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| Wynton Marsalis Featured on the Cover of hr The man on the cover of hr: Magazine this month is not your typical celebrity. Wynton Marsalis is a jazz and classical musician, composer and educator who has not only been awarded nine GRAMMY Awards, but also has an impressive resume that reflects his dedication to education and community involvement. A student of The Juilliard School in New York City, and a native of the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans, Marsalis' rise to fame is of no surprise. Wynton began playing the trumpet at age six and naturally followed the musically-driven footsteps of his father, Ellis Marsalis, a talented music teacher and pianist. In 1978, when Wynton began studying at The Juilliard School, he quickly gained recognition for his incredible talent and drive. In 1980, when he was only 19, Wynton joined the Jazz Messengers and became protégé to legendary band leader Art Blakely. Eventually, Marsalis formed his own band, toured and made sweet music for over 25 years. Blue Note recording artist, Marsalis is at an incredible point in his life. With great success at such a tender age, it is amazing that Wynton continues to thrive and receive more and more praise and accolades through the years. A great accomplishment of Marsalis' is his Pulitzer Prize for Music, which was the first given to a jazz artist. Wynton's Pulitzer was specifically given to him for his work Blood on the Fields, an epic oratorio that focuses on the subject of slavery. Not many would accept an award of that magnitude with such humility. In addition to being one of the most prominent jazz musicians of the 20th century, Wynton also holds the title of Artistic Director of Jazz at the Lincoln Center in New York City. Jazz at Lincoln Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to jazz and is well known for its incredible musical influence. Marsalis has always been involved in educating our youth and feels strongly about passing on his great knowledge. hr: (pronounced by saying the letter names, "h" and "r") is a luxury lifestyle magazine published by hrGMT, Inc. and is distributed in the U.S. through Time Warner. It can be found in leading bookstores and newsstands such as Barnes & Noble, Borders and reaches about 350, 000 affluent readers 6 times a year. hr GMT, Inc. is a privately owned company established in 1998 in Florida's Tampa Bay area. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Jazz News :: home page |