Steve Marcus

Tenor saxophonist Steve "The Count" Marcus helped lay the groundwork for the style later recognized as fusion. He entered the world in New York City on September 18, 1939. Although his first wish was to play guitar, the absence of an instructor led him to begin with clarinet before switching to saxophone at age 15. While enrolled at the Berklee School of Music in 1962, he encountered Stan Kenton during the bandleader’s Boston engagement. After Kenton’s tenor saxophonist Charlie Mariano missed a rehearsal to see relatives, Marcus filled the chair and received a permanent offer six weeks afterward. When Kenton disbanded the orchestra in late 1963, Marcus spent time with Woody Herman and Gary Burton while also leading groups of his own. In 1966 he aligned with Herbie Mann as the flautist first explored rock rhythms and ethnic music. The next year Marcus formed the Count’s Rock Band with guitarist Larry Coryell, and the ensemble recorded the 1968 Mann-produced jazz-rock landmark Tomorrow Never Knows. Widely dismissed as a sellout on its initial release, the album has since become a cult classic and stands among the earliest and most effective blends of jazz and psychedelia. Marcus and Coryell reconvened in 1969 within Foreplay, an ensemble that foreshadowed their later fusion venture Eleventh House. During 1970 Marcus traveled to Japan alongside experimental guitarist Sonny Sharrock. He entered the Buddy Rich Big Band in 1975 and remained with Rich until the drummer’s death in 1987. Prompted by Marcus, Rich incorporated rock and electronic elements, allowing the orchestra to stay viable while most other large ensembles disbanded. Following Rich’s passing, Marcus assumed leadership of the group; in 1999 he reunited with former members to make the LP Buddy’s Buddies. One year later he and Coryell collaborated once more, now under the name the Count’s Jam Band. Marcus passed away in New Hope, Pennsylvania on September 25, 2005.