“…already poised, confident, and brandishing an arsenal of powerful, no-nonsense vocal and guitar skills that projected not only way beyond his years, but way back to the spirits of the blues masters of yore.”
– Jim O’Neal Founding Editor / Living Blues Magazine
Marquise Knox is 18 years old, a native of Granada, Mississippi and a legend in the making. Marquise hails from a musical family deeply entrenched in the Blues tradition. He learned how to play guitar from his grandmother whose family were sharecroppers and whose great, great grandparents were slaves. For him, Blues is his heritage.
Knox spent his early teenage years in St. Louis mentoring under the late great Blues legend, N.E.A. Heritage Fellowship recipient and Grammy Award winner Henry James Townsend. His talents have already earned him performing rights with some of America’s most notable blues performers such as blues legend and Grammy Award winners B.B. King, Pinetop Perkins and David “Honeyboy” Edwards (the latter two also NEA Heritage Fellows).
While his musical peers hope for careers in hip-hop, Marquise decided to remain true to his heritage and share his musical journey not only with traditional blues audiences but with our youth. At 18 he finds it easy to relate to the challenges faced by today’s youth and it shows.
Knox’s recently released debut album MANCHILD was nominated for a Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut. The album was recorded when he was 16, in two nights, during an ice storm in a church with the world reknowned Michael Burks and his band. There is even a song called Ice Storm on the album. The release is making it’s way up the charts and is receiving worldwide acclaim.
Marquise is truly a Manchild. At 18 he plays like he is 40. He can cook a chicken dinner for eight complete with greens like any you’ve ever had. He maintains a sizable garden at his home in urban St. Louis. And the number one question people ask Marquise is “let me see your driver’s license”.
To experience the blues, MANCHILD style, pick up a copy of his album MANCHILD and stay tuned, the MANCHILD has arrived…