Marcus is a renowned contemporary percussionist and dedicated educator from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. His versatile performance skills span pop, rock, hip-hop, jazz, and world music, strongly focusing on Afro-Brazilian music and cultural heritage.
Marcus has performed globally, including for the president of Brazil, at TEDx conferences, and with MTV's "One World Band." He contributed to the Oscar-nominated film "Rachel's Getting Married" and has received numerous awards, including the 2013 KOSA Recognition Award, the 2008 Outstanding Arts Performer Award, and the Outstanding Percussionist Award from Berklee College of Music. In 2024, he was honored with the Outstanding Artist Award from Arts at the Armory in Somerville, MA.
In 2023, Marcus recorded the soundtrack for Ken Burns's PBS documentary "American Revolution" and performed at the Fête de La Danse in Monaco. He has authored the instructional DVD "Modern Approach to Pandeiro" and contributed to BOSE's "Musically Speaking II." His workshops on Afro-Brazilian percussion have been featured at Carnegie Hall, PASIC, and Harvard.
Currently, Marcus directs the Grooversity network project, collaborating with drumming groups across the U.S., Germany, Bermuda, and Canada. He inspires musicians, fosters cultural understanding, and promotes Afro-Brazilian music worldwide through his performances and educational efforts.
