Marsha M. Meekins
Ms. Marsha M. Meekins was born and raised in Richmond Virginia. She is the third child of five children born to Lafayette and Mary Etta Meekins. She began studying music in elementary school in Richmond, Virginia. Her family saw very early on that she had a very strong love for music and enjoyed playing, singing and listening to all types of music. Her father's preference for opera fascinated her as a young child.
Marsha received her education in the Richmond Public School System, from which she graduated with honors. In Elementary School she sang in the choir. In seventh grade she started playing the flute under the direction of Maurice "Pops" Williams. In Junior High School she began playing the viola under the direction of Johnny Peyton. While in high school she played flute in the concert and marching bands and the viola in the orchestra. Her High School band directors were Maurice Williams, Robert Monchilov and Royal Singleton.
After studying music for two years at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, she transferred to Virginia State University where she received her undergraduate degree in Public School Music, with flute as her major instrument. While at Virginia State College she played in the Marching Band and the Symphonic Band.
Marsha taught instrumental music in the public schools in Virginia (also in her home studio as a private instructor) for 20 years before changing careers and moving to Baltimore, Maryland in 1994. She is now employed by the Maryland State Education Association.
She has played flute professionally for over 28 years. Her interest in playing jazz was originally sparked by guitarist/percussionist friend Jim Coles, who was looking for someone to practice with. Jim liked the sound of guitar and Flute and taught her a lot about "taking a solo" and following chord changes. She continued studying improvisation with the help of pianist Debo Dabney who encouraged her to practice Charlie Parker tunes. In 1979 the Richmond Jazz Society was formed and she became a life long member. THE RJS sponsored many Jam Sessions and encouraged her to come out and "sit in" with many experienced musicians.
Marsha credits bassist Robb Gray and guitarist Hannon Lane with giving her first professional "gig", when they invited her to join Chapter Two a four piece jazz ensemble based in Petersburg, VA. in 1981.
She then organized her first band "WAVE" in 1982. This is where she honed her skills as a band manager. In 1983 with the encouragement of B.J. Brown of the Richmond Jazz Society, Marsha got the idea to start an all-female jazz ensemble and she along with 7 other female musicians started an exciting group known as "The Jazz Ladies" of Richmond, Virginia. She remained with that group for 7 years. The Jazz Ladies celebrated 25 years of making beautiful music with a reunion celebration in November of 2008.
In addition to solo performances and/or guest artist appearances in numerous church services, weddings, concerts, funerals, festivals, conferences, conventions, receptions, benefits, etc., she has formed, managed and/or played with several jazz, reggae and concert bands in Virginia and Maryland. Two of the reggae bands that Marsha had the pleasure of performing and recording with were all femaie ensembles: "JAH SPIRIT" and 'RUFF AND MELLOW". Some of the jazz bands she has played with in addition to "Chapter Two", "WAVE" and "THE JAZZ LADIES" were "THE JAZZ CONNECTION" of Richmond, VA. and the "B-More All Stars" in Baltimore. In Maryland she formed "THE JAZZ CONNECTION TWO" in 1996. The band's name was changed to THE MARSHA MEEKINS PROJECT in 1998.
Her opportunities for performances have taken her to numerous locations and venues across the United States and to Europe while in college. Marsha is an active Associate Member of Epworth United Methodist Chapel, where she serves as a Liturgist and a Certified Lay Speaker. She sings in the Chancel and Mass Choirs and co-directs the "Sounds Of Praise", an instrumental gospel ensemble. She also maintains membership in her home church in Richmond, Virginia, the Good Shepherd Baptist Church.
Marsha is currently managing and performing with "The Marsha Meekins Project", a six piece jazz ensemble, that has been performing in the club, festival and concert scene in the Baltimore/Washington/Columbia/Annapolis area for the last twelve years. Performances by her with 1 to 8 musicians are available for a wide variety of venues. (solo, duo, trio, etc.)
Among her many musical inspirations are flutists Hubert Laws, Herbie Mann, Leslie Burrs, Sherry Winston, James Moody, David Newman, Yusef Lateef, D. Antoinette Handy-Miller, Joe Taylor, Glennroy Bailey, Plunky Branch, Felicia Nelson Bishop, Dave Smith, Rebekkah White, Carl Carrington, and her first private flute instructor, Mrs. Sharletta Branch Richardson. Marsha has been blessed to play with some of the finest east coast musicians.
For instance:
Keyboardists: Juana Thompson, Lucy Kilpatrick, Michelle Lightfoot, Afi Scruggs, Brenda Nichols, Weldon Hill, Herbert Allen Dabney, Charles Arnette, Derrick Thompson, Bobby Rucks, Kendra Holt, Glenn Grainger, Jamilla Robichaux, Alvin Campbell, Ed Meyers, Alton Morris, Ramocile Johnson, Eric Conway, Lafayette Gilchrist, Rob Stojacovich, Dennis Slaughter, Dawoud Said, Vincent Smith, Jimothy Rogers, Tom Reyes, Aaron Thompson and many, many more.
Guitarists: Hannon Lane, Jacqui Singleton, Jimmy Coles, Carl Lester El, Jerry Gordon, Deon Clark Mohammed, Ronnie Abrams, Allen Thomas, Kevin Lunsford, Robert Wilson, Rodney Kelley, Sr. to name a few.
Bassists: Dorothymarie Steward, Shirley Hall, Weldon Hill, Carl Lester El, Hannon Lane, Robb Gray, Phillip Muzi Branch, Rosemarie Forczyk, Rowe Oliver, Teresa "TJ" Wilson, Kenny Wright, Mitchell Coates, Kevin Lunsford, Irvin Madden, Jerome Miller, Tony Lunsford, Ed Kernan and numerous other.
Drummers; Ernest Green, Jimmy Coles, Michelle Hammond, Anna Underwood, Weldon Hill, Carl Lester El, Ronnie Cokes, Jimmy Carson, Jimmy Taylor, Ernie Williams, Ezell Jones, Jesse Moody, Tony Elliott, Darrell Dunning and many others.
Percussionists: Jimmy Coles, Ram Bhagat, Sabrina Jones, Lavonde Whitten, William Whitten, Victor Williams, Robert Hailey, and Mason Guthrie to name a few.
After being a part of several recording projects with other musicians, Marsha recorded her first solo recording project "Spiritual Meditations" in 2002. The very talented guitarist Deon Clark served as producer.
She hopes to record another solo project in the near future.