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BIO
 Sometimes called "the hardest-working man on Long Island’s folk scene," Stuart Markus began writing songs in middle school, and has played professionally for 15 years.
Listed in Newsday as one of "Long Island’s Best," Stuart actually grew up in Rochester, NY, where he studied at the Eastman School of Music while in high school. While attending the University of Pennsylvania he played French horn in the marching band and wind ensemble, and sang in the University Choir and several a-cappella groups, eventually becoming president, musical director and arranger (all at the same time) of the nine-voice Chord-On-Blues.
A full-time musician after years as an ad man and journalist, Stuart has also organized several high-profile benefit concerts, most notably the "Just Wild About Harry" Chapin tribute concerts by top Long Island songwriters from 2004 through '07. (To date the concerts have raised nearly two tons of food.) He also organized the Malverne Songwriter Festival in 1998 and the Thanksgiving benefit concert that inaugurated Huntington’s Song Box performance space in 1999. His yearly performance of "The Ballad of Malverne Mel" - the theme song he wrote for Nassau County's official Groundhog's Day celebration - is an event that receives annual radio and TV coverage.
Stuart has shared the stage with many notable singer-songwriters such as Tom Paxton, Oscar Brand, Christine Lavin, Dan Bern, David Buskin, Dar Williams, Ashford & Simpson, David Johansen, Tom Chapin and John Hall of the band Orleans; and shared a mic with Noel Paul Stukey. He has been a three-time M.C. of the prestigious Nassau Community College Folk Fest; twice solo, once as part of the traditional music duo Strike the Bell. His 1996 CD release, "Not the Only One Who Feels This Way," and his second, "The View from the Side of the Road," have received college and folk radio play across the eastern U.S. A new CD of parodies and satire, "Welcome to Sunny Nassau (County, Long Island)" debuted in November, ’07.
Since the summer of ’06, he has performed with songwriters Glen Roethel and Hillary Foxsong, now known collectively as Gathering Time, turning heads with their stunning vocal blend, which has been compared favorably to Peter, Paul & Mary and Crosby, Stills & Nash. The trio performs originals, covers, and notably, songs by other local songwriters.
Stuart is also half of the traditional maritime music duo Strike the Bell, where his love of sea chanteys has grown out of his love of sailing. A lifelong small boat sailor, he made his first voyage on a tall ship in OpSail ’92 as a trainee on the HMS Rose - a replica of a 1757 British frigate (which appeared as Russell Crowe’s ship in the movie Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World).
Stuart also has a repertoire of hundreds of cover songs from the 1930s to the present day, which he performs regularly, along with his originals.
"Markus has a gentle, clean voice and his writing shows a good sense of his place in the world. This is an artist that everyone should check out live," Good Times Magazine writes. "... a true troubadour," says Long Island Entertainment. "Bottom line, Stuart Markus is an artist that has continued to work his craft and he's entering a new level of songwriting and performing that should have people flocking to record stores to grab his wares."
Stuart has been heard on the following radio & TV stations and podcasts:
CJLX, KBCS, KPSU, KRFC, KUMD, WBAB, WBNY, WCVE, WETA, WFCR, WFDU, WFMT, WFUV, WJFF, WKJY, WLIR, WNMC, WPRB, WRFG, WRUR, WTJU, WUSB, WVBR, WYEP, WFMU, WTMD, WMIR, WMVY, WDST, 101.5FM (N. Ireland), TV-55, LI News 12, Six-String Island, the Indie Connection, and the SportNet cable network.
Contact Stuart Markus at (516) 593-1427 or Email Stu Here. |
