Johnson’s unique ability to seamlessly blend varying musical styles should not come as a surprise. It’s a philosophy he lives by. A self-tought keyboardist who draws inspiration from Quincy Jones, George Duke, Gerald Albright and other “musical entrepreneurs,” Johnson, in 1997, graduated from Georgetown University with a Law Degree and a Masters in Business Administration. “Don’t ask me how I did it,” he says, laughing at the memory of grueling all night study sessions. “The will, desire and determination to succeed is a gift from God through my parents.”

The fact that Marcus Johnson could fit so comfortably in both worlds makes all the sense in the world given his background. His age makes him a true product of hip-hop culture who, like his peers was weaned on the rhythms of rap. He also, however, grew up listening to a broad variety of musical genres: his mother played classical piano and his first memorable concert experience was an Earth, Wind & Fire theatrical extravaganza that his father took him to. His jazz inflections surfaces when he began tinkling the keys at age thirteen (his step-father won Maryland’s “Pick-3 Lottery” and used the winnings to buy Johnson’s first keyboard) and found himself studying both traditional and contemporary masters (Joe Sample and Thelonius Monk are two names he frequently cites).

Being a uniquely well-rounded musician wasn’t enough for Marcus Johnson. Johnson established Marimelj Entertainment Group, Inc. (MEG) for the purposes of developing exceptional creative works in the music and music publishing arenas. It is a production entity that prides itself on blending a delicate mixture of Contemporary Jazz, Alternative and R&B.

Since its founding, MEG has demonstrated a continued forward momentum, a dedication to success, and an unequivocal level of professionalism. MEG releases have generated sales of over 80,000 units. Projects such as Strength of a Woman (a tribute CD to Dr. Betty Shabazz in conjunction with BET and Emerge Magazine) reached the hands of an additional 40,000 people in the United States. Marimelj’s ability to produce quality sounds landed a distribution agreement with the Warner/Elektra/Atlantic (WEA) which will put Johnson’s music in record stores worldwide.