Branford Marsalis was born on 26 August 1960, in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, USA. He is a bandleader, composer, and saxophonist, best known for being called “the most respected living US jazz instrumentalist”. He’s played jazz mainly as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet. All of his efforts have helped put his net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Branford Marsalis? As of mid-2017, sources inform us of a net worth that is at $5 million, mostly earned through a successful career in the music industry. He also performs as a soloist and with classic ensembles. He’s also the leader of the group Buckshot LeFonque and as he continues his career, it is expected that his wealth will also continue to increase.
Branford Marsalis Net Worth $5 million
Branford grew up in a musical family, the son of pianist Ellis Louis Marsalis, Jr and his brothers Jason, Wynton, and Delfeayo are also jazz musicians. He attended the Berklee College of Music in the mid-1980s, during which time he toured Europe with a large ensemble as well as other big bands. He played on alto and baritone saxophones, then going on a tour in Japan. He worked with his brother Wynton until 1985 which led to his own recording entitled “Scenes in the City”. Afterwards, he joined Sting on a solo project entitled “The Dream of the Blue Turtles”, becoming `a regular of Sting’s line-up until the late-90s. His net worth started to increase, as he also appeared in the compilation CD, “Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool” which was named as Time’s Album of the Year. He also co-starred in the film “School Daze” before becoming the leader of the Tonight Show Band on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”.
Branford released a Buckshot LeFonque recording in 1997, and would then focus on The Branford Marsalis Quartet. They toured and recorded extensively, eventually winning a Grammy for their album “Contemporary Jazz” which was released in 2001. His net worth increased further, and he then explored classical music in the album “Creation”. In 2002, he founded his own label entitled Marsalis Music and during the early 2000s, he started teaching in various college, including San Francisco State and North Carolina Central University. In 2006, he was rewarded with an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the Berklee College of Music. Marsalis then toured with the Philharmonia Brasileira in the United States. Subsequently his quartet joined the North Carolina Symphony in 2009, and the following year he won a Drama Desk Award and got a Tony Award nomination for his contributions to the Broadway revival of “Fences”. He made his debut with the New York Philharmonic in the same year, his net worth constantly rising.
Marsalis along with some of his family members received a 2011 NEA Jazz Masters Award. Afterwards, he released a duo album with Joey Calderazzo entitled “Songs of Mirth and Melancholy”. He followed this up with another release the following year entitled “Four MFs Playin’ Tunes”. In 2012, he was given an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. One of his latest performances was at the Democratic National Convention which he performed “The Star-Spangled Banner”.
For his personal life, it is known that Branford was married to Teresa Reese from 1985-94, and is now married to Nicole.
Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music in a Play, No Backstage Pass, Jazz Thing, Itche Koutche, Oakland, CA, United States, San Diego, CA, United States
Music Groups
Branford Marsalis Quartet, Buckshot LeFonque, The Jazz Messengers, No Backstage Pass, Jazz Thing, Itche Koutche, Oakland, CA, United States, San Diego, CA, United States
Nominations
Tony Award for Best Original Score, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist, No Backstage Pass, Jazz Thing, Itche Koutche, Oakland, CA, United States, San Diego, CA, United States
Movies
No Backstage Pass, Jazz Thing, Itche Koutche, Oakland, CA, United States, San Diego, CA, United States, Mo' Better Blues, Throw Momma from the Train, Eve's Bayou, Bring on the Night, School Daze, Branford Marsalis: A Love Supreme Live, A Duo Occasion, Apollo at 70: A Hot Night in Harlem, Warren Hayn...
TV Shows
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Friday Night Videos, No Backstage Pass, Jazz Thing, Itche Koutche, Oakland, CA, United States, San Diego, CA, United States
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Fact
1
Heads the Jazz/Hip-Hop band "Buckshot Le Fonque" [1997]
Marsalis is an accomplishment saxaphonist, and has released several jazz albums
5
Attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Harry & Branford: A Duo Occasion
2005
Video documentary music mixer / music performer
She Hate Me
2004
musician: score
Osuofia in London
2003
Video composer: stock music - uncredited
A Huey P. Newton Story
2001
TV Movie documentary musician: soprano saxophone and tenor saxophone
Once in the Life
2000
conductor / music programmer / musician: soprano saxophone / orchestrator
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992-1995
TV Series musical director - 291 episodes
Malcolm X
1992
musician
Sneakers
1992
musician
The Russia House
1990
featured musician: saxophone solo
Do the Right Thing
1989
musician: tenor and soprano saxophone, The Natural Spiritual Orchestra
School Daze
1988
musician
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bi no tsubo
TV Series 1 episode, 2013 writer - 1 episode, 2013
The Great Buck Howard
2008
performer: "Tonite Show with Jay Leno" / writer: "Tonite Show with Jay Leno"
Idool 2007
2007
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Idols!
2005
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Bewitched
2005
writer: "Tonite Tonight Show Theme" - uncredited
Independent Lens
2005
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Harry & Branford: A Duo Occasion
2005
Video documentary performer: "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "Brown Worlds", "Occasion", "Valentine's Day", "Good to be Home", "Virgoid", "I LIke Love More", "Spot", "Steve Lacy", "Light the Way", "Chanson du Vieux Carre" / writer: "Occasion", "Steve Lacy"