Wynton Marsalis

ABOUT WYNTON MARSALIS

Jazz and classical trumpeter and educator who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music for "Blood on the Fields," his 1997 oratorio. This was the first time a jazz recording of its kind received the Pulitzer.

He graduated with a 3.98 GPA from Benjamin Franklin High School and became the youngest musician to enter Tanglewood's Berkshire Music Center.

He served as producer and on-screen commentator for Ken Burns' "Jazz" documentary from 2001, for which he elicited much criticism and controversy.

His father was jazz musician Ellis Marsalis , Jr., and his brothers, Branford, a saxophonist, Delfeayo, a trombonist, Mboya, and Jason, a drummer, all attained varying degrees of recognition for their musical talents.

He and Miles Davis carried on a longstanding feud, with Davis kicking Marsalis off the stage during a performance after Marsalis tried to unexpectedly join the proceedings.