Marcus Johnson, nationally-known smooth jazz keyboardist, has personified the independent spirit. While working on his JD/MBA at Georgetown University, Marcus decided to independently produce and distribute a jazz album. The product of that decision, Lessons in Love, launched his career as both a jazz musician and CEO of Marimelj Entertainment Group, LLC (MEG). Almost a decade later, Marcus’ foresight is undeniable. Lessons in Love went on to sell 40,000 which is a phenomenal success for a debut album by a relatively unknown artist. Marcus has continued to solidify his success in the recording industry with 8 Billboard chart-topping jazz CDs and sits at the helm of a rapidly expanding independent record label.
Buoyed by the success of his debut album, Lessons in Love, Marcus released his sophomore effort, Inter Alia, to critical acclaim. This led to Marcus signing a record deal with N2K Encoded Music. N2K renamed the album Chocolate City Groovin' and re-released it under the N2K label. When N2K was sold, Marcus was able to reclaim the rights to his masters (another amazing feat) and, again, started releasing CDs under the Marimelj Banner. Since then, Marcus has released six more albums, including Just Doing What I Do, In Person: Live @ Blues Alley, Smooth Jazz Christmas and he will release The Phoenix in February of 2007. Marcus has also released a DVD, which features some of his fans’ favorite tunes and replicates the exhilarating vibe of his live performances.
For nearly one year, Marcus was the co-host of a morning show on Washington, DC’s Smooth Jazz 105.9FM (WJZW-FM). He also serves as the resident Entertainment Expert at Washington’s FOX5 (WTTG-TV) and appears weekly on the FOX5 Morning Show in a segment called “Idol Chatter”, where he provides a commentary on FOX’s American Idol series.
Noting Marcus’ determination to succeed, demonstrated business savvy, and potential to become one of the music industry’s premier jazz performers, BET founder Robert L. Johnson (no relation) invested in MEG, becoming Marcus’s business partner. Under Marcus’ direction, MEG includes not only Washington, DC-based Three Keys Music, but it is also home to a fully-functional recording studio, Studio 8121 East, and two music publishing companies, Marimelj Music Publishing and Three Keys Music Publishing. Since its inception, Three Keys has been home to Jarred (saxophonist), Michael Lington (saxophonist), Bobby Lyle (pianist), Nick Colionne (guitarist) Alyson Williams (vocalist) and YahZarah (vocalist) in addition to many other exceptional musicians.
In the last few years, Marcus has been honored with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, was named one of EBONY magazine’s Most Eligible Bachelors of 2004 and was one of five entrepreneurs worldwide to be nominated for Black Enterprise magazine’s 2005 Small Business Rising Star Award. Marcus has performed at numerous venues throughout the United States and has been a featured performer at a number of jazz festivals and events including, The Capital Jazz Fest, Ghana Jazz Fest, Bermuda Jazz Fest, Atlantic Artscape, Huntington Beach Jazz Fest, the National Smooth Jazz Awards and the Millennium Stage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Marcus credits entertainment industry moguls Robert L. Johnson, Quincy Jones and Clive Davis, as well as triple threat artists Earth, Wind and Fire, P. Diddy and Jay-Z, as inspiration for his achievements. He channels their entrepreneurial spirits, ensuring his own success and has sold more than 100,000 total albums. Marcus has established a reputation for creative genius and daring innovation in his productions, allowing him to capture both the mature smooth jazz fans as well as the younger urban-contemporary audience.
Could Johnson be the Berry Gordy of smooth jazz? After all, he is the founder of a recording industry powerhouse that grooms and develops raw talent and is consistently creating the new classics. Only time will tell. But, when asked to reflect on this comparison, Johnson humbly maintains, “I'm just doing what I do.”
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Marcus Johnson’s new album, The Phoenix, will be released in July17th of 2007. For more information of Marcus and his music, visit www.threekeys.com/mj or contact Three Keys Music at (301) 589-1800.
“In Concert for a Cause” is a compilation of Marcus Johnson’s live performances at local venues in DC,
Maryland and Virginia. Partial Proceeds from each CD sale go to the YMCA annual funding campaign, also know as "Building Bridges." These funds help families who might not ordinarily be able to afford Y programs to do so. It's what we do at Three Keys Music. It's a movement.
MyHotCommentsMarcus, Trials and Tribulations will either make us More Holy, or More Sinful depending [GREATLY] on our Relationship to God/with God, Amen? Because when testings come (and they WILL come "IF" you are Walking right), WE will either TRUST God's purposes and FIND Peace, OR "we" can Trust in our OWN plans, start walking in the "Vanity of our mind", thereby developing a NEGATIVE OUTLOOK or DISPOSITION and thus DEVELOPING A BITTER, and CYNICAL heart. We may NOT like our situation (and in MOST cases "we" WON'T), BUT, because WE "Are CHRISTIANS"; because we are a "Chosen Generation; because we are a Royal Priesthood; because we are a Holy Nation and a Peculiar People"...WE... "SHOULD"... LOVE...GOD and WE...MUST...TRUST..."HIS"...WILL FOR OUR LIVES!
The Bible says "And going a little further, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me, nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire" (Matt.26:39 AMP).
The Bible also says "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome" (Jer.29:11 AMP). Is that where the phrase "Trusting God's Purposes" came from......Hmmm?!!?
Not a Sermon, Just a recent Revelation. YBIC, Richard -aka- MEGA VOICES GOLD!
*A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Real Hope Learning Initiative’s Youth Club After School program. A non-profit organization who has since 2002 provided after school programs for youth (Kindergarten-High School) to learn & help develop the skills needed to become future entrepreneurs. “THE CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE”
Tobias Celebrity Music Events is hosting a New Year’s Eve Party (21 & Older) at The Clarion Hotel Ballroom (Near the National Harbor) on Thursday, December 31, 2009 from 8:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. “Down Home” Dinner Buffet (w/Blackeyed Peas); Live Entertainment, Dancing and much more! FEATURING THE SOULFUL SOUNDS OF IMMORTAL SOUL, THE SULTRY JAZZ VOCALS OF ANGELI http://myspace.com/immortalsoul4
TOBIAS CELEBRITY MUSIC EVENTS, LLC will be hosting a New Year's Eve Extravaganza on December 31, 2009 at The Clarion Hotel Ballroom (Near the National Harbor).
Tobias Celebrity Music Events is hosting a New Year’s Eve Party (21 & Older) at The Clarion Hotel Ballroom (Near the Harbor) on Thursday, December 31, 2009 from 8:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m. Dinner Buffet; Live Entertainment, Dancing and much more! FEATURING THE SOULFUL SOUNDS OF IMMORTAL SOUL AND THE SULTRY VOCALS OF ANGELI (Jazz Singer). http://myspace.com/immortalsoul4
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