MJ @ the DC’s Newest Jazz Spot.. The Hamilton
I hope to see you here on Saturday January 21, 2012…89pm The New Hamilton. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua0ljTc03Uo
Peace and Love
MJ
Read More...photo.php?v=255613664493691&set=o.194708813945625&type=2&theater
Time to go do P90X, shave, get my “hur” cut, and roll on to the Alley. Looking forward to seeing y’all there. Happy Holidays to you all!!
Peace and Love
MJ
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Flo style. Yet another way to watch the game!
Holiday Mail for Heroes
Mj signing holiday cards for deployed soldiers at the Red Cross headquarters for “Holiday Mail for Heros! Thanks to the troops and their families!
Read More...Back2Back: Marcus Johnson at American Red Cross Holiday Mail For Heroes and 21st Amendment Tomorrow!
American Red Cross Holiday Mail For Heroes
Join Marcus Johnson and American Red Cross tomorrow at the annual Holiday Mail For Heroes event at the American Red Cross National Headquarters to ensure all Americans have an opportunity to send a touch of home this holiday season to members of our U.S. military, veterans and their families, many of whom will be far away from home this holiday season.
Date: November 3, 2011
Venue: American Red Cross National Headquarters
Address: 430 17th Street, NW Washington DC 20006
Performance Time: 11:30AM – 1:30PM
CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS!
Marcus Johnson at 21st Amendment
The Marcus Johnson Project will surely be back tomorrow night at 21st next week, November 3, 2011.
Enjoy this incredible after-work, cool out session featuring food, drinks, and smooth jazz.
Date: November 3, 2011
Venue: 21st Amendment @ Holiday Inn – Capitol
Address: 550 C Street, SW, Washington, D.C.
Time: 6:00 – 9:00pm
Just a look into hope.
Lately, we have all been bombarded with images, thoughts, and concepts of fear. From our economy, to the job outlook, to health, etc. If u turn on the TV or Ipad news app you are hit with multiple images of what could go wrong. So I wanted to put a couple of hope options out there for you with more to follow.
Of course, any book of faith will get you there, but to deal with contemporary examples I offer Inc., Fast Company, and Entrepreneur magazines. Why? Because the solutions for our unemployment problems will not come from GM, Dow, or any other fortune 500 hundred company. The faith, hope, daring, and fortitude that it takes to get us and the world out of this is the sole realm of the entrepreneur and it always has been. 85-90% of us are employed by entrepreneurs and it’s been consistent for decades.
I just hope those in the SBA and the like fight to get our tax dollars into the hands of these entrepreneurs and the new upcoming breed so that we can train and shine our faith on everyone. Until then, next time you are thinking about turning on the tv for your daily dose of fear, pick up a book about, read a program documenting, or speak with your resident entrepreneur. He or she will give you what you really are looking for…….HOPE!
Peace and love
MJ
Marcus Johnson At Rams Head On Stage
If you live in Maryland and happen to be too far from Washington, D.C. to catch Marcus Johnson perform, don’t fret- Marcus will be performing at the Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis, Maryland on September 2, 2011! To purchase your ticket, Click Here
Date: September 3, 2010
Venue: Rams Head On Stage
Address: 33 West Street Annapolis, MD 21401
Time: 8:00 PM
Best 4 days @ Blues Alley in 15 years!!!!
I just want to thank everyone for coming out to Blues Alley this past weekend. It was the most people that we have had in attendance in 15 years. There were so many of you in line on Saturday, that we had to change the direction of the line as to not interfere with the traffic on Wisconsin Ave.
Read More...Blues Alley
Gtown on a summer Sunday, then Blues Alley for the final night of 4 Amazing nights……..priceless!!!! If u haven’t come yet, come thru! Loves.
Mj
It’s All About Time!! Blog post!
Does time really matter? I often ask myself this question. In an effort to enjoy life and be mindful of the “here and now,” the idea of time seems to be one of the greatest enemies of a peaceful life. Lately, I have heard friends make the following statements:
“I’m getting older and my clock is ticking. If I don’t have kids soon…”
Read More...MARCUS JOHNSON PERFORMANCE AT THE FILLMORE, NC – SOLD OUT
Tickets are sold out for The Fillmore event with Marcus Johnson, Michael Franks and more in Charlotte, NC
tonight. Thank you all for supporting Marcus Johnson!
Don’t forget to get Marcus’ latest digital 3 pack album: Juris Presents…FLO Pak No. 1 feat. Marcus Johnson and Young Pulse.
Click here to buy FLO Pak No. 1!
Read More...Juris Presents… FLO PAK No. 1 Available Now!
CLICK HERE TO BUY FLO PAK NO. 1
FLO Brands, LLC is proud and excited to present the second act for Hit Contemporary Jazz Keyboardist, performer and entrepreneur, Marcus Johnson. Joining the exceptionally talented French producer and DJ, Young Pulse, and together they are Juris. The name, as Johnson explains, originates from being a Georgetown University trained lawyer and Juris will be the law.
Marcus Johnson and Young Pulse “Juris” are gunning for the top music group Thievery Corporation and have produced a new sound, “ Euro-Jazz” , music which envelopes influences from American Jazz, Funk and Hip-hop with lines of Dance, house and electro. Aiming to corral Thievery Corporation, Juris has released Juris FLO Pak No. 1 , a 3- song concept performed and produced by Juris featuring tracks titled Armed Forces, an intense sampling that gives us a feel of pilots talking in the beginning, sound of aircraft and the techno looping of music to give the listener the feel of an aircraft in action and returning to base; the second Labyrinth is the sexual love song, and takes us on a first date, first glance, first talk, smile, kiss and first night… it is a song with a real progression ; the final song in this 3-Pak is titled Rise, and it is an upbeat, “clubby” track showcasing house music, disco and electro with added piano solos by Marcus Johnson.
Most ambient “chill-out” music consists of loops that do nothing but create an aural monotony but JURIS’ Euro-Jazz concept gives the listener a more creative and innovative approach to the effects of synthesizers, and drum programs, accompanied with Marcus Johnson original keyboard solos. This exhilarating combination of musicality allows for a more engaging elegant ambient and sophisticated approach to defining Euro Jazz. Juris recognizes that technology allows them to bring the music to fans in nano-second culture style and their FLO Paks will allow the opportunity to stay on the top of the minds of their followers, believers and fans.
Since branding JURIS as the “law”, Marcus Johnson and Young Pulse plan to shoot for the top and this Juris FLO Pak No. 1 will prove that their aim is right on!
FloBrands, LLC will release a new Juris FLO Pak each month and will offer the listener something a little different. Juris and FLO Brands, LLC also plans to release music from other artists by embracing the new technology which allows reaching the marketplace via twitter, facebook, tunecore, cdbaby, etc. “There really is no need not to combine creative forces and marketing prowess to rise above the noise” says FLO Brands, LLC Chairman, Marcus Johnson. Further, states Johnson, with the decrease in sales of physical CDs and the phenomenon of the music business moving to a streaming model, I think that the monthly release of digital projects is our way to the future.”
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Father’s Day Special!
Just a quick note..if u would like to purchase a personalized cd or a video message for your father from Marcus, please email Kat@threekeys.com.
As always, peace and love!
Read More...Marcus Johnson At Taboo 2 Bistro & Bar In Atlanta On Sunday
Venue: Taboo 2 Bistro
Date: June 12, 2011
Address: 6075 Roswell Rd NE, Atlanta, GA (Just above Buckhead)
View the map
Time: Door opens at 6:00PM
Did you make up your bed this morning? Blog post!
I spent last evening with my parents, 2 of my sisters, brother-in-law, Nieces, and business partner in my new group: Juris. Boy did my sister tear it up. The Mango-Peach pie, while vegan in nature, sure did have those “soul-foodesque” ingredients that added about 100 pounds to my eye-lids….Yeah I go the “NENS”..and if you don’t know what that means, send me a PM.
Well we started speaking about my sister’s upcoming move to Shanghai, China and the fact that my nieces are going to continue violin and sax lessons respectively. Additionally we saw my youngest sister’s 3D-HD television and my brother-in-law handed us a pair of 3D glasses so that we could see the game Call of Duty: Black Ops from the new TV. But he admitted that he didn’t know how to play it at all. Thus, of course, I mentioned youtube.com as the perfect way to learn how to play it. “Whaaaaaat! Really?” Um Yeah….(eyebrows arched)!
Although, I feel as thought technology has taken a serious toll on PERSONAL VERBAL-LOOK ME IN MY EYES communication. It has definitely opened up our access to everything. My nieces explained how they use youtube when learning a new piece. Simply type in “Title” and performance of your favorite piece and see what happens. I mean it’s crazy. Want love advice?…hahahaha…Go to youtube. Want to learn how to play a certain scale…Yep…. you got it…go to youtube and type it in. Need help in quickbooks..mmm hmm! My brother-law-typed in vaginal hysterectomy…yep… it’s there. Although google might be a better source for us non-OBGYN’s. There is at least reason I went to law school and not into medicine. 
So then why are so many of us in this country down and out and feeling more trapped than ever? What’s really funny is that if you put this into Google just as a sentence and type it in, you’ll find out that there is someone who has posted on this as well. But from lil ole MJ, I want to posit that life has become like a school of fish to a Shark! We have lost sight of the trees for the forest. And the main tree that we have lost sight of is that one that we see each day in the mirror-the one that we need to take a second out of the day and query….”how are YOU doing today..overall?”: “How are you feeling about life?”: “When was the last time we treated YOU to a vacation/movie/date/drink or just a second to remember our own personal humanity.” : “Was what you said fair?”: “Are YOU being selfish or Self-Centered?”
Honestly, I can only give you a certain amount of questions to ask yourself…. But I know one thing, you cannot avoid those that are in your head. Yep…the ones that keep you awake at night, or distract you during the day. These are the questions, that when addressed, allow your self-conscious to know that you still have time to love yourself.
It’s as my mom always said, “No matter how dirty your room is, before you leave, “Make up your DAMN bed!” What I learned is by taking the 30 seconds to make up my bed, It set me off on the right track everyday and was the perfect investment for the future…Because, everyday, when I get home I have a made bed and it lets me know that although life is crazy, I still have just a little control. And it’s the same when you ask yourself those questions. It might not even be in the same day. But when you go through life, those little conversations or “youtubesque” queries allow your soul to guide YOU in the direction in which you REALLY want to go! So, take a sec away from the smartphone, PS3, kids, spouse, mom, and life and take the time to make up your bed of consciousness. Cause after the daily grind, its a great comforter….Did you make your bed today?
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Okay so this is a busy week for me…
The Next 10 Days are about to be a little crazy for me so I wanted to give a quick update outside of the newsletter.
Read More...FLO Lifestyle Newsletter June 2, 2011
Welcome to FLO Lifestyle! FLO (For the Love Of) Lifestyle aims to help you achieve your personal lifestyle endeavors by keeping you updated on the latest lifestyle offerings. Additionally, FLO Lifestyle provides you with up-to-date info on Marcus Johnson and Three Keys Music.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW FLO LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER!
Read More...Marcus Johnson Project at 21st Amendment Today
Join us as Marcus Johnson’s returns to his Thursday evening set at Washington DC’s 21st Amendment Bar & Grill.
Enjoy this incredible after-work, cool out session featuring food, drinks, and smooth jazz by the Marcus Johnson Project.
Venue: 21st Amendment @ Holiday Inn – Capitol
Date: June 2, 2011
Address: 550 C Street, SW, Washington, D.C.
View the map
Time: 6:00 – 9:00pm
FLO Lifestyle Newsletter May 25,2011
Welcome to FLO Lifestyle! FLO (For the Love Of) Lifestyle aims to help you achieve your personal lifestyle endeavors by keeping you updated on the latest lifestyle offerings. Additionally, FLO Lifestyle provides you with up-to-date info on Marcus Johnson and Three Keys Music.
Check out this week’s FLO Lifestyle Newsletter Here!
Read More...Crap or Fertilizer – Blog Post
Okay, so I’m in LA right now, working my butt (a$$) off to make some things happen before the event honoring Kathy Ireland on Wednesday; then to catch a plane back on Thursday, and off to NYC on Friday. So I must have a little faith that all this will go off well…hey? Well, as I often say, I go through the same things as each of you.
Read More...YWCA GLA Salutes Kathy Ireland and Council President Pro Tempore Jan Perry at 2011 Phenomenal Woman Awards Luncheon Today at Omni Hotel
2011 MJ Music Summer Camp For Young Adults – REGISTER NOW!
Are you inspired to sing, play music or write songs? Join our one week intensive program that develops artistic and personal growth. Gain feedback from music industry professionals, jam with peers and perform LIVE!
Read More...2011 NAACP Leadership 500 Summit – Hollywood, Florida
Marcus Johnson will grace Leadership 500 attendess with his musical talents as part of the evening activities on May 27, 2011 at the Westin Diplomat Hotel and Spa. Now in its 7th year, Leadership 500 is the premier conference and networking event for Executives, Educators, Managers, Thought Leaders and for those aspiring leaders from the Corporate, Non Profit, Health, and Government sectors.Leadership 500 was founded for the purpose of developing leaders through direct engagement, seminars and networking events designed to inspire, educate and motivate the next generation of Leaders.
WPFW 89.3 FM Fundraiser Benefit Performance
WPFW 89.3 FM is hosting a Fundraiser and Kick-Off Event on May 26, 2011 at the Aloft Hotel in National Harbor, MD.
Marcus Johnson will be having a trio performance in support of the said event.
Address: 156 Waterfront Street National Harbor, MD 20745
For more information, visit WPFW 89.3 FM’s website.
2011 YWCA Awards Benefit Performance – Omni Los Angeles Hotel
Ticket Price: $175
Crap or Fertilizer – Blog Post
Okay, so I’m in LA right now, working my butt (a$$) off to make some things happen before the event honoring Kathy Ireland on Wednesday; then to catch a plane back on Thursday, and off to NYC on Friday. So I must have a little faith that all this will go off well…hey? Well, as I often say, I go through the same things as each of you.
Even though, I love what I do, the music industry has become a Monster, like many of the industries out here. The only way to make it through is finding the peace and forgiveness in it. Well how does one do that MJ? Hell, I don’t know but I figured church was a good place to start…and please excuse the reference to hell..but they sort of mentioned it in church last night. I went to the meditation and revelation service at Agape (LA) and walked in a little late to meditation. To say that me and my friend were a little timid to walk in on a meditation and meditation music is an understatement. But we did. After 20 minutes of silence and my eyes watering for some reason that I need to explore further, we began service. It was pretty amazing. Nah..it was truly amazing – not the 5000 person services that occur there each Sunday morning. It was about 20 people looking for something – us included. After some introductions, the speaker began, and mentioned how church was a gathering but how in the Aramaic language, the word for church could be construed to mean pruning…(hmmmm). No wonder it can hurt so much. But the most amazing tidbit that I got out of it was the idea of intention and faith. Many of us live in the past and the future. We never give ourselves enough self love to enjoy the day and thus, just like eating a sandwich without tasting it, or arriving at a place without remembering the ride, we live our lives not valuing the most important thing given to us – TODAY/NOW. I never really think about the fact that living the “right now” probably takes the most faith of all. This is so, because it assumes that we have forgiven ourselves (and God…don’t front) for whence we have come and are secure about tomorrow to a degree that allows us to live right now using a slow breath to enjoy the soul of the world. Imagine that warm bath of infinite love every day – all day.But it’s so hard to do.
Personally, I want to hold on to things of the past, MJ the wonder kid, the lawyer, the MBA, the star, blah blah blah. I want to blame things and people for where I am – separated, heartbroken by many people, and trying desperately to listen to God for my direction…and YES blaming God too for all this “CRAP.” But as I learned last night, faith is in the so-called crap. It”s in the ex-girlfriends, ex-marraige, ex-employees who stole equipment from our studio, people who don’t want to see someone with my faith of JOB to maintain it, people scared of our intellect, my mother’s illness, all of my personal shortcomings, the disruption in my industry and every other “not so good”/”painful” experience I’ve/We’ve been through. Faith allows you to understand that what starts out as Crap can be transformed into and used as Fertilizer. I swear to you, I had to laugh at this. I/We’ve been beating ourselves up for all of these things of the past and “hopes” for the future not recognizing that, no matter what, God provides the tools to turn whatever crap we’ve experience into fertilizer so that we may grow into our next incarnation. Furthermore, the most beautiful thing about it, in God’s infinite wisdom, is that “he gave us an aroma to distinguish the two”…(shaking my head with a smile). It’s often that simple.
Well, in the beginning of the service, I promised to give up self-judgment and self hate and to replace it with forgiveness and acceptance. Stuff that’s pretty generic….But by the end, I just decided to use my nose a little more and follow the path towards my fertilizer. May you find comfort in doing the same.
Loves you all MJ!
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Event Cancellation – Jazz For Moms at the Constitution Hall
We have been advised from the Promoter of Jazz For Moms that the event on April 30 at Constitution Hall has been canceled.
If you have purchased tickets for this event, Ticketmaster will provide an automatic refund for tickets bought online or by phone using your purchase payment method. If you bought your tickets at a retail location, please return them at the same location for a refund. For questions about your ticket purchase, please call Ticketmaster at 800-653-8000.
Thank you very much.
Three Keys Music
Read More...Before a dream is realized.
As I’m trying to figure out this thing called “life,” I have started to go back through some of my favorite and most inspirational books. I think my all time favorite story about life and overcoming the curves that are inevitable Is the Alchemist. This is just one of many gems in this treasure.
“Know this: before a dream is realized” the soul of the world tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this NOT because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we’ve learned as we’ve moved toward that dream. That’s the point at which most people give up. Its the point at which, as we say in the language of the desert, one dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon.” “Every search begins with beginner’s luck. And every search ends with the victor’s being severely tested.”
Just hold on to your dreams and know that the hard part of this and your other dreams is just part of the journey. I guess sometimes the destination IS the journey! Rock on! Muah!
Read More...Jazz For Moms At Constitution Hall (April 30) – Cancelled
We have been advised from the Promoter of Jazz For Moms that the event on April 30 at Constitution Hall has been canceled.
If you have purchased tickets for this event, Ticketmaster will provide an automatic refund for tickets bought online or by phone using your purchase payment method. If you bought your tickets at a retail location, please return them at the same location for a refund. For questions about your ticket purchase, please call Ticketmaster at 800-653-8000.
Thank you very much.
Read More...“Yoga X” 2 Days ago and “Legs and Back” yesterday equals..
PAIN!!!!!! But pain equals growth. There is so much to learn in life…even from P90X! Bring it!
Love you all!
MJ
Read More...Marcus Johnson To Host The Cosmopolitan (Embassy Suites Hotel)
Click image to enlarge
We invite you to indulge in the Embassy Suites Hotel’s monthly entertainment event, “The Cosmopolitan.” Not only will you be able to meet and greet some of DC’s finest, but you’ll enjoy the jazz stylings of — who else — Marcus Johnson this Friday! Not to mention the complimentary cosmopolitans and hors d’oeuvres… C’est magnifique! Come join us for an evening of jazz.
Event Details:
Date: Friday, April 8, 2011
Time: 9:00 PM – 3:00 AM
Venue: Embassy Suites Hotel in the Main Ballroom
Address: 900 10th Street Washington, D.C. 20001
Dress: Distinguished Attire (Ladies – Cocktail Dresses, Gentlemen – Jackets Required)
Price: $20/ticket
Limited Advanced $20 Tickets Available Here!
Additional Details:
DJ & Dancing
Valet Parking Available
Bottle Service / Table Reservations
Mt. Ephraim Show Rescheduled
We Are Rescheduling!
Date: April 16, 2011
Venue: Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church
Address: 610 Largo Road, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774
Time: 7:00pm
Tickets: $35 Single; $65 Couple
For tickets, call (301) 808-1584
Click picture to enlarge
Schedule Change for 21st Amendment
Marcus will no longer be performing at Holiday Inn’s 21st Amendment Bar & Grill every Thursday. Starting after April 7, performances will be every other week. Marcus, however, will still be performing Thursday, April 7, 2011, so be sure to grab a seat!
Date: April 7, 2011
Address: 550 C Street, SW, Washington, D.C.
Time: 6:00 – 9:00pm
Brasserie Chic: La Coupole Takes Over Washington
The Alliance Française de Washington Presents “Brasserie Chic: La Coupole” with Juris
Join us for an evening filled with historic Parisien charm and modern innovation at The Washington Club. Guests will have the honor of tasting hors d’oeuvres prepared by Roland Borne, technical Director of the Brasseries Flo, and acclaimed chefs Jean-Philippe Bourgueil of the legendary La Coupole brasserie in Paris.
Gifted pianist, Marcus Johnson, with DJ Young Pulse as Juris will bring a contemporary element to the soiree as guests peruse a silent auction of photographs. Exhibiting both environmental and cultural awareness, the artwork spotlights water preservation and the historic La Coupole restaurant itself. Proceeds from the auction will benefit Rotary Club International. Please click here to learn more.
Date: April 12, 2011
Venue: The Washington Club
Address: 15 Dupont Circle N.W., Washington D.C., 20036
Time: 7:00pm
Tickets: General Admission $70, $45 for members of Rotary International and Alliance Francaise de Washington. Registration required. www.francedc.org, 202.234.7911
Arista Records LLC v. Lime Group LLC lexology.com In copyright infringement litigation against peer-to-peer network, court limits plaintiffs to one award of statutory damages per song infringed.
Their Logic……”otherwise awards would be in trillions.”
The logic that the courts use here is the exact logic that demands that they protect the intellectual property rights that are being infringed upon. The reason that the legislature passed such a punitive damage is because, expressly in the constitution (Article 1 Section 8), it is written that patents and copyrights would be given to promote the arts and sciences. By handing down this decision, the courts have, yet again, legislated in the face of what elected representatives (i.e. congress) thought best to protect intellectual property rights and to “promote the arts…” in this case. I wonder if any of these justices are working musicians who are watching the deconstruction of an entire industry, based on free peer 2 peer. The courts should validate long standing copyright law and that of the global agreements and treaties that we have signed. If it means that these infringing companies, are forced out of business, so be it. At some point, the law and its true intentions are going to have to be enforced. Either we are a country of laws that are defined properly, and in their constitutional meaning, or we are in serious trouble. I’m afraid we are staring down the latter.
Peace and love!
MJ
Let Go and Let God…….Maybe just Maybe things will start happnin’
The words of this song definitely hit me. We all try so hard to take control of our lives in this “I” market- meaning Iphone, ipod, I (aka me me me me me me me). Regardless of your background and belief(s), Imagine if you just let “That” thing that awakened you this morning to have a little time to do its/his work. Cause you certainly didn’t wake yourself, make your heart beat, eyes see, lungs breath, ears hear, fingers feel, tongue taste, etc- no matter what you believe. It just may allow things to start happening. Try to just get our of the way.
PJ Morton is one of the most talented Gospel Katz on this planet. I respected his work since we met when he had a group called Free Style nation. I know that I needed this, THIS morning, I hope that you will allow it to move you too!
Enjoy this and listen to it. Really listen to it.
MJ
Marcus Johnson in Le Baiser Salé Paris
Thanks to Nicolas Rieppi for the video.
Read More...Enter To Win A Free Pair Of Shoes And Free Marcus Johnson Signed CD
Ever heard of Creative Recreation shoes? They are some of the nicest shoes on the market! Want a chance at a FREE pair and a CD autographed by Marcus Johnson himself?
Here’s How:
* Buy a ticket to Marcus’ show at The Blue Note on March 26 by clicking here.
* Forward the confirmation email of your purchase to Jayson@threekeys.com. Make sure to change the subject line of the email to “Blue Note Contest”. Please include your name and contact number in the email. You will be entered into a raffle to win the Creative Recreation shoe and an autograph CD from Marcus.
* Deadline for submission is at 11:00pm on Thursday, March 24, 2011
The winner will be announced and contacted on Friday, March 25, 2011.
Read More...AARP Foundation, Jeff Gordon and Marcus Johnson Work Together To End Hunger
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2011
Contact: Beverly Garland
Garland.Beverly@threekeys.com
AARP, AARP Foundation, Nationwide Insurance, Jeff Gordon, and Marcus Johnson Work Together to End Hunger
March 1, 2011 Silver Spring, MD – Jeff Gordon, AARP, The AARP Foundation, and Marcus Johnson have teamed up to halt one of the biggest issues in the US: hunger. The extensive campaign, “Drive to End Hunger” is charging Americans to donate so that the statistics might diminish.
AARP and Jeff Gordon navigate the initiative with an enlightening website that allows contributors to donate directly on the website or through cellular phone donation. Marcus Johnson willingly donated the song, “Puzzle” to the feature video clip, to help spread the word about hunger and the surprising yet heart wrenching facts related to senior citizens.
“I think this is a big deal,” said Marcus Johnson, “Older adults have worked hard enough and should not have to wonder if they will eat on any given day.” According to AARP, more than six million seniors face the threat of hunger everyday.
Click here to view the clip (add the link to the clip). To make a donation visit www.drivetoendhunger.org or text HUNGER to 50555 to make a donation of $10.
About Marcus Johnson
Johnson is President and CEO of Marimelj Entertainment Group, LLC, which is the parent company to Washington, DC based Three Keys Music. A Billboard charting jazz musician, Johnson is a former host of the morning jazz radio show “Smooth Jazz 105.9” and was featured on “Idol Chatter,” an American Idol commentary segment on Fox 5 DC News. His lifestyle brand titled, FLO (For the Love of…)™, embraces the journey in which one discovers those things in life that are fulfilling and mood enhancing. The FLO™ brand is the mastermind behind many successful ventures such as the FLO Wines™, FLO Music™, and FLO Fest™. Johnson holds a JD and MBA from Georgetown University and serves as an adjunct professor for the university. He serves on numerous boards and speaks publicly on many occasions throughout the nation. For more information regarding Marcus Johnson please visit www.threekeys.com.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world’s largest-circulation magazine with over 34.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP’s 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
About Hendrick Motorsports
Since 1984, Hendrick Motorsports has earned 13 championships in NASCAR’s top three divisions and 194 victories in the sanctioning body’s premier series, the Sprint Cup. The organization fields four full-time Chevrolet teams on the Sprint Cup Series circuit with drivers Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Headquartered in Concord, N.C., Hendrick Motorsports employs more than 500 people. For more information about Hendrick Motorsports, please visit www.HendrickMotorsports.com, www.twitter.com/TeamHendrick and www.facebook.com/HendrickMotorsports.
Relaxation Video Featuring Cherish The Journey by Marcus Johnson
Marcus Johnson Featured On Uptown Jazz Dallas
Founder Chat Room # 2 (with Marcus Johnson of Three Keys Music) from UptownJazzDallasIJF on Vimeo.
Read More...Live Performance at 21st Amendment
Thanks to Leonard ElJay DeShield for this video.
Read More...Hello From Pairee! March 8, 2011
Japan, we are here for you.
A quick, yet deep, thought to all of those affected directly and indirectly by the tragic events that occurred yesterday in Japan – and the after affects. For our Japanese friends, we are here for you. Please keep us in the loop of how you are doing and how we may help. Peace and Love MJ
Read More...FLO Lifestyle March 8, 2011
Click here to check out gig updates about Marcus Johnson and news Three Keys Music!
Read More...Let Go of the Rice…..
The reading for March 7th from “The Awakening,” by Mark Nepo.. This is an incredible book. It’s another 2am night..out of the country… and I thought that I would share some of what I read to make it through each day. I hope it is inspirational to you!
Read More...Marcus Johnson Speaking At Howard University’s Law School
Washington, DC (March 4, 2011) – Howard University’s Sports and Entertainment Law Student’s Association is hosting the 15th Annual Center Court Conference from February 28 to March 4. Marcus Johnson will be part of the panel on Music 101: Deal Making & the Impact of Social Networking joining Kenneth Kauffman and Matt Middleton.
For more information, please visit Howard Law Website.
Read More...Music Biz Video Podcast Episode 1
Hey everyone! Please check out my first Music Biz Podcast. The first episode is about record labels NOT knowing enough about their music fans… about resisting the inevitable changes in music business and not going with the flow and maximizing the opportunities to make money.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS EPISODE.
Read More...Birthday Shoutouts for February
It must be real hard to be in a relationship with you….Or any musician.
Okay, so it’s like 2am EST and I just left LAX headed back to DC for two performances tonight and I’m tired. Although, I have followed my dream and encourage everyone else to follow his or hers, let me be clear: This is not easy. This industry is so crazy right now, no, this world is in such a dynamic structural change that it feels like spiritual and philosophical civil war. You have the old regime telling you about the hey day of the music and the new guys telling you that cd sales are a thing of the past. You have agents telling you that you work too much for them to book you and others telling you that you need more radio airplay and sales to register on their radar. You have retail telling you to get a distributor and the distributor telling you that you have get retail. It’s enough to make you, as my mom would say, laugh out loud to keep from crying. But if you ask me, that’s just business. Each of these people, though, are just working at their current state of consciousness and trying to make a living….. And yes some of them are just buttholes (with a capital A) who are protecting positions of arrogant entitlement. But the one statement that pisses me off more than any other is the following statement or its progeny:
“Wow your schedule is tough. It must be hard to be in a relationship with a musician!”
Are you kidding me! Musicians and artists, as a whole, are some of the most compassionate, romantic, loving people around. We are used to compromise because we have had to compromise our hearts and dreams for most of our lives. What amazes me is the selfishness and lack of consideration for the artist in this statement. Everyone always automatically assumes that artsits(male and females) are living a glamorous life every day. Hey, I’m in Paris today, I’m in DC tomorrow, I’m in LA at the end of the week. Hmmmmm. I don’t hear many people say, “Hmmmm let me think. That was 7 hours to Paris with a 6 hour difference followed by an 8 hour flight back with a 6 hour difference-that got you to zero-followed by a 5 hour flight to LA that gave you back 3 extra hours only to lose them on the 4 hour Red Eye back to DC! Damn man do you need a hug?” No one ever says, “Wow man! I know you have to miss being with the one(s you love! It must be really hard on you to wake up in a hotel after a night not drinking and have to take a second to realize what city you are in.” I think the funniest was the morning I was doing my morning show on 105.9 and got up in a frenzy because it was 4:45 am and I had to be on the air at 5. I jumped up, into the shower, and have no idea how I actually got into my clothing only to be told by my then girlfriend, “Baby what’s wrong? It’s Saturday!” As in that was my day off. Dooooh!
People, we miss our friends and family member’s birthdays, engagements, sports activities, school activities, cookouts, family reunions, graduations, and the like. We miss out on the things that matter most like, going to the store to get our sick loved ones Thera-flu, aspirin, Motrin, Vicks, and coffee. We miss first steps, date night, deaths, births (and the activities that lead to births), behind the scenes at proms, and homecomings. We miss waking up on Saturday Morning and doing nothing and finishing the work day to go home and not to a gig. We miss all of this and mostly being able to look into our love ones eyes to let them know, in a moment of silence, that I’m/we’re doing this because we love you and we have your Friggin ASS back, Ride or Die, For REAL playa style! And know this too….It hurts! We love what we do but it hurts like hell to be absent from these things. But there is no one (or not many people) who are flying “privately” above me in a G550 (that’s entourage style) that didn’t make this sacrifice. And when I do get that chance and have those folk whom I love, within my eyesight, there is no doubting my exact feelings. I’m there’s 100% and even if the Droid goes off or I’m blazing off a text or two know that I’m there and 100% theirs and wouldn’t rather be anywhere else.
So the next time you tell a working man or woman with a demanding dream job how rough it may be to date them, think about this..We f#$%!!!g know it. So just shut up, look into their eyes and let them love you 100%. Now good nite!
Read More...Three Keys Music Newsletter Feb. 9, 2011
Check out our newsletter for this week by clicking HERE!
Have a good weekend everyone!
Peace and Love, MJ
Read More...But MJ…I have to make a living! I understand But…
My speeches at the Randolph middle school (yesterday) and High school(this morning) were very inspirational to me. I met a young man by the name of Nick Lee. You should google him because he is 17, has developed iphone apps, used the proceeds to buy his OWN car, and is one hell of a jazz pianist. I knew that I was where I was supposed to be as soon as Nick mentioned that he loved music but was going to go to college to follow computer science because “[he] had to make a living!”
Read More...Continuing to roll!
It was a long day today in the office. I love the new staff and am looking forward to seeing the rewards of our time investments. I’m on my way to speak tomorrow in New Jersey. I enjoy reminding students that they can still and must dream.
Read More...Search For The Next Band Member
Three Keys Music is looking for new band members to work with Marcus Johnson.
Please send the following to sedoniab@aol.com and gift@threekeys.com:
1. Mp3s or video link to music
2. Contact Information
3. Short Background of Music Experience
Please include the subject line “Band Member Submission”.
Read More...MJ Presents FLO Holiday Brought To You By CocaCola
Marcus Johnson collaborates with Coca-Cola for the Holiday Season. With purchase of any Coca-Cola product at Giant Food Stores, you will receive a FREE Marcus Johnson’s FLO Holiday 2010 CD.
Read More...FLO™ Chill Volume 2 – For The Love Of The Contemporary Lifestyle
National recording jazz keyboardist and NAACP Image Award nominee Marcus Johnson has joined forces with Young Pulse (of the European group SoFresh Squad and creator of the French remix of Soulja Boy’s “Crank That”) to release FLO Chill: Volume 2. Young Pulse, a smooth urban European producer, journeyed across the Atlantic to join Marcus Johnson, one of the
Read More...TIHIR Review By Patrick Van de Wiele of Smooth Jazz
This Is How I Rock
CD Review
Published: October 6, 2010
By: Patrick Van de Wiele
Web Link: http://www.smoothjazz.eu/index4.php
TIHIR Review By Bill Buckley of Soul Jazz and Funk
This Is How I Rock
CD Review
Published: September 13, 2010
By: Bill Buckley
Web Link: http://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/reviews/1043-marcus-johnson-this-is-how-i-rock-three-keys-music.html
TIHIR Review By Ronald Jackson of Smooth Jazz Ride
CD Review
Published: Sept. 1, 2010
By: Ronald Jackson
Web Link: http://www.thesmoothjazzride.com/site/marcus-johnson-this-is-how-i-rock/
This Is How I Rock On Billboard Jazz Albums Chart
This Is How I Rock Is On iTunes’ New and Notable Jazz Music
TIHIR Is Featured #3 on Jet Magazine’s Top Jazz Play List
New Album Released
After the success of the Billboard charting Poetically Justified, Marcus Johnson, releases his latest CD This Is How I Rock on July 27, 2010. The album boldly delves into the pop/rock genre with a jazz spin as Johnson captures some of the industry’s most notable songs that influenced him earlier in his career. This CD exemplifies Johnson’s versatility and brilliant interpretive skills and will engage listeners with his signature jazz funk sound.
“I Can’t Go For That” Single Radio Airplay
Here is the Smooth Jazz airplay on Marcus Johnson “I Can’t Go For That”:
Monitored airplay:
Smooth Jazz airplay on Marcus Johnson for “I Can’t Go For That”:
Charlotte, NC
Winston-Salem, NC
Fayetteville, NC
Manteo, NC
Greensboro, NC
Charleston, SC
The Single Is Already Receiving Rave Reviews!
Johnson adds a sophisticated piano sheen on the Hall & Oates’ R&B/Pop hit, I Can’t Go For That, the lead single produced by Robert McDonald, is riveting, in the groove, fun, and drives Marcus Johnson on piano to a high-level of funk and jazz.
Read More...FLO Wines Released
Marcus Johnson proudly introduces the first three wines under the FLO…(For the Love Of)™ Wines label.
2009 FLO…(For the Love Of)™ Charval White Wine
2008 FLO…(For the Love Of)™ Cabernet Franc
2008 FLO…(For the Love Of)™ Red
Marcus in Washingtonian Magazine
Life of Song
When not performing or recording, this musician is playing for charity and preaching from his keyboard pulpit.
By Gretchen Cook Published Monday, February 01, 2010
A teenage crush turned Marcus Johnson into a musician. “I wanted to write a song for this young lady, and I decided, ‘Okay, I’m going to do this music thing,’ ” says the pianist and composer.
Read More...Keyboardist Marcus Johnson Thrilled Visitors To The Jazz Club
By Kerstin Rickert
Translated from German
Source: Google Translation
Minden (kr). “Cherish the Journey” is a song from Marcus Johnson’s latest album “Poetically Justified” and the musical journey that the gifted-keyboardist undertook from Washington DC on Saturday in the Jazz Club Minden, enjoyed the audience already from the first note with great enthusiasm.
Read More...Marcus Johnson for NAACP Image Awards
Founded on February 12, 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its half-million adult and youth members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, and monitor equal opportunity in the public and private sectors. For more information on the NAACP IMAGE AWARDS, please visit naacpimageawards.net.
Read More...Amazing CD reviews for Poetically Justified
Mike Joyce
The Washington Post – Link
Brian Soergel
JazzTimes – Link
Anne Aufderheide
SmoothViews.com – Link
Bill Buckley
SoulandJazzandFunk.com – Link
Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe – Link
MJ: Wake Up With Al Roker
Marcus Johnson was a featured guest on The Weather Channel’s “Wake Up With Al”. The segment featured a live performance by Marcus Johnson and a lengthy interview by weather personality Al Roker.
Click here to watch the segment
Read More...Attorney General Gives Pianist A Case Of Stage Fright
Everyone gets a little choked up sometimes, but over Eric Holder?
Marcus Johnson, who has the No. 4 album on Billboard’s jazz chart, slid his fingers a little too quickly on the keyboard Monday when performing the national anthem at the Department of Justice’s domestic violence awareness event.
Read More...Oxon Hill Jazz Musician Keeps Busy Loving Life
When asked to describe his mind state, Marcus Johnson has two words: “Loving life.”
And why shouldn’t he be? The jazz pianist owns his own studio and the FLO and Three Keys Music labels, releases albums on an almost annual basis, lives in hip National Harbor and just returned from a European tour.
Read More...
