Jennifer Marks

Originally from Long Island, Jennifer Marks gave up her addiction to big hair and moved to New York City. She learned how to say coffee without the 'aw' and how to play guitar. Jennifer made her first CD Pizza in 1998, and successfully launched her career on the New York music front, becoming known for her smart on-stage humor, sexy lyrics and clever tunes. Time Out New York said, "Not only does Marks have great songs but she knows just how to throw Œem at you". Pizza brought Jennifer critical acclaim, and gave her the opportunity to create Red Kurl Records, which released her next album My Name's Not Red, in 2000.

My Name's Not Red showcased Jennifer's ability to be both strong and vulnerable and helped to catapult her to a wider audience. The albums engaging songs and lyrics firmly established her position as the new voice to hear on the pop music scene. In the vein of Aimee Mann and Fionna Apple, My Name's Not Red pop alternative flair (produced by Brad Albetta and John Campos) received tremendous response from radio, net radio, press and fans alike.

In its first week out My Name's Not Red was the second most added record on CMJ's AAA New Music Review Chart. Since then Jennifer is enjoying tremendous success, charting as high as #1, on college radio stations nation-wide. The CMJ New Music Journal said, "Her lyrics are always poignant and engaging, and her arrangements are equally gorgeous and entrancing".

In August 2002 Marks releases her highly anticipated follow-up CD It Turned Me On. With a remarkably honest take on life, love, and lust, It Turned Me On demonstrates Marks highly developed wit and originality. Produced by Brad Albetta (Pizza and My Name's Not Red) and Cameron Greider (Freedy Johnston), the duo gives Marks' new album texture and space while accenting the fun and edgy quality for which she is renowned.

Marks is the recipient of a number of distinguished songwriting awards, including the First Prize Winner and Second Overall Grand Prize Winner of the "USA Songwriting Contest", The Overall Grand Prize Winner of the "Great American Song Contest" and a semi-finalist in the "2000 Independent Music Awards". Recently, Marks was honored as a Top 5 Finalist in the Coca Cola New Music Awards sponsored by The American Music Awards, Coca Cola, CMJ and Dick Clark Communications. Jennifer competed against 1000 other bands as the only act performing solo.

Jennifer is a member of Indiegrrl, GoGirlsMusic.Com and GirlMusician.com. She has performed at IMF, ROCKGRL, NAMM, EAT'M, Atlantis Music Conference and NEMO, and was a selected artist for Fordham University's WFUV "Nightbirds Series", as well as WLIR's "Independent Artists of the Week." Her songs can be heard on the soundtracks of independent films such as Jane Doe (1999 Winner of the New York Film and Video Festival, starring Calista Flockhart) and Let it Snow (accepted to Sundance 2000, starring Bernadette Peters). Martha Byrne, who plays Lily on the soap opera As the World Turns, continues to feature Jennifer's songs on the program.

In the last two years, Jennifer has been featured in The National Academy of Popular Music Songwriters Showcase, The National Academy of Songwriters Showcase in Los Angeles, the New York Songwriters Showcase, New York's Intelfest and BMI's Acoustic Round Up and Showcase Night.

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