Wynton Marsalis is an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader. He was born on October 18, 1961, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Marsalis is the second of six sons born to Delores and Ellis Marsalis Jr., a renowned jazz pianist.
Marsalis began playing the trumpet at the age of six under the guidance of his father. He later attended the Juilliard School of Music in New York City, where he studied classical trumpet and jazz performance. In 1980, he joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, and two years later, he released his debut album as a bandleader, featuring his brother Branford Marsalis on saxophone.
Throughout his career, Marsalis has been a prolific recording artist, releasing over 70 albums as a leader or co-leader. He has won nine Grammy Awards for his recordings, including three for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance.
In addition to his work as a performer, Marsalis is also a respected educator and advocate for jazz music. In 1987, he co-founded the Jazz at Lincoln Center program, where he currently serves as Managing and Artistic Director. He has also written several books on jazz and hosted a weekly radio show, "Jazz at Lincoln Center Radio with Wynton Marsalis."
Marsalis has been a prominent figure in the jazz world for over three decades, and his contributions to the genre have earned him numerous accolades. He continues to tour and record extensively, and his performances are widely regarded as some of the best in modern jazz.