The Marcus King Band

The Marcus King Band, led by South Carolina guitar virtuoso Marcus King, has carved out a powerful niche in modern blues-rock and Americana. Founded in 2013 in Greenville, the band -- featuring drummer Jack Ryan, bassist Stephen Campbell, horn player Justin Johnson, saxophonist Dean Mitchell, and keyboardist Mike Runyon -- blend fiery southern rock, deep blues, soul, and psychedelic grooves, honed through relentless touring.

King, a fourth-generation musician, picked up the guitar around age 3 and was gigging with his father by age 8, leaving high school in his junior year to tour full‑time. The band's early work includes Soul Insight (2015), The Marcus King Band (2016), and Carolina Confessions (2018), each earning top‑10 placements on the Billboard Blues Albums chart.

Branching out as a solo artist, King released El Dorado in January 2020. The album debuted at #1 on multiple charts—Top New Artist, Americana/Folk, Current Rock, and Blues—and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Americana Album.

In early 2024, King unveiled Mood Swings, his third solo album and the first produced by legendary Rick Rubin. Produced at Rubin’s Shangri‑La studio and Nashville’s Easy Eye Sound, the record strips back arrangements and delivers a deeply personal, soul‑infused exploration of mental health and renewal. Rubin’s holistic approach helped Marcus confront struggles with anxiety and addiction, channeling them into hopeful, candid songwriting.

From his intense live performances to his candid solo work, The Marcus King Band and King himself have become a vital force in contemporary roots music—bridging old-school Southern soul with modern authenticity.