Branford Marsalis (Music Production)

Branford Marsalis performs during Lincoln Centers Gala Teach Me Tonight. (Photo: Scott Gries / Getty Images)

Charismatic, handsome, leading young jazz musician of the 1980s and 90s. Marsalis grew up a member of the "Royal Family" of jazz in New Orleans. His father, Ellis, was one of America's leading piano instructors (among his students was jazz/pop wunderkind Harry Connick, Jr.). Marsalis' brothers have also been influential in the jazz world. Wynton is the artistic director of "The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra" as well as one of the world's leading jazz trumpeters while Delfayo is a well-known trombonist. Marsalis garnered mass attention as one of Sting's band members in the documentary/ego-fest, "Bring on the Night" and in three subsequent world tours.

Aside from his musical work, Marsalis has appeared in several films, including Spike Lee's "School Days" (1988) and "Mo' Better Blues" (1990), for which he also provided music. From 1992 to 1994, Marsalis was the bandleader for Jay Leno's version of "The Tonight Show" where he introduced jazz to a mass audience with the help of his hand-picked band which includes such jazz luminaries as Kenny Kirkland, Jeff 'Tain' Watts and Kevin Eubanks, who succeeded him as bandleader.