Branford Marsalis Biography

Branford Marsalis was born in 1960 in Louisiana into a musically talented family; his father was a professor of music and a pianist, and he and his brothers were highly influenced by his love of music as children. Marsalis chose to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music in the 1980’s, and while there he began performing as a sax player in a big band ensemble. From there, Branford continued to perform in a number of different groups, including one with his brother, as other opportunities for collaborative endeavors continued to grow.

In the mid-1980’s, Branford Marsalis contributed to Sting’s album The Dream of the Blue Turtles, and became a regular studio and live musician for the artist for the next two decades.  He also appeared in the film School Daze, and then in the early 1990’s, Marsalis joined the Tonight Show Band. Branford’s talent as a sax player became firmly entrenched in the American jazz scene, and by the mid 1990’s, he was one of the most sought-after performers for a number of notable musicians, including Tina Turner; Harry Connick, Jr.; Crosby, Stills, & Nash; Bela Fleck and the Flecktones; Bruce Hornsby; and even the Grateful Dead.

In the late 1990’s, Marsalis’s focus shifted to the classical, performing in his own Branford Marsalis Quartet and touring extensively.  The Quartet earned a Grammy for Best Contemporary Jazz Album in 2001, and in the year following, Branford established his own music label to further promote the genre of classical jazz, representing such notable artists as Michael Carvin, Miguel Zenon, Doug Wamble, and Alvin Batiste. He also began composing for Broadway, earning a Drama Desk Award for his work in the theater production of Fences.

Most recently, Branford Marsalis released the album Songs of Mirth and Melancholy, in collaboration with Joey Calderazzo, and the duo performed together at the Toronto Jazz Festival. He also released Four MFs Playin’ Tunes in 2012, and performed the Star Spangled Banner for the Democratic National Convention in 2012.