Kent Marcum

Film maker gives thanks for support of ‘Sidewalk Singer’
? Tecumseh Herald Editorials
To the Editor,
After two grueling-yet-productive weeks of filming my feature length movie in Tecumseh called “Sidewalk Singer,” I wanted to reflect a bit and give out a lot of thanks. Forgive me if I miss some beautiful helpers and volunteers with this partial list, but I’m deeply grateful to so many who made the whole shoot rewarding and smooth. I’d like to thank Kevin Welch at city hall for his valuable assistance, as well as Harold and Julie Rhora for allowing me to film at their home and their business, Great Ideas. Some other businesses that really aided me were the Daily Grind, British Pantry and Tea Garden Café, Companion Animal Clinic, What A Find! Consign, Tecumseh Trolley and Limousine Service, Schmidt and Sons Pharmacy, Delphos Granite Works, Home Specialists, Champion Landsculpting, Brownies House of Pizza, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Subway, Basil Boys, Cowboys Grill, Big Boy restaurant, Evans Street Station, Country House restaurant and Gloria Dei Lutheran and First Baptist Church. Thanks to the Sons of Thunder Strength Team for flying here from Texas and Florida, along with Scott Campbell of State Farm Insurance in Tecumseh and the Diaconate Board and volunteer meal providers at First Baptist Church. A special thank you to the Tecumseh Herald, Daily Telegram, Clinton Local, and Jerry Hayes and Steve Barkway at WLEN. I’m indebted to a magnificent director and cinematographer, Jeff Thomas, along with Brian VanCamp, the Unit Production Manager, and an extremely talented music supervisor, Kent Marcum.
When one makes a movie, you find that it is, indeed, a lot of work and a myriad of things have to come together in order to be successful. And no, not everyone is understanding and kind in this world; however, the people in the above list have been enormously gracious and wonderful to me, and I will forever be grateful and humbled by their generosity as they rolled out the “Tecumseh Welcome Mat” to the film’s cast and crew. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.
Alan Maki.
Tecumseh
- Tecumseh Herald

2-20-2006

For Immediate Release

PLAYTIME NOW AVAILABLE FROM NEW AGE/POP PIANIST KENT MARCUM
by Susan Clarke

With his fifth CD Playtime, seasoned performer Kent Marcum has created a memorable showcase of the strong melodies, clever hooks, and emotionally evocative compositions that are his signature style. Playtime combines elements of new age, jazz, and pop into songs like the playfully melodic title track to the more poignant and reflective “Love Has Come Down to Stay.” Twelve tracks in all, Playtime was recorded with multi-Grammy Award-winning engineer Eric Schilling at the Hit Factory/Criteria Studios in Miami, Fla. The CD is available through CDBaby.

Trained at the Interlochen Arts Academy, North Texas State University, and Eastern Michigan University, Kent Marcum is a classically trained player who also brings to the bench a gift for improvisation. He has performed at venues across the U.S. as well as played for audiences at the Pisana Palace Hotel in Rome, Italy. Playtime is the follow-up to “The Journey,” which was released less than a year ago to favorable reviews. Kent is also involved with another new release— he recently paired with vocalist Michael Grajek to record the pop/R&B flavored album East Coast West Coast, also available through CDBaby.

Contact information and media downloads are available at www.kentmarcummusic.com
- Susan Clarke

The Toledo Blade
Sweet Traditions Brighten the Holidays
By staff writer Mary Alice Powell

The overeating binge was off to a good start the day before the visit to the Caines,
at Sweet Annie’s, on US 223. Once again I had good intentions. I was there to hear the soothing piano music of Kent Marcum of Addison, and buy his new CD, “The Journey”. ……….It was mandatory that I not miss the chance to buy the CD , which features several of his compositions………..Friends raved about “The Journey” concert Dec. 4 at the Christian Family Center in Adrian.
- The Toledo Blade

The Journey
Kent Marcum
2004 / Amazin’ Blue Publishing
39.6 minutes

“The Journey” is a very enjoyable collection of four piano solos, six
piano and ensemble pieces, and one vocal track composed and performed by Kent Marcum on piano and keyboards and several other musicians on percussion, guitars, bass, and violin. The music is varied in style, but is mostly upbeat and optimistic.

“Photograph Of My Heart” opens the CD with piano and keyboards in
something of a soliloquy. Reflective and a little wistful, it’s a lovely beginning! “Midnight Air” is a piano solo that is peaceful but also has a sense of movement. I really like “Falling Waters,” which is piano, rain stick, drums, and keyboard. The piano sparkles and flows like dancing water and never stops moving. Great stuff! The title track
is another favorite and has a bigger sound than most of the others.
Featuring piano, guitars, drums, and bass, the different themes convey the changing scenery and events on a journey - some are dark, some are exciting, and some are calm. Marcum weaves these changing themes seamlessly. “Dancing In Belfast” is a lively Celtic-flavored duet for
piano and violin. “Tell Me When To Start” features the vocals of
Michael Grajek, and is a sweetly emotional love song. “As Our Love
Begins to Grow” is a gentle and tender ballad that tugs at the
heartstrings. “In My Father’s Garden” is a love song of a different
type - a memorial and tribute that I can really relate to. A beautiful
garden can be so evocative, as this piece clearly demonstrates - a very
lovely piece! “As Long As We’re Together” is a joyful love song and a lovely closing to a great album.

“The Journey” is available from www.kentmarcummusic.com and
www.cdbaby.com. Enjoy!
- Kathy Parsons

Playtime
Kent Marcum
2005 / Amazin’ Blue Publishing
52 minutes

“Playtime,” the fifth release by pianist/composer Kent Marcum, is
made up of piano solos and piano with keyboard embellishment/accompaniment. Mixing pop, classical, jazz, and new age styles, Marcum’s playing and composing approaches are fresh and upbeat. I thought it was interesting that Marcum put the ensemble-type (“type” because Marcum is the only listed artist) pieces in the first half of the CD and the piano solos in the second half.

The CD opens with the title track, a carefree ode to playtime. Rhythmic
and dancing, the percussion really propels the piece. “In a Child’s
Eyes” is much quieter and more delicate with piano and strings.
Conveying deep love and innocence, this is a very beautiful piece. “Love Has Come Down To Stay” is one of my favorites despite an odd percussion that sounds a little like air pressure or steam escaping. Still, the melody is lovely and passionate, and the piano and cello are so good together. “San Juan” is a breezy, rhythmic confection that all but twirls out of the CD player. “Morning Mist” is a piece for guitar and ethereal synth sounds. Simple and elegant, this one is quite different from the other tracks, but fits in very well. “The First Star That I See Tonight” is the first of the true piano solos. Returning to a feeling of childlike innocence and wonder, the gentle melody has an easy flow. “Spanish Lullaby” is another favorite. Also a solo, the minor key takes the mood a little darker although it is still very
peaceful and calm. “Even If My Heart Breaks” is a soulful and emotional ballad that comes from deep within - very beautiful! “Until We Meet Again” closes the CD with a sweetly passionate ballad that is full of longing and love.

“Playtime” is a very interesting and enjoyable CD, and Kent Marcum is
an artist who obviously has something to say with his music. His CDs are available at www.kentmarcummusic.com and www.cdbaby.com.

- Kathy Parsons

Article published Sunday, December 16, 2007
Singing duo brings home holiday spirit

You can’t really say that Kent Marcum and Michael Grajek are hidden in Addison, Mich., because the piano-vocal duo gets around the United States, and they pack in crowds when they perform in Lenawee County.

Still, I wish that more people were aware of their stirring music, either in person or via their CDs which I happen to have playing as I write. The “East Coast-West Coast” disc is not required for inspiration today because only last evening I was one of about 200 people in the auditorium at the Lenawee County Christian Center listening to Kent and Michael and the other musicians they invited to join them in their annual Christmas concert.

Here in Lenawee we use first names comfortably. The duo’s concerts, though impressive with classical, religious, and original compositions, are casual and sometimes impromptu. As an example, Kent asked that his four great-nephews be brought on stage so that the audience “could meet the family.”

The folksy interruption was an appropriate introduction to “In a Child’s Eye.” Kent wrote the music when one of his young relatives was sitting on the piano bench listening intently to every note. The music is his interpretation of the young boy’s thoughts.

The concert’s theme “Love Came Down at Christmas” is the title of a new piece that has been submitted to television.
In the meantime, there is a hint of pride when he is reminded that the 20 compositions sent to Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions were accepted. Is it possible any are used on the Oprah show?

Kent is the senior in the duo. The choral instructor at Addison High School, he reached the heart of the audience when 50 Addison middle and high school students joined him and Michael on stage to sing back-up.

Nineteen-year-old Michael, whose voice radiates in the pieces he and Kent have collaborated on as well as in rock numbers and hymns, was Kent’s student in middle and high schools in Addison.

Michael remembers singing Disney tunes when he was 5 years old, but didn’t get serious about singing until he was 10 and sang in a school concert. Now, as he approaches his 20th birthday in February, singing is his life’s ambition.

Kent is billed as a pop/new age pianist and keyboard poet and considers himself a spiritual gardener who cultivates music that is aimed at nurturing the soul.

His first nurturing for the piano was when he was 5 years old. When an older sister began taking piano, their mother insisted that Kent tag along for lessons. It was love at first sight of the keyboard for Kent. His sister quit the lessons, but he continued There was no piano at home for him to practice on but each day his mother took him to the Rollin Baptist Church to practice for a half hour.

Kent studied at Interlochen Arts Academy, North Texas State University, and did graduate work at Eastern Michigan University.

I first heard Kent and Michael in concert last fall at the little country church, where their fan club is legion. From that rural setting, they have traveled far together and separately to perform and record.

Michael sang “Summertime” on the Good Morning America show in New York last July. Kent has performed at the Pisana Palace in Rome, and of course all over Michigan. They have performed at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood and the Chattanooga Choo Choo in Tennessee.

On Jan. 10 they are the opening program for a four-day music festival at the Tecumseh Civic Auditorium, Tecumseh, Mich., and in June they will travel to Kauai, Hawaii, to meet with music executives. “The Twelve Songs of Christmas,” a CD of all piano solos, is available through www.kentmarcummusic.com.
Mary Alice Powell is a former Blade food editor.
» E-mail her at mpowell@theblade.com
» Read more Mary Alice Powell columns at www.toledoblade.com/powell

- Mary Alice Powell