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  • Biography
IMDbPro

Marcus Paul James

  • Actor
  • Music Department
  • Additional Crew
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Marcus Paul James
"Today For You", a clip from the upcoming DVD release of Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway
Play clip1:36
Today For You
19 Videos
14 Photos
Brooklyn native Marcus Paul James (MPJ) was born into a Baptist family with a Panamanian DJ father. He was raised in the church and singing in the choir loft as soon as he could stand. At home, MPJ was surrounded by the timeless voices of Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Teddy P and other R&B greats. The influence of these artists etched love for R&B, soul, gospel and tender ballads into his soul. MPJ has been writing music and creating harmonies since he was a young boy and continued throughout his college years at Penn State University. During his collegiate years, MPJ wrote for and performed with a 6-man acapella group named PRESSURE. Which quickly became popular enough to move the whole group to the NY area to work.

After growing as a singer/songwriter and with a love for new music and experiences in his blood, it was time for MPJ to leave the group. Using nothing but his soulful voice and eclectic flair he landed a role in the Tony Award winning phenomenon "RENT". His work was so well received that since RENT he's been cast in other Broadway hits "Motown The Musical", "In the Heights", "West Side Story" and even performed in "The Wiz Live" broadcast live on NBC. In addition to an impressive amount of work on Broadway, he released his first EP "Electrik Love" in 2007. The album was a soulful house album created with jazz prodigy and producer, Akira Shelton, that made a splash in the European electronic market with the title track getting radio plays and charting on the UK electronic charts. In 2010 he released his first full-length album "Meant To Be" under Silver Towers Productions, in which the title track went on to chart on the UK soul charts. From that album "Wonderful Love" and "Right Now" would go to hold 1st and 3rd on those charts for 5 consecutive weeks.

MPJ's music shines as the perfect balance of Soul, R&B, and popular music. A true Singer/Songwriter whose lyrics and music take your heart and ears to places few artist do. MPJ's recent releases "Living In Dreams" and "Romancipation Day" from his upcoming EP Paper Hearts, are a true testament to his vocal versatility and writing prowess.The Paper Hearts EP is a short collection of songs that share different shades of this thing called love. MPJ invites you to think of a paper origami heart, each angle has its own bends and story. He believes it's a misconception to think men don't have a vast array of emotions because he shows you, they do. It just may not be as visible. With Paper Hearts EP MPJ tried to make his emotions audible and resonate. MPJ worked with producers Akira Shelton and Jake Birch, mixing and mastering by Jeremiah Rosenthal from Blank Canvas Music and executively produced by Silver Towers Productions and that has proven to be a truly winning combination to create some amazing music.
BornJuly 14, 1981
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BornJuly 14, 1981
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  • Photos14

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    Known for

    Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Corey Hawkins, Stephanie Beatriz, Melissa Barrera, Dascha Polanco, Leslie Grace, and Anthony Ramos in In the Heights (2021)
    In the Heights
    7.2
    • Music Department(vocal ensemble)
    • 2021
    Andrew Garfield in tick, tick... BOOM! (2021)
    tick, tick... BOOM!
    7.5
    • Music Department
    • 2021
    Rebecca Ferguson, Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Radu Spinghel, Ilia Jessica Castro, Zac Efron, Martha Nichols, Christina Glur, Shannon Holtzapffel, Zendaya, Keala Settle, Jonathan Redavid, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Luciano Acuna Jr., Daniel Everidge, Skylar Dunn, Timothy Hughes, Cameron Seely, Sam Humphrey, Yusaku Komori, and Danial Son in The Greatest Showman (2017)
    The Greatest Showman
    7.5
    • Music Department
    • 2017
    Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds in Spirited (2022)
    Spirited
    6.6
    • Music Department
    • 2022

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actor



    • Michael Cera, Seth Rogen, and Kristen Wiig in Sausage Party: Foodtopia (2024)
      Sausage Party: Foodtopia
      5.7
      TV Mini Series
      • Steak (voice)
      • 2024
    • Tinashe, Vanessa Hudgens, Mario, Jordan Fisher, Brandon Victor Dixon, Kiersey Clemons, Brennin Hunt, and Valentina in Rent: Live (2019)
      Rent: Live
      6.3
      TV Movie
      • RENT Alumni Singer (uncredited)
      • 2019
    • Will Smith, Helen Mirren, Kate Winslet, Edward Norton, Naomie Harris, Keira Knightley, Michael Peña, and Jacob Latimore in Collateral Beauty (2016)
      Collateral Beauty
      6.8
      • Homeless A Capella Singer
      • 2016
    • The Wiz Live! (2015)
      The Wiz Live!
      7.1
      TV Movie
      • Winkie, Messenger
      • 2015
    • Free Man (2010)
      Free Man
      Short
      • Michael
      • 2010
    • Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway (2008)
      Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway
      8.1
      TV Movie
      • Christmas Caroler
      • Mr. Jefferson
      • Pastor ...
      • 2008

    Music Department



    • Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds in Spirited (2022)
      Spirited
      6.6
      • singer
      • 2022
    • Andrew Garfield in tick, tick... BOOM! (2021)
      tick, tick... BOOM!
      7.5
      • singer
      • 2021
    • Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen (2021)
      Dear Evan Hansen
      6.1
      • vocals
      • 2021
    • Lin-Manuel Miranda, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Corey Hawkins, Stephanie Beatriz, Melissa Barrera, Dascha Polanco, Leslie Grace, and Anthony Ramos in In the Heights (2021)
      In the Heights
      7.2
      • musician: vocal ensemble
      • 2021
    • Rebecca Ferguson, Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Radu Spinghel, Ilia Jessica Castro, Zac Efron, Martha Nichols, Christina Glur, Shannon Holtzapffel, Zendaya, Keala Settle, Jonathan Redavid, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Luciano Acuna Jr., Daniel Everidge, Skylar Dunn, Timothy Hughes, Cameron Seely, Sam Humphrey, Yusaku Komori, and Danial Son in The Greatest Showman (2017)
      The Greatest Showman
      7.5
      • vocalist
      • 2017

    Additional Crew



    • Rebecca Ferguson, Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Radu Spinghel, Ilia Jessica Castro, Zac Efron, Martha Nichols, Christina Glur, Shannon Holtzapffel, Zendaya, Keala Settle, Jonathan Redavid, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Luciano Acuna Jr., Daniel Everidge, Skylar Dunn, Timothy Hughes, Cameron Seely, Sam Humphrey, Yusaku Komori, and Danial Son in The Greatest Showman (2017)
      The Greatest Showman
      7.5
      • vocal ensemble
      • 2017
    • Jump the Broom: A Musical
      6.4
      Short
      • voice performer
      • 2009

    Videos19

    Today For You
    Clip 1:36
    Today For You
    Take Me or Leave Me
    Clip 1:57
    Take Me or Leave Me
    Take Me or Leave Me
    Clip 1:57
    Take Me or Leave Me
    Seasons of Love
    Clip 1:31
    Seasons of Love
    Padlocked Door
    Clip 1:38
    Padlocked Door
    Over the Moon
    Clip 1:36
    Over the Moon
    Maureen: Tango
    Clip 1:30
    Maureen: Tango

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Height
      • 6′ (1.83 m)
    • Born
      • July 14, 1981
      • Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

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