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Wynton Marsalis

American jazz musician and educator · United States · On the map · Musicians · Born 1961 · age 65

Wynton Learson Marsalis is an American trumpeter, composer, and music instructor, who is currently the artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has been active in promoting classical and jazz music, often to young audiences.

Wynton Marsalis is read about 736 times a day, in 42 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 10 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 115 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2026“That's democratic leadership. It's like a flock of geese. They make the calls from the back. ...If you really are leading, everybody is leading.”In their words23 February 2026| . Youtube video source. PBS video source.

“The level of corruption we're seeing now... I'm a nonpartisan attacker of the corruption I see.”In their words23 February 2026| . Youtube video source. PBS video source.

“That's what I have to say as a band leader. I can't say, "Well, I'm going to solo on every tune. Every time somebody plays it's me." That's not the solution.”In their words23 February 2026| . Youtube video source. PBS video source.

“I'm writing my 5th . It's called the Liberty Symphony.”In their words23 February 2026| . Youtube video source. PBS video source.

2020Ken Burns American Heritage PrizeAward2017Order of FriendshipAward2016Global Citizen AwardsAwardHonorary Doctor of University of Lyon-IIIAward2015“I always believed in working hard. ...That’s something that my father and my great-uncle would always tell me.”In their words18 October 2015", an Essay-Interview Written on the Occasion of the Premiere of Blood on the Fields" As quoted in Ted Panken interview @.

National Humanities MedalAward2009Honorary Doctor of Harvard UniversityAward2002“Some stances are just conducive to swinging. If I stand up straight for too long it's harder to swing. Plus my feet hurt.”In their wordsQuotable Jazz (2002) compiled & edited by Marshall Bowden, p. 49. Also see Wynton on cornet @TrumpetHerald.com.

1997Pulitzer Prize for MusicAward1994Honorary Doctor of the University of MiamiAward1961Born18 October 1961

People around Wynton

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Media & music

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In their own words 4

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Wynton Marsalis
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4 statements, newest first

  1. In jazz you can plug the base amp in, the drummer can play loud, one soloist can play 400 choruses, and the next one can fight by playing 430. The music breaks down.

    23 February 2026 · | . Youtube video source. PBS video source., Own words

  2. We're in trouble right now, but... a doctor doesn't go into a place where a lot of people are sick and say, "Man, a lot of people are sick here." You're the doctor, man!

    23 February 2026 · | . Youtube video source. PBS video source., Own words

  3. I had a trumpet, but I didn't want to be a trumpet player.

    18 October 2015 · ", an Essay-Interview Written on the Occasion of the Premiere of Blood on the Fields" As quoted in Ted Panken interview @., Own words

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Awards

Ken Burns American Heritage Prize2020
Order of Friendship2017
Global Citizen Awards2016
Honorary Doctor of University of Lyon-III2016
National Humanities Medal2015
Honorary Doctor of Harvard University2009
Pulitzer Prize for Music1997
Honorary Doctor of the University of Miami1994
James Parks Morton Interfaith Award
Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
NEA Jazz Masters
BBC Jazz Awards

About this person

Marsalis has won nine Grammy Awards, and his 1997 oratorio Blood on the Fields was the first jazz composition to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Marsalis is the only musician to have won a Grammy Award in both jazz and classical categories in the same year.

Country
United States
Category
Musicians
Type
Singer / Musician
Status
Living
Dates
Born 1961 · age 65

Where to find them

XwyntonmarsalisInstagramwyntonmarsalisTikTokwyntonmarsalischatFacebookwyntonmarsalisIMDbSpotifyWebsitewyntonmarsalis.org

In the same film or series as Wynton

Gary CarrAlso in Bolden (2019)Joseph BarberaAlso in Scooby-Doo! in Where's My Mummy? (2005)Kelvin Harrison Jr.Also in Bolden (2019)Mindy CohnAlso in Scooby-Doo! in Where's My Mummy? (2005)Mickey RaphaelAlso in Willie Nelson / Wynton Marsalis - Live from Jazz at Lincoln Center, NYC (2008)Yaya DaCostaAlso in Bolden (2019)