Jazz-infused psychedelic southern rock | The Marcus King Band | TEDxGreenville

Hang on tight so you won't get blown out of your seat! The Marcus King Band knocks out a soulful blend of funk, blues, rock and jazz.
Call him the next Duane Allman or Jimi Hendrix - but whatever you do, don’t call Marcus King a child prodigy. Sure, the 18-year-old guitar shredder’s talent shimmers with the same resonance as his heroes, but he’s been wielding that axe since he learned to talk - he started playing when he was two.
Marcus was born into music, gifted with steel-string DNA and two generations of men before him who nurtured the boy’s musical nature. Marcus’s dad, the slyly talented Marvin King, has been a force in Upstate South Carolina’s music heritage for as long as anyone can remember. Marvin’s father and Marcus’s granddad, Bill, played a big part, too. It was only natural, then, that the boy who got his first guitar (a Squier Strat) at age 7 would land his first paying gig a year later.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@boblatzer]

Some people are just born to play guitar. Marcus is one of them.

[@cbigham72]

Can't get enough of the Marcus King Band.

[@Evan-tt5kk]

I think jazz infused southern psychedelic rock might be my new favorite sub genre

[@jljones5282]

So much talent in one vessel, he deserves all the fame the world has to offer.

[@danthedisneydad2797]

he ain't the next anybody....he is his own thing....this jams mightily...caught him on a video jamming with the Mule....love it

[@louisedaviscase5320]

My Yong King Marcus King and his crew The Marcus King Band...are quickly becoming the southern kind of soul food..the nation has been longing for a long time coming....please dont mistake these fine talented young fellas...just because Young King Marcus comes from royal blood ..he and his crew remain humble and great full for the blessings and it shows in their music faces and actions....so lets keep PEACE and LOVE alive show your support ...because the South gonna do it again ...mgb

[@judyjae4787]

Really fabulous infusion of funk, blues, rock and jazz. Most inspiring- I love this!

[@BlogTernet]

Amazing! Great band n incredible guitar playing not to even mention the fact that he's killing the vocal while smashing the guitar! All the best.

[@ronnie5129]

AWESOME BAND, I LOVE IT, SUCH A MIX OF INSTRUMENTS, IT ALL MELTS TOGETHER, GLAD TO SEE A BAND LIKE THIS TODAY, INSTEAD OF THE CRAP THAT HAS BEEN SHOVED DOWN OUR THROATS ON RADIO, THIS BAND NEEDS SOME AIR PLAY ON RADIO, CHEERS GUYS, COUSIN FIGEL

[@karlheinzwunner283]

I've seen him at the Pre Jam in Asheville last week. Never heard of him before and was blown away by so much gifted talent. I had the chance to tlak to him backstage at the Jam and he seems to be an extreme humble and down to earth guy. He is really someone that can make up to very top Level !!!

[@MrShakedown1972]

Very Allmans/Trucks... I love it

[@archerevan823]

This is the first time I ever heard of this group, I’m coming back about a year later to relive it

[@jimolson8810]

So young to have complete mastery over that guitar. And to be able to handle vocal duties while he just rips on that guitar with barely a glance at the fretboard. This kid plays solely by feel. Amazing.

[@martinbarnes5704]

Im glad the guitar player showed up

[@lunasea2541]

What an absolutely superb Ted Talk installment! Love TT that much more. And if course the Hometown band.

[@1758pk]

I found myself in a musical rut lately but now I'm back on track! Mr. King your're way up there with the best! An amazing group.

[@ピンクベアに江のら]

In need of a heater with all these chills

[@yvonnelaurenty6427]

He and Billy Strings do Summertime. No words . . .

[@mattgursky5703]

that trumpet solo in the second song was fantastic!

[@frank8378]

TED Talkers hearing Marcus and his band for the first time ***MIND LOST***

[@dhix2388]

his dad is no slouch a great player. marcus is just on a new level. and what a band.

[@scottymac713]

Allman Bros and Curtis Mayfield had babies

[@xThatTaNKiD]

Hope you get even more big dude you deserve it the talent is unreal

[@yohvh]

xThatTaNKiD not litterly then. but i agree :P

[@shawnmcintyre4773]

Found this kid this morning, I was surfing listening to Norms famous Guitars vids minding my own business ... Caught 3 minutes of this cat, been listening for the last 4 hours... WOW !!!

[@guisteh11]

shawn mcintyre Norms Guitars is also where I heard him first :D

[@1mudfish]

"KEEP MOVING" Awesome!

[@peterbetts858]

Marcus King Rocks. Southern Style. He has two albums out so far , 2015 s Soul insight and 2016 s The Marcus King Band . There both Great , with slew of influences but bottom line, a UNIQUE sound of his Own. Also real cool live , as u can see. Check him out!

[@cypressdobro8759]

everysong he ever done got the word Mama in it.

[@donnawitte5485]

Very talented. I love it!

[@JeffDufour]

So cool.....The Marcus King Band is Awesome. Thanks for posting this.

[@jeffjforUKgocats]

he's quickly becoming a strong link in the circle of real music .

[@chrisvaughn6381]

The King Flies and Breaths Fire

[@ronwood355]

Brilliant new stuff from a talented band with Marcus lead they will go well

[@4zafinc]

Has resemblance with Living Color. Great sound all around

[@jasonlee8497]

like a modern 70s style funky rock soul groove thang

[@hutchfromba]

This is what Awesome is.

[@BrothaManFromDa5thFl]

Marcus King is the Truth!!

[@ronwood355]

Nothing like Marcus and band all amazing talented

[@nikastew4590]

TALENTED! I was a fan from the first chord of the frst sng I heard1!1

[@Jennyannc]

Awesome going to be playing with blackberry smoke, wish they would come to OHIO! like the House of Blues!

[@MartinHatchuel]

Oh >My >Sainted >AUNT! How wonderful is this?

[@guerryharvell480]

Simply Awesome!

[@fredorona1977]

Wow! I'm really digging it!

[@jimronsivalli1675]

Duane Allman for sure. He's already played with the Allman Brothers Band and Derek Trucks.

[@jakelanglois8788]

this just made me get out of bed and jump around... incredible.

[@carolynknight918]

Very talented.

[@MarkWolfeDesign]

Marcus is KING

[@crimsonchaos5]

This is fantastic!

[@paulhallembeck2705]

Greg, you'd really like this!

[@kutsbothways]

Just awesome. Marcus is a treasure. My only question, when do we get to see Marcus and Derek together.

[@anthonyfesta1224]

Reminds me of Terry Kath and Early CTA.

[@DaniCalifornia321]

Santana X the blacks keys= THIS

[@kremlingonzalez3099]

awesome this is music!!

[@GreensnGuitars]

Holy Shit Warren junior : )

[@TheEasybeat]

Hate to say it but...Marcus just has better chops. Maybe not as good of a songwriter but guitarwise, holy shit.

[@GreensnGuitars]

Matt Foley meh i dont know bout that. listen to warren in the 80s and early 90s with the allmans and dickey betts. way more technical than marcus but the kids good

[@TheEasybeat]

Of course it's a matter of opinion :-) but as a guitarist I'm just blown away by this guy. Search for Marcus King playing "Plant Your Corn Early" and listen to the solo at 4:15. They are both amazing players, I've been a Warren fan for years and he's phenomenal. I'm anxious to see where this 20 year old ends up. I could see his name becoming ubiquitous amongst guitarists in the next few years.

[@333buddah]

my first thought was lookout haynes

[@Halfsteptheory]

Warren produced both Marcus. albums. Personally, Marcus is my favorite guitarist ever. I've never heard anything quite like him, and I'm a guitarist myself for the last 27 years. I'm a big fan of Warren too, as well as Duane, Dickey, Derek, and of course all the legends, like Jimi, Clapton, etc. There's just something different about this kid, man. I've had the wonderful pleasure of seeing him live twice, and I met him on the first occasion. He was very nice, and extremely humble. That made me a fan for life.

[@fresnobrad]

Looking forward to Kent Stage performance....

[@Wrguitar941]

love that sg sweet

[@donkell9895]

Check these South Carolina boys out! This young fellow can smoke that vintage SG! He can sang a little bit too!

[@Andhika1993]

Awesome

[@calebbliss8626]

Kind of reminds me of a southern, soul infused version of Thank You Scientist. If you like this you shpuld check Thank You Scientist out.

[@aaronadams9579]

Wow....that was the best shit new that I have heard in a good long while. I thank you!!!

[@ronpaulrevered]

That performance was ripping.

[@miki8093]

really awesome

[@eliezergonzalez1731]

keep on going my brother, the blues is in good hands

[@troyschamber8999]

does anyone know the names of these great songs?? very very very good

[@DavidKing-ut9wr]

Reminds me a little of the Allman Brothers.

[@hamzehsameeh8305]

this is fucking awesome.

[@a_missippian]

Wow!! Terry Kath reincarnated!! Xlnt!!

[@matheusfierro3692]

What are the names of the songs?

[@peteorthmann3183]

How did this manage to get added to a TED talk?

[@lindatheobald7789]

ohio mule sez...........so good.................

[@vmat1000]

wheres the 345???

[@aaronadams9579]

best new shit

[@flatfifth5876]

soberhead. w jr lol! was thinking it. but didn't want too say it ha ha.

[@alexdadaev]

reminds me Mars Volta..

[@Gixxer983]

Marcus is such a good player but i can never hear what hes singing.

[@HunterJs2]

Gixxer983 Same, I fucking love his voice but I have no clue what language he's even speaking.

[@ArbitraryLifestyle]

The distortion on the mic audio didn't help either.

[@chiefmojorising1]

Sounds exactly like the Allman Brothers band.

[@710hiopyschonaut9]

chiefmojorising1 I always felt the Marcus King band has a faster pace

[@plexidust5101]

Smoking , except the sound guy that set up the mic for Marcus has it way too hot , hence the overdrive. Also Marcus , your amp needs a cap job bro, your hum is following you around. Otherwise, LEGEND>

[@voodoomojo5622]

i can see warren haynes there ;)

[@Miloandthepickpocket]

2 people with thumbs down are on meth or have no idea what good music and grooving is.... Cheers Marcus!!! Awesome!

[@crywithfear]

this is super cool.... hahahaha

[@ckjamn]

MKB-- ain't nothin nice

[@theelevan2]

This kid is so damn good. The 4th great King of blues guitar. Ted, you have to do better handling sound if you're going to feature music. This recording is just pitiful.

[@whatsitmatter7046]

Southerners are better at music than the rest of us. End of story.

[@LOJPIK]

kelly family? :D sorry

[@jackoldham6234]

Why are you calling this phychedelic? I disagree

[@joey0359]

Sorry, folks, but his axe is completely outta tune!!!

[@Cobalt985]

I think the strings are in tune realtive to each other, but a little flat overall. Possibly at A=432 hz?

[@louisedaviscase5320]

My Yong King Marcus King and his crew The Marcus King Band...are quickly becoming the southern kind of soul food..the nation has been longing for a long time coming....please dont mistake these fine talented young fellas...just because Young King Marcus comes from royal blood ..he and his crew remain humble and great full for the blessings and it shows in their music faces and actions....so lets keep PEACE and LOVE alive show your support ...because the South gonna do it again ...mgb

[@lunasea2541]

The South is gonna do it again ..musically. And we never stopped...Delta Blues, Charlie Daniels, Allman Brothers...just a few named. Much love and Peace, Sister. And you are right, talent mixed with humble. Beauty personified