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Marcus Johnson Contemporary Jazz Artist http://www.threekeys.com   The son of a classical pianist, Marcus Johnson began playing the piano at the age of six. He later attended Howard University, the home of world renowned alumni from Richard Smallwood to Kenny Lattimore and Donny Hathaway. Johnson had big dreams of releasing his own debut contemporary jazz album, Lessons in Love, an enigmatic masterpiece showcasing Johnson’s flair for the piano. In 1995, armed with both the moral and financial support of his doting older sister, he was able to release Lessons in Love, launching his career as a contemporary jazz artist on the rise. Just one year after releasing Lessons in Love, the multi-talented pianist released his sophomore album, Inter Alia. In the Kemp Mill Music retail chain, this album outsold the Titanic soundtrack in the first two weeks after its release. This success and the attention that it brought led Johnson to sign a deal with N2K Encoded Music –Home of the online innovator: Music Boulevard which was the foundation for what is known today as Amazon.com. N2K renamed Inter Alia, calling it Chocolate City Groovin’. When N2K was sold, Johnson was able to reclaim his rights to his masters and again, started releasing CDs under the Marimelj Banner. Johnson has jettisoned his career as a fledgling music mogul and made a name for himself at the hottest jazz festivals and events including The Capitol Jazz Festival, Ghana Jazz Festival, Bahamas Jazz Festival, St. Lucia Jazz Festival, Bermuda Jazz Festival, Atlantic Artscape, Huntington Beach Jazz Festival, Silver Spring Jazz Festival, and the National Smooth Jazz Awards. Determined that success is his for the taking, Johnson has managed to emerge as a major contender in the jazz market by releasing 9 phenomenal albums.   Not only is he a man about talent and music, but he is a man about giving back. His newest release In Concert for A Cause, which was released this past summer, raises funds for the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington’s Building Bridges Campaign. The compilation album consists of live performances of different Marcus Johnson classics from different venues in the Washington,DC area.   Back in the studio recording his 10th album, Johnson is set to prove that he cannot be held by genre lines. He describes his music as “instrumental R&B with a DC bounce,” and maintains that the hallmark of his music is “the neck factor,” a term he coined to explain the involuntary neck movement that results from listening to his music. It is time for the new sound of this charismatic performer and his name is MARCUS JOHNSON.