Marquise Knox

Born St. Louis, Mo, Marquise hails from a musical family deeply rooted  in the Blues. He learned how to play guitar from his grandmother Lillie.  He also played with his uncle Clifford, who was a major influence in  Marquise’s life. For Marquise, Blues is his heritage and way of life. He  spent his early teenage years in St. Louis mentoring under the late  great Blues legend, N.E.A. (National Endowment of the Arts) Heritage  Fellowship recipient and Grammy Award winner Henry James Townsend.  Marquise’s talents have earned him performing rights with some of  America’s most notable blues performers such as blues legends B.B. King,  Pinetop Perkins and David “Honeyboy” Edwards (the latter two also  N.E.A. Heritage Fellows). He has also performed at dozens of festivals,  and has toured all throughout Europe. During a visit to  Clarksdale, Mississippi, Marquise was introduced to Sam Lay. Like other  statesmen of the Blues, Sam took an immediate liking to Marquise and  took it upon himself to help give Marquise’s career a boost by insisting  that Chad Kassem bring Marquise to the celebrated Blues series  “Bluesmasters at the Crossroads,” which has showcased a virtual  who’s-who of the Blues at Blue Heaven Studios in Salina, Kansas.  Marquise was an immediate crowd favorite, and was adopted by all of the  elders of the Blues in attendance that year. His obvious talent along  with his deep knowledge of the Blues and vast respect for his elders  made it clear Marquise had something special, and Kassem signed him to a  three album deal. Knox’s debut album MANCHILD was nominated for a  Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut. The album was recorded  when he was 16 with world reknowned guitarist Michael Burks and his  band. The release received worldwide acclaim, including Living Blues’  Best Debut Artist Award and a Blues Music Award nomination for Best  Debut Artist. Marquise then recorded a direct-to-disc album while in  town for the next year’s Crossroads. Marquise released his second album,  Here I Am, once again recorded at the legendary Blue Heaven Studios in  Salina, Kansas. It features Marquise and his band, with a little help  from Wayne Sharp of Michael Burk’s band sitting in on B-3 and piano.  Nine originals, and three reverent covers of Marquise’s favorite Muddy  Waters tunes.