The Marcus King Band released their first album “Soul Insight” in October of 2015. The lead singer of the band, Marcus King is a fourth generation musician and the second in his family to front a popular band. Recently, I had phone interview with Marcus, and I was curious about his musical beginnings, as well as future endeavors.

What made you want to become a musician?

My father and my grandfather both played. It was always a family affair. I always saw my father playing. I felt a connection to the idea of making music for people who wanted to hear it. Later on down the road, it turned into expressing my emotions.

I read The Marcus King Band was influenced by The Allman Brothers, Miles Davis, Soulive, Lettuce and many others. What was it about their music that appealed to you?

Well, everybody brings something to the table. Lettuce brings that unconcentrated funk, and The Allman Brothers kind of took jam fusion and made southern rock, which is along the lines of what we try to do. Bands like that you sit back and listen to and aspire to be. They influence you and inspire you.

Is there anyone you would like to work with in the future?

MK: Yeah, I’d really love to work with Eric Krasno. He had a big influence on me. We’ve been working with Warren Haynes. There’s a large list of people. Yeah, he’s (Haynes) producing our newest album we’re releasing in the summer.

What advice would you give to an up and coming musician?

Well, for me it was just, I feel its really important to familiarize yourself with the instrument, have it become the extension of my body. I spent all my time playing and literally, unbeknownst to myself, I was channeling any emotion I had through my instrument. It’s a beautiful thing. If you have something to release your frustration, you can’t repress them; you have to find something to release them and for me it’s always been music.

Are there any future projects in the works?

We’re in the middle of recording an album in Stamford. Warren Haynes is producing it. We have a lot of special guests on it. We’re really excited and it should be released in the late summer.

I read that music runs in your family. Your father leads the Marvin King Blues Revival; your grandfather played fiddle and guitar and your great-grandfather played fiddle. Were they your greatest musical influences?

I would, growing up everyone has their favorite superhero. For me, they were my grandfather and dad. My grandfather’s words resonate with me to this very day. They taught me to be humble and the way to do things in a manner that will take you along better, and how to be a good man. Everyone works on that everyday. My grandfather and my dad were my superheros for me and my dad is still my Mr. Miyagi and main guru.

Not only is Marcus talented, he is humble. I loved how he gave his family credit for his love of music and that he essentially followed in their footsteps. That he referred to his grandfather and father as his “superheroes” and his father as his “main guru” shows the regard he has for those who came before him and that is a trait to be admired. The musical examples that were set before him influenced his love of music and his desire to create music that his fans want to hear. Having listened to The Marcus King Band’s album “Soul Insight”, I’m excited to hear more of their work in the future.

About The Author

Lauren Beverly

Music Reviewer

I love to write and have been doing so since the age of eight. Fictional stories have always been a favorite of mine, because it gives me a chance to be creative and to express myself in a multitude of ways. On more than one occasion, a song proved to be the inspiration to several stories I have written. Believe it or not, some of those songs were on soundtracks! That’s mostly what I listen to, aside from hits from the 1950’s up to the 1980’s. I’ve learned that anything can be the inspiration to a story, even a poster from the 1990’s or a DVD cover.

I’ve lived in Upper Marlboro all of my life and spent much of my childhood watching cartoons of all kinds, and listening to my older sister’s cassette tapes. Growing up, I listened to everything Jackson related, Paula Abdul, Elton John, and even the controversial group Milli Vanilli. As a teenager, I continued to listen to old-school hits and that was pretty much all I liked, aside from listening to all of Michael Jackson’s music. To this day, I still love old-school hits. That hasn’t changed.

I own a variety of CDs from artists such as Styx, The BeeGees, Michael Jackson, Queen, The Yellow Submarine Soundtrack, and many others. When a soundtrack comes out, there will always be one specific song from that album that I’ll love. It never fails.

I’ve graduated from Bowie State University in December 2013 with a B.A. degree in English.

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