the Buckshot LeFonque project shortly thereafter.

The Grammy Award-winning musician is also a music producer, writer and performer of of film scores, and a member of the music faculty at San Francisco State and Michigan State Universities. He has been recording steadily for Columbia since 1983.

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