---
name: "Branford Marsalis"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/branford-marsalis"
fi1m_id: "branford-marsalis"
imdb_id: "nm0550364"
tmdb_id: 192272
wikidata_id: "Q454819"
roles: ["Composer"]
born: "26 August 1960"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-27T08:35:44.702418+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Branford Marsalis

## Identity

Branford Marsalis

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/branford-marsalis
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** branford-marsalis
- **IMDb ID:** nm0550364
- **TMDB ID:** 192272
- **Wikidata ID:** Q454819
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branford_Marsalis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q454819, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0550364/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/192272

Composer. Born 26 August 1960 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Composer
- **Born:** 26 August 1960, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branford_Marsalis, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q454819, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0550364/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/192272

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*Ma Rainey's Black Bottom*](https://film.one/film/ma-raineys-black-bottom.md) (69)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer and bandleader. Born on 26 August 1960, he is known for leading the Branford Marsalis Quartet and for his work across jazz, classical and other genres. He led The Tonight Show Band from 1992 to 1995 and founded the Marsalis Music label in 2002.

Marsalis has composed scores and provided music for films including *Ma Rainey's Black Bottom* (2020). He has also appeared in acting roles or as himself in productions such as *Eve's Bayou* (1997), *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* (1990) and *Living Single* (1993). He is the brother of musicians Wynton, Delfeayo and Jason Marsalis.

*Sources: imdb.com, branfordmarsalis.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Ma Rainey's Black Bottom* (2020), Fi1m 69, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/ma-raineys-black-bottom.md)

## Complete filmography (25)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Rustin* (2023), Original Music Composer
- *Murders That Matter* (2023), Music
- *Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre* (2021), Original Music Composer
- *Ma Rainey's Black Bottom* (2020), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 69, [page](https://film.one/film/ma-raineys-black-bottom.md)
- *The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks* (2017), Original Music Composer
- *The Eye of the Storm* (2011), Musician
- *web62.com InterViews* (2005), series, as Branford Marsalis
- *Branford Marsalis: A Love Supreme Live In Amsterdam* (2003), as Tenor saxophone
- *3 A.M.* (2001), Original Music Composer
- *Once in the Life* (2000), Original Music Composer
- *Goosed* (1999), Original Music Composer
- *Eve's Bayou* (1997), as Harry
- *Mr. and Mrs. Loving* (1996), Original Music Composer
- *Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child* (1995), series, as Branford Frog (voice)
- *To My Daughter With Love* (1994), Original Music Composer
- *Without a Pass* (1992), Music
- *The Russia House* (1990), Musician
- *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air* (1990), series, as Branford Marsalis, Duane
- *Mo' Better Blues* (1990), as Party Guest
- *Spike & Co.: Do It a Cappella* (1990), Actor
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, Music
- *School Daze* (1988), as Jordan
- *Throw Momma from the Train* (1987), as Lester
- *Horn of Plenty* (1986), as Cecil
- *Friday Night Videos* (1983), series, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Branford Marsalis (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/3937768/gallery-5570cfd98a10.jpg) Branford Marsalis (2014) — U.S. Embassy Brasilia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Branford_Marsalis_%2827869484057%29.jpg/1280px-Branford_Marsalis_%2827869484057%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Branford Marsalis (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/3937768/gallery-3b4386960d1e.jpg) Branford Marsalis (2014) — U.S. Embassy Brasilia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Branford_Marsalis_%2842689207692%29.jpg/1280px-Branford_Marsalis_%2842689207692%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Branford Marsalis at a concert in Bielsko-Biala at the Lotos Jazz Festival (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/3937768/gallery-07ff441983d0.jpg) Branford Marsalis at a concert in Bielsko-Biala at the Lotos Jazz Festival (2019) — Dorota Koperska Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Branford_Marsalis_03.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Branford Marsalis at 2011 World Youth Peace Summit event in West Hartford, CT](https://film.one/media/person/3937768/gallery-a80df6682929.jpg) Branford Marsalis at 2011 World Youth Peace Summit event in West Hartford, CT — darlene susco, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/BMarsalis%402011WYPS1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Branford Marsalis](https://film.one/media/person/3937768/gallery-674ef25c499e.jpg) Branford Marsalis — Image via TMDB
- ![Branford Marsalis at a concert in Bielsko-Biala at the Lotos Jazz Festival (2019)](https://film.one/media/person/3937768/gallery-fab7b05dcea1.jpg) Branford Marsalis at a concert in Bielsko-Biala at the Lotos Jazz Festival (2019) — Dorota Koperska Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Branford_Marsalis_02.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Branford Marsalis](https://film.one/media/person/3937768/gallery-b01be3a3fcea.jpg) Branford Marsalis — Tom Beetz @ http://home.hetnet.nl/~tbeetz/index.html, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Branford_Marsalis.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

## Awards

### Other awards — 2 won, 1 nominated

- North Carolina Award for Fine Arts 2011: North Carolina Award for Fine Arts (won)
- Tony Award for Best Original Score 2010: Tony Award for Best Original Score (nominated), for *Fences*
- Echo Klassik – Classical Music without Borders 2001: Echo Klassik – Classical Music without Borders (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/branford-marsalis