Branford Marsalis

• Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana
• Birthday: August 26, 1960

Charismatic, handsome, leading young jazz musician of the 1980s and 90s. Marsalis grew up a member of the "Royal Family" of jazz in New Orleans. His father, Ellis, was one of America's leading piano instructors (among his students was jazz/pop wunderkind Harry Connick, Jr.). Marsalis' brothers have also been influential in the jazz world. Wynton is the artistic director of "The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra" as well as one of the world's leading jazz trumpeters while Delfayo is a well-known trombonist. Marsalis garnered mass attention as one of…more