Episode #95: Marcus Click

As a native of Louisville, Kentucky, Marcus grew up with aspirations of becoming a pro football player, but his goals changed after having committed over 13 years of his young life to the U.S. Navy honorably. During this time, his love for jazz grew by listening and learning from the late Grover Washington, Jr., David Sanborn, Kirk Whalum, Najee, Dave Koz, the late saxophonists, Art Porter and George Howard. Marcus says on one account,” I became truly inspired by a phone call from the late George Howard, a conversation and experience I’ll never forget.” Marcus would find his way before Rebbie Jackson (a Sister of Jackson 5 & Janet Jackson) and her family during a weekend show in Las Vegas. He knew his life was being routed towards a musical journey. Since then, Marcus has performed locally in Jacksonville, Florida and continued to travel abroad. To name a few notable events, Marcus performed for the Convoy of Hope (Super Bowl XXXIX) NFL Sponsored Event. Marcus won the Artist Music Guild’s (AMG) 2019 Instrumentalist of the Year Award. He was the headliner for the 2020 Orange County Mayor’s Jazz in the Park (Orlando FL). Other recent notable performances consisted of kicking off the 2019 Summer Jazz Series on Jacksonville Beach, FL before Jessy J. (saxophonist) and Canadian Jazz Band, Four80East. Most recently, Marcus set the tone by opening up the Main Stage at the 2021 Jacksonville Jazz Festival before the Legendary R&B Singer, Jeffrey Osborne and Legendary, Chart-topping & Famed Jazz Saxophonist, NAJEE.

During Marcus’s musical journey, he also received encouragement from famed percussionist, Sheila E., and saxophonists, Nelson Rangell, Najee, Mike Phillips, his sax mentors: Joe Yorio (Toured with Peabo Bryson) & Mel Holder (Billboard Saxophonist & Stellar Award Finalist), and the late great saxman, George Howard.Not too far in the recent past, Marcus released the single “Brand New Day” (2018), globally and to 200+ radio stations globally. The song was composed/produced by jazz sensation, International Recording Artist/keyboardist, Jonathan Fritzen, whom also performs on the single. It debuted at #1 song, with the most spins during its 1st week in rotation on Billboard Smooth Jazz radio stations across the US. It even received airplay in the UK and charted 7 consecutive weeks on The Smooth Jazz Network Top 100, along with peaking at #1, #5, #30 on other jazz charts. Marcus shares his background, education, and musical journey in this episode of Improv Exchange.

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