Marcus Baylor, a native of St. Louis, began playing the drums at two years old. Watching his cousin play every Sunday morning fascinated and inspired him to nurture his new found interest in drums. Not long after, it became evident that this was a gift from God and Marcus became the official drummer at his father's church. "Playing at church was the greatest start I could ever have because I constantly played and it served as a platform to develop a sound.†After being awarded a scholarship to attend the Mannes School of Music, NY, he began playing professionally with some of the top artists in jazz music. Baylor played with Cassandra Wilson and recorded on her album, “Travelin’ Miles.†Following Wilson, Marcus played with Kenny Garrett, recording on his album, “Happy People, and later toured with John Scofield, Christian McBride and Joshua Redman. As Marcus Baylor comes into his own, he has found himself in the chair of one of the longest running and most loved contemporary jazz groups. Marcus has been playing with the Yellowjackets since 2000. Since then, he has recorded "Mint Jam,†“Times Squared, ,†“Peace ‘Round: A Christmas Celebration,†and “Altered State.†Most recently, the Yellowjackets have recorded a live DVD commemorating their 25th year anniversary. Concerning his future, Marcus adds, "Music is a special gift from God. As it has blessed me, I pray that it will be used as a light to reach, touch and inspire lives all over the world.
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