About Marlon
Marlon Saunders, former professor and alumnus of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, appears as the Calypso Singer in the popular Disney film, Enchanted. Marlon sings the Academy Award-nominated song, “That’s How You Know” with Amy Adams, who appears in the role of Giselle. The song also received best-song nominations at the Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Awards. Marlon also performed “That’s How You Know” live at the 80th Annual Academy Awards with Tony award-winner Kristin Chenoweth. Marlon has most recently performed with Latin soul artist Gemma Genazzanao on NBC’s Today Show. Gemma performed her new single, “Take Me Away” from her recently-released CD, Si Me Quieres/If You Love Me, which was produced by Marlon. Marlon also co-wrote all the songs on the CD with Gemma and her guitarist, Greg Dayton.
Marlon has recorded and/or toured with a wide range of artists, including Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Bobby McFerrin, Joe Henderson, Ron Carter, Shawn Colvin, Nine Inch Nails, Jane Siberry, Shania Twain, Vanessa Williams, Martha Wash, Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Freddie Jackson, Jeffery Osbourne, Tramaine Hawkins, Peabo Bryson, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Marlon has sung on over 100 radio and television commercials, including spots for Oscar Mayer, Pizza Hut, Bud Lite, Diet Coke, and most recently Pepperidge Farm Goldfish.
Marlon has two solo recordings on his independent label, Black Honey Records—A Groove So Deep: The Live Sessions (2005) and Enter My Mind (2003). Marlon was awarded a major grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, through the National Endowment for the Arts, and a grant from Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area, Inc., with additional support from the Washington College CV Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, for his musical composition, Workin’ on a Building: Compositions of Black Life. This musical work, commissioned by the Kent County Arts Council and the Prince Theatre Foundation, premiered in Chestertown, Maryland in February 2006 and New York City in July 2007.
Marlon co-produced (with Shawn Lucas) Love 360,the debut release of soul-jazz artist April Hill(Jazzy Peach Music/SoulBrother Records UK, 2007. Marlon also appears on author and poet Stephen Jordan’s recent CD, Black Baby Tears. He is also a featured vocalist on the much-anticipated CD, Inspire, from the funk/jazz/fusion group SounDoctrine, which will be released in 2010. Marlon is also one of the founding members and the lead singer of the eclectic soul-jazz group, Jazzhole. Their fifth CD, Poet’s Walk, was released in the summer of 2006, and they are currently writing for their upcoming CD, Blue ‘72. Marlon is currently writing for his upcoming solo CD as well.