Marshall Hill is a singer-songwriter with originals that span over forty years and a repertoire of covers that range from the Beatles and James Taylor, to Cole Porter and Hoagy Carmichael. He plays folk, blues, country, and some old jazz standards. He’s happy to share a new song and the story behind it with you, but sometimes friends and family still ask for some of his earliest originals. His lyrics run the gamut of life, from one about finding a lost M&M, to growing up in Kansas, marrying and raising children, songs he wrote after the death of each of his parents, songs that will make you laugh, and several that dig into the most important questions we all face in life. His double CD, “Duct Tape Around These Sorrows,” is a collection of some of his favorite original songs.
Marshall’s style is always laid back and mellow. More than once, people listening to him have said, “You sound like Randy Newman—but with a guitar.” He loves playing house concerts and listening rooms, where he can showcase his original tunes, and occasionally add a little bit of the story behind a lyric. However, he also plays a lot of gigs in restaurants, cafes, and pubs, where he’s the guy in the corner with a guitar, providing the background music, just there to add to the vibe of the room. Even though he’s been at it for a long time, you can tell it’s a big part of him, and he gets a lot of joy from making music for himself and anyone who gets the opportunity to hear him