Meet Our Artist of the Month

Eric T. Marner

Eric Marner’s music career was born at the age of twelve at Mt. Royal Elementary in Baltimore, Maryland under the tutelage of the late Arthur Jenkins. He continued his music and education through Baltimore City College High School and Howard University where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Music with a minor in Business. While at Howard University, Eric was a member and past president of Phi Mu Alpha music; fraternity, performed with the Mighty Marching Bison, the Concert Band, and at the same time recorded and traveled with the world-renowned Howard University ’A’ Jazz Ensemble, where he played soprano and alto saxophone.

Eric has become a versatile player, playing for larger audiences beginning with the Morning Star Baptist Church in the early eighties. Being trained classically at Howard, his talents and abilities have afforded him the opportunity to share the stage and work with artists including: Clark Terry, Natalie Cole, Mary Mary, Darrin Atwater, Phil Perry, Maurette Brown Clark, Shirley Caesar, Tanya Blount, Kim and Marvin Winans, The Basement Boys, Ledisi, Najee, John Whitherspoon, and many others. Eric’s talents also provided him the opportunity to move away from the musical stage. He had a small acting role as a saxophone player in the movie Syriana starring George Clooney and Matt Damon.

Along with his other accomplishments, Eric has been featured on Baltimore’s Fox 45 News Artist Spotlight, once in 2007 and again in 2008. He performed on the Today Show’s “Today Throws a Wedding 2005” with the Powerhouse Band and featured as a Smooth Jazz Pick of the Week in the Baltimore Times by radio personality Randy Dennis. He has also contributed his talents to charitable efforts to help raise money to improve cancer research.

Eric extensively toured with the gospel play Preacher’s Kids and travelled abroad. In 2006, while traveling abroad with the Mutherfunkaz, he shared the stage with the Sounds of Blackness, Mark Evans, and Dawn Robinson, formerly of EnVogue.

Eric’s 2007 debut CD, “Hearsay,” a mixture of smooth-jazz with rough edges, features him on lead and background vocals, as writer, producer and arranger.

When he is on stage, Eric is known for his energetic show-stopping performances. Eric’s career continues to thrive as he masters his talents as a player, songwriter, and producer.

Artist Eric Marner Has Recorded for:

Earl Carter “The Village People PT2 and Foreplay”

Reverend Anthony Brown “Send Your For Christmas”

HUJE Howard University A Jazz Band “The 1997 Release”

The Mutherfunkaz “Saxed Up” Basement Boy Records

Jasper Street Company “Another Day” Basement Boys Records

Knights of the Round Table “Daddy Funk”

Dennis Ferrer “Church Lady” King Street Record

Ellisha McKinney “Some Kind Of Wonderful”

Bishop Dr. Dewayne Debnam & MSBC “I’ve Found the Star”

Mas Collective “Release Your Mind & Funkshun”

Dennis Ferrer & Jasper Street “Church Lady” King Street Records