Bio
Marcus Amaker was named Charleston, SC’s first Poet Laureate in 2016.
He’s also the award-winning graphic designer of a national music journal, an accomplished electronic musician, the creator of a poetry festival, and a mentor to hundreds of students.
His poetry was selected to be published alongside two national book award winners in an anthology of African American poetry, and has been featured by PBS Newshour, SC Public Radio, Huffington Post, A&E Network, Charleston Magazine, Charleston City Paper, North Dakota Quarterly, Post and Courier, Charleston Scene and several other publications.
In 2019, he won a Governor’s Arts award in South Carolina, and was named the artist-in-residence of the Gaillard Center, a world-renowned performance and education venue.
His poetry has been studied in classrooms across the country and has been interpreted for ballet, jazz, modern dance, opera and theater.
Marcus has released two albums with Grammy Award winning drummer and producer Quentin E. Baxter.
