Wynton Marsalis

Wynton Marsalis (born October 18, 1961) is an American trumpeter and composer. He is among the most prominent jazz musicians of the modern era, and one of the best-known instrumentalists in classical music. As an African-American, Wynton Marsalis has been forthright in addressing matters of race.

Biography

Marsalis was born in New Orleans, the second of six sons of jazz pianist, composer and teacher Ellis Marsalis and his wife Dolores. His older brother is Branford Marsalis, who plays tenor and soprano saxophone. His brother Delfeayo plays trombone; and the youngest brother, Jason, plays drums.

Related Topics:
New Orleans - Pianist - Ellis Marsalis - Branford Marsalis - Saxophone - Trombone - Drum

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Marsalis picked up the trumpet at the age of six at the urging of his father. He began studying trumpet seriously at age 12. At 14, he performed Haydn's Trumpet Concerto with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra and at 18 moved to New York City to attend the Juilliard School of Music. He became a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in 1980, and toured with Herbie Hancock the following year.

Related Topics:
Haydn - New Orleans Symphony Orchestra - New York City - Juilliard School of Music - Art Blakey - 1980 - Herbie Hancock

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After signing a contract with Columbia Records, Marsalis released a self-titled debut album in 1982. In 1984, he won both jazz and classical Grammy awards, by which time he had become internationally known. (Southern 571)

Related Topics:
Columbia Records - 1982 - 1984

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In 1987, Marsalis helped found the Jazz at the Lincoln Center program, and is still its artistic director. The program began as a week-long classic jazz series and was fully established in 1991. The department became an independent organization — Jazz at Lincoln Center — July 1, 1996. It has developed its own board of directors, a repertory company, and a Classical Jazz Orchestra. Marsalis told the Amsterdam News:

Related Topics:
1987 - Lincoln Center - 1991 - July 1 - 1996

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"We are proud to take our place among the other outstanding organizations in the Lincoln Center family. The action places the uniquely American legacy of swing and blues as a history to be valued, an artistic achievement that is on par with the most magnificent works of Western classical music." (Southern 575)

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In 1997, Marsalis became the first jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize in music, for his jazz oratorio Blood on the Fields, which dealt with the subject of slavery. Marsalis also helped shape the 2000 television documentary Jazz by Ken Burns, contributing to its segments on pre-World War II acoustic jazz.

Related Topics:
1997 - Pulitzer Prize - Oratorio - Slavery - 2000 - Ken Burns - World War II

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