KENT MARCUM- Artist Profile Each performance by pianist and composer Kent Marcum offers a glimpse into the heart and mind of a ‘keyboard poet’. Marcum’s signature-mix of classical, new age, pop and jazz piano licks blend seamlessly into a piano style that is melodic and heartfelt. A seasoned artist who began playing piano at age six, Marcum found his calling early – albeit with a little help from Mom and Dad, who insisted that he take piano lessons. Eventually, he trained at the Interlochen Arts Academy and attended North Texas State University and Eastern Michigan University. Over the years, Marcum honed his style and has composed a full repertoire of songs that have garnered him a strong following from coast-to-coast and across Europe. The momentum has been constant with a series of CD releases, including Moments Like These (1999), Reflections on Christmas (2000), and The Journey (2004). His current release, Playtime (2005), emphasizes Marcum’s artistry and broad appeal. The title cut is a “feel-good, makes you wanna tap your toes” number with a “driving piano that pays tribute to the classic ‘Peanuts’ music by Vince Giraldi.” In A Child’s Eyes is a delicately innocent song written for Marcum’s young nephew, who sat listening intently while he composed it. Its strong melodious quality and intensified bridge is Marcum’s interpretation of the young boy’s thoughts. Also included are the bluesy Love Has Come Down To Stay; the ethereal On Another Day; and San Juan, which reviewer Kathy Parsons called “a breezy, rhythmic confection that all but twirls out of the CD player.” Marcum’s piano can reflect serenity, as in Morning Mist and The First Star That I See Tonight and then turn melancholy in compositions such as Sometimes It Seems So Hard to Say Goodbye and Until We Meet Again. Whatever the emotion, his music plays like a soundtrack of the heart. Marcum has performed in an eclectic variety of venues, from the Pisana Palace in Rome, Italy to The Chattanooga Choo Choo in Tennessee. He has also played in Hollywood, CA, Dallas, TX and all across his native Michigan, drawing near-capacity crowds. Like other indie artists, he credits the Internet for helping fuel his mounting success. A technologically savvy musician, Marcum is especially proud of his teaming with multi-Grammy-winning engineer Eric Schilling at The Hit Factory/Criteria studios in Miami, Florida. He now also performs regularly with singer-songwriter Michael Grajek. And with compositions that often exude elegance, passion and serenity, Marcum considers himself a spiritual gardener of sorts – a caretaker of the heart who cultivates music aimed at nurturing the soul. For more information, visit www.kmarcummusic.com, email kmarcum@tc3net.com or phone 517-260-3766.