Branford Marsalis Biography
Branford Marsalis is a three-time Grammy Award winner, an American saxophonist, composer, instrumentalist, and bandleader. He was born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, and raised in New Orleans. Apart from being known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.
He is the head of Marsalis Music, the label he founded in 2002 that has allowed him to produce both his own projects and those of the jazz world’s most promising new and established artists.
10 Quick Facts About Branford Marsalis
Here is a list of 10 facts
Branford Marsalis Age
Branford Marsalis is 63 years as of 2023. He was born on August 26, 1960, in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA. Marsalis celebrates his birthday on August 26th every year. His birth sign is Virgo.
Branford Marsalis Height
Branford Marsalis is a man of average height. His height is not available at the moment. We shall update this post as soon as we get it from a credible source.
Branford Marsalis Weight
Branford is a man of moderate weight. His actual weight including other body measurements is not available at the moment. We shall keep you posted as soon as we get the information.
Branford Marsalis Education and Early Life
Branford Marsalis was born on August 26, 1960, in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, and raised in New Orleans. Marsalis is the eldest son of Dolores (née Ferdinand), a jazz singer and substitute teacher, and Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr., a pianist and music professor. His brothers Jason, Wynton, Delfeayo, and Mboya are also jazz musicians.
He started out playing soprano, alto, and tenor saxophone and studied under his father at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. He continued his studies at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he studied under renowned jazz clarinetist Alvin Batiste. At the encouragement of Batiste, Marsalis later transferred to Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Branford Marsalis Family, Parents, and Siblings
Branford is the son of Dolores, a jazz singer who doubled up as a substitute teacher, and Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr., a pianist and music professor. Branford has three other siblings. His brothers Jason Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, and Delfeayo Marsalis are also jazz musicians.
Branford Marsalis Wife
Branford Marsalis has been married twice. His first wife was Teresa Reese, an actress, whom he married in 1985 and divorced in 1994. They had a son named Reese Ellis. His second wife is Nicole Marsalis, whom he married in 2006. They have been blessed with a daughter named Camille.
Branford Marsalis Children
Marsalis is a proud father of two children namely Reese Ellis and Camille Marsalis.
Branford Marsalis Net Worth
Branford Marsalis’s net worth is $5 million as of 2023. This includes his assets, money, and income. His primary source of income is his career as a saxophonist, composer, instrumentalist, and bandleader. Through his various sources of income, he has been able to accumulate good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Branford Marsalis Measurements and Facts
Here are some interesting facts and body measurements you should know about Marsalis
Branford Marsalis Wiki
- Full Name: Branford Marsalis
- Popular As: Branford
- Gender: Male
- Occupation / Profession: Musician
- Nationality: American
- Race / Ethnicity: African-American
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
Branford Marsalis Birthday
- Age / How Old?: 63 years
- Zodiac Sign: Virgo
- Date of Birth: August 26, 1960
- Place of Birth: Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA
- Birthday: August 26th
Branford Marsalis Body Measurements
- Body Measurements: Not known
- Height / How Tall?: Not known
- Weight: Not known
- Eye Color: Dark brown
- Hair Color: Black
- Shoe Size: To be updated
Branford Marsalis Family and Relationship
- Father (Dad): Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr.,
- Mother: Dolores Marsalis
- Siblings (Sisters)(Brothers): Four
- Marital Status: Married
- Spouse/Wife: Nicole Marsalis
- Children: Two
Branford Marsalis Networth and Salary
- Net Worth: $ 5 million dollars
- Salary: Not known
- Source of Income: His career
Branford Marsalis House and Cars
- Place of living: To be updated
- Cars: Car Brand to be updated
Branford Marsalis Early Career
Marsalis toured Europe playing alto and baritone saxophone in a large ensemble led by drummer Art Blakey while still a Berklee College of Music student in the Mid-1980s. In 1981 Marsalis, on alto saxophone, joined his brother Wynton in Blakey’s Jazz Messengers.
Other performances with his brother, including a 1981 Japanese tour with Herbie Hancock, led to the formation of his brother Wynton’s first quintet, where Marsalis shifted his emphasis to soprano and tenor saxophones. He continued to work with his brother until 1985 when he released his own first recording titled ‘Scenes in the City’.
Branford Marsalis And Sting
In 1985, Branford joined Sting, the singer and bassist of the rock band the Police, on his first solo project, ‘The Dream of the Blue Turtles’, alongside jazz and session musicians Omar Hakim on drums, Darryl Jones on the bass and Kenny Kirkland on keyboards. Branford made his mark and became a regular in Sting’s line-up both in the studio and live up until the release of Brand New Day in 1999.
Branford Marsalis AIDS Awareness
In 1994, Marsalis appeared on the Red Hot Organization’s compilation CD, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. The album, meant to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic in African American society, was named Album of the Year by Time.
Branford Marsalis & Spike Lee
In 1988, Marsalis co-starred in the Spike Lee film School Daze, also rendering several horn-blowing interludes for the music in the film. His witty comments have pegged him to many memorable one-liners in the film.
Branford Marsalis Tonight Show
Jay Leno, the show’s host, chose Mr. Marsalis as his band leader after succeeding Johnny Carson in 1992. From 1992 to 1995, Branford was the leader of the Tonight Show Band on ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’.
Initially, he turned down the offer but later reconsidered and accepted the position. He was succeeded as bandleader by guitarist Kevin Eubanks. Hayley Sumner, a spokeswoman for Mr. Leno, said that Mr. Marsalis had decided to “take a hiatus.”
Branford Marsalis Grateful Dead
Between 1990 and 1994, Branford played with the Grateful Dead several times which was termed as one of the most memorable and successful collaborations that the Grateful Dead facilitated during their storied career.
Branford made his debut with the Dead at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York on March 29, 1990. Holding the second show of a three-night stand at the arena, Marsalis emerged for the penultimate song of the first set, doing a rendition of “Bird Song.”
He then returned to sit-in for the entire second set, including the exquisite opening “Eyes Of The World” which was later issued on the 1990 live LP Without A Net, and an exploratory performance of “Dark Star.” The entire performance was recently officially released by Rhino Records as ‘Wake Up to Find Out’.
Branford Marsalis Quartet
The Branford Marsalis Quartet, first formed in 1986, remains Branford’s primary means of expression. In its virtually uninterrupted three-plus decades of existence, the Quartet has established a rare breadth of stylistic range and a continuity of personnel.
The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul, recorded in Melbourne, Australia in the midst of an international tour in the Spring of 2018, contains a mix of challenging original and classic compositions, and a range of moods from the tender to the explosive, that has defined the group.
With its focus on melodic strength and extrasensory interaction, the album confirms that the Branford Marsalis Quartet remains a paragon of uncompromising jazz excellence.
Branford Marsalis Berta Berta
Berta is a woman’s name. The song is basically an inmate in a prison work farm telling his sweetheart Berta not to wait for him, but when she remarries to marry a man of means so she can live at ease.
Branford Marsalis Tour
Click Here to view Branford’s upcoming tour dates and musical concerts
Branford Marsalis Discography
- 1984 Scenes in the City
- 1986 Romances for Saxophone – some little pieces of classical evergreens
- 1986 Royal Garden Blues
- 1987 Renaissance – on “The Peacocks”: Herbie Hancock – Piano, Buster Williams – Bass
- 1988 Random Abstract
- 1989 Trio Jeepy – an album of standards featuring Milt Hinton (bass) and Jeff Watts (drums)
- 1989 Do the Right Thing – music composed and conducted by Bill Lee
- 1990 Crazy People Music
- 1990 Mo’ Better Blues – the soundtrack to the movie
- 1990 The Russia House – the soundtrack to the movie
- 1991 The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born – with guests Wynton Marsalis (trumpet) and Courtney Pine (tenor saxophone)
Branford Marsalis Awards
Throughout his career, Marsalis has won multiple awards for his musical achievements. Some of them are:
- The Branford Marsalis Quartet received a Grammy Award in 2001 for their album Contemporary Jazz.
- He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Berklee College of Music in 2006.
- He was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award in 2010 for his music in the Broadway show August Wilson’s Fences.
- He received the NEA Jazz Master award in 2011, along with his father and brothers.
- He received the ECHO Klassik award in 2012 for his album Songs of Mirth and Melancholy, with pianist Joey Calderazzo.
Branford Marsalis Hobbies and Personal Interests
- Hobbies: Reading
- Passions: Music, Jazz
- Personal Beliefs: Articulate, and determined.
- Interests: Playing various instruments
- Books: Interesting books
- Favorite Movies: Comedy
- Sports Team: Basketball
Branford Marsalis Social Impact: Philanthropic, Charitable and Community Involvement
Marsalis has been involved in various philanthropic, charitable, and community activities. We have highlighted some of them below:
- He is a board member of the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, a nonprofit organization that provides music education and resources to underserved children and young musicians in New Orleans.
- He is a co-founder of the Marsalis Music label, which supports both established and emerging jazz artists. He also mentors young musicians through his workshops and master classes.
- He has performed in several benefit concerts for various causes, such as Hurricane Katrina relief, AIDS awareness, racial justice, and COVID-19 relief.
- He has donated his musical instruments and memorabilia to various institutions, such as the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
Branford Marsalis Quotes
“Humans are imperfect. That’s one of the reasons that classical and jazz are in trouble. We’re on the quest for the perfect performance and every note has to be right. Man, every note is not right in life.”
“The whole point is, give me a break with the standards. You go to the average jazz label and suggest a record and they want to know which standards you’re going to play. I’m saying let’s break the formula.”
“Everybody talks about finding your voice. Do your homework and your voice will find you.”
“What is jazz? It, It’s almost like asking, What is French? Jazz is a musical language. It’s a musical dialect that actually embodies the spirit of America.”
Frequently Asked Questions About Branford Marsalis
Who is Branford Marsalis?Branford Marsalis is a three-time Grammy Award winner, an American saxophonist, composer, instrumentalist, and bandleader. He was born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, and raised in New Orleans. Apart from being known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque.
How old is Branford Marsalis?Branford Marsalis is 63 years as of 2023. He was born on August 26, 1960, in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA.
How tall is Branford Marsalis?Branford Marsalis is a man of average height. His height is not available at the moment. We shall update this post as soon as we get it from a credible source.
Is Branford Marsalis married?Branford’s wife is Nicole Marsalis, whom he married in 2006. They have been blessed with a daughter named Camille.
How much does Branford Marsalis make?At the moment, we do not have an actual salary for Marsalis. We shall keep you posted as soon as we get any information about her salary.
How much is Branford Marsalis worth?Brandford’s net worth is $5 million as of 2023. This includes his assets, money, and income. His primary source of income is his career as a musician.
Where does Marsalis live?Because of security reasons, Branford has not revealed the precise location of his residence. We shall upload the image and address of his house as soon as we get them.
Is Marsalis dead alive?Marsalis is alive and in good health. There have been no reports of him being sick or having any health issues.
Where is Marsalis Now?Branford is still pursuing his career as a musician.
Branford Marsalis Social Media Contacts
Marsalis is highly active on social media, maintaining a strong presence across various platforms like Instagram, Twitter Facebook, Youtube, and Tik Tok. Through these channels, he connects with his fans, shares new content, and updates and cultivates a loyal community around his work. Stay Connected by following his official accounts below:
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