Wynton Learson Marsalis was born on October 18th, 1961 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The middle of four children, Wynton was exposed to music very early on. His father, Ellis was a pianist. His brothers, also musical, played a variety of instruments including, saxophone, trombone and drums. Although it was his father that passed along his musical genes it was his mother who gave him the most inspiration, ‘‘She took us to music camps, taught us the importance of culture, gave us books to read. She had a powerful influence.’’ (Awmiller 8)

Marsalis became an accomplished trumpeteer at a young age. By the time he graduated highschool at 17 he had won several important local competitions. By his brother’s standards and many others he was considered to be, ‘‘The best trumpet player in the south.’’(Gourse 14) Marsalis had high hopes

In both 1983 and 1984 Marsalis and his band would go on to win two Grammy awards. Marsalis also claimed one in 1984 for his classical music. During his various acceptance speeches Wynton took every opportunity to denounce the jazz fusion movement. Marsalis made enemies with these comments because they often seemed to be directed towards Miles Davis.

As Wynton’s career horizons expanded so did his heart. He often spent his off time during tours visiting local schools practicing with and motivating various youngsters. Wyton thrived off of the energy the young kids put out and wanted to help them as much as he could. In 1987 there was a movement to bring Jazz to Lincoln Center. Marsalis quickly signed a two year contract that would draw him an enamouring salary of exactly nothing, monetarily ; but his acclamations would not go unnoticed and before the age of 30 he would be named the art director of the year round Jazz Program at Lincoln Center.

As Wynton struggled more and more with rock-jazz fusion he began to search out others who yearned to play the bebop and acoustic jazz of yesturyear that flowed eerilly both in tone and phrasing from his trumpet. Wynton found what he was looking for when he joined the Jazz Messengers, led by bebop drummer Art Blakeley. A fellow musician from the Messengers recalls Wynton’s engery when he first joined them, ‘‘He had a natural gift for gettting audience involved in his solos. . . He picked up the trumpet and played the hell out of it.’’ (Gourse 39)

After the departure of several key members of his band M

Some topics in this essay:
Orleans Louisiana, Columbia Records, Murray Horowtiz, Juliard Wynton, Clark Terry, York Times, Art Blakeley, Center Marsalis, Jazz Age’’, Times March, lincoln center, wynton marsalis, center marsalis, wynton’s career, wynton exposed, york times, marsalis music, peabody award, lincoln center marsalis, jazz fusion,