- Marilyn Marshall (singer)
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Marilyn Marshall is an American singer of jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel music. She tours throughout the United States, Canada and the Bahamas. Marshall is a veteran of stage and television, and received “Entertainer of The Year” honors three years in a row in her home county of Burlington, New Jersey.
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Early years
Marshall began singing at the age of three years old. She began playing piano by ear, at the age of six, however, she took music lessons which according to her music instructor could not last too long because she was playing unusual chord changes better than the music teacher. Marshall liked to write poems and soon wrote lyrics to melodies she composed. She played both piano and organ.
In the fall of 1965, during an afternoon of rehearsal, a bandleader approached asked if she would be interested in joining his group as an organist and vocalist. The group was already contracted for engagements at the Officer’s Club at McGuire AFB as well as the Fort Dix Officer’s Club in New Jersey.
Marshall was the lead vocalist for a variety of acts including touring the Jersey shore circuit in the 1970s with the Jackie Vee Band. She was a featured vocalist for the Count Basie Orchestra. She worked at Club Harlem in Atlantic City opening for James Brown and Junior Walker and the All-Stars.
Her television appearances include being a regular entertainer on "Dialing For Dollars" with Larry Ferrari, and on Al Alberts Showcase airing on WPVI-TV 6 ABC in Philadelphia. She also made a guest appearance on Bill Cosby's "You Bet Your Life" television show. She has shared the stage and opened for The Intruders, Delfonics, G.C. Cameron, The Blue Notes’ Gil Saunders, Bunny Sigler, and Richard Street and Damon Harris.
Her debut album, Just Us Two, was released in 1996,[1] and the featured track "Give Me Back Romance" gained local airplay on WCBS FM, WDAS-FM, WBZC and WRDV FM in Philadelphia.[2]
Her philanthropic efforts include performances for a 2001 benefit for the national Damon Harris Cancer Foundation;[3] Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation, 2002; Bill Deal Cystic Fibrosis Fund, 2003; and donates a portion of the proceeds from her album "Hold On" and entertains at the annual fundraiser for Hold on to Education Foundation Inc.[4]
Career highlights
Marshall composed and produced her recent album, Hold On,. The CDs featured selection "Let's Stay Together" was originally released in 1998 as a 12 inch vinyl dance single. Her single and albums have been featured, reviewed and charted in the industry trade publications Billboard, Dance Music Authority, Blues and Soul Magazine and In The Basement Magazine.
Marshall has donated portions of the album’s proceeds to private rehabilitation facilities for substance abuse and those suffering from bipolar disorder as a result of chemical abuse.
Her 1990's appearances in included Prospectors Night Club in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, at Club Vegas opening For Jay Z in Philadelphia, and a summer tropical tour with performances for resident DJ Joey Jam's productions at Club Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Her music receives continued support from DJs at the annual DJ Times International Expo in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Awards and honors
In 2001 Marshall received commendations and praise from the Seventh New Jersey Legislative District through their elected official for 35 years of entertainment. She was also honored with a proclamation from the Mayor of her hometown of Willingboro.
The Delaware Valley Chapter of the NAACP awarded Marshall the 2003 Humanitarian Award for her philanthropic contributions to the community, and her innovative teaching strategies in the classroom.
In July 2010 Marshall was honored by Radio TV Personality Diane Brown at "A Tribute to Legends" held at the original American Bandstand studio at the Enterprise Center in Philadelphia.[5]
Presently Marshall is a retired educator, having taught Special Education and Fine Arts in Burlington, Atco and Willingboro, New Jersey. Marshall received her Doctorate in Education and has adopted the Hold on to Education Foundation as her non-profit charity. She is the choir director for her Church in South Jersey. She is currently in the recording studio completing an album under the direction of John Legend's horn arranger Stephen Tirpak. Her backing band is the Palmer Jenkins Ensemble. Her most recent appearances include the Willingboro Jazz Festival, with Spyro Gyra.[6][7] In 2011 Marilyn released her "Reflections" album which includes Club remixes of her single "Hold On."
References
External links
Categories:- Living people
- American soul singers
- American rhythm and blues singers
- Rhythm and blues pianists
- Soul-jazz organists
- American jazz organists
- American pop singers
- American gospel singers
- American rhythm and blues musicians
- African American female singer-songwriters
- American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters
- American dance musicians
- Women in jazz
- American soul musicians
- American singer-songwriters
- Songwriters from New Jersey
- American female singers
- Vocal jazz musicians
- American jazz singers
- People from Burlington County, New Jersey
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