Marilyn T. Keller, 2016 Jazz Society of Oregon Hall of Fame Inductee, is a 44-year veteran of music and stage performance in Jazz, Gospel, R&B, Pop, Blues, and theater, nationally and internationally. Her musical roots are diverse. Marilyn has built a career that has taken her as a feature artist to Denmark, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Russia and the UK for concerts, festivals, nightclubs and recording work. Her voice can be heard on multiple recordings, movie sound tracks, commercials and documentaries. Marilyn's formative jazz training was as a member of the Mt. Hood Community College Vocal Jazz Ensemble and as the vocalist fronting the award-winning MHCC Jazz Lab Band. She can be seen frequently at clubs, restaurants, festivals and holiday events throughout the Pacific Northwest. She remains active, performing with Don Latarski, Darrell Grant, Tom Grant, Black Swan Classic Jazz Band, Pressure Point Band and the Augustana Jazz Quartet, among many others.

• In 1997 Marilyn joined the Black Swan Classic Jazz Band, establishing a loyal following in the Dixieland and Ragtime scene.

• Marilyn has been the vocalist for the Augustana Jazz Quartet, performing weekly for 28 years, with Ron Steen, Kevin Deitz and George Mitchell.

• Since 2004, Marilyn has performed with the band New Orleans Delight which is based in Copenhagen, Denmark, and they tour across Denmark and Sweden every summer.

• In 2013 Marilyn debuted with Darrell Grant in his suite The Territory, the product of Darrell’s year-long research and writing around the themes of connection, art and place, and performed with many local and nationally known artists. In 2014 Marilyn also performed The Territory at The Jazz Standard in NYC, and as part of the PDX Jazz Festival.

• Marilyn performs in Portland, at the annual Gospel Christmas.

• In 2011, Marilyn portrayed Ma Rainey in August Wilson's play, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, at Portland Playhouse.

• In 2009 & 2016, Marilyn portrayed the roles of the Dormouse and the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, at The Northwest Children’s Theater and School.

• in 2018, Marilyn portrayed the Princess Who Kissed The Frog In DisEnchanted! The Musical, at the Elsinore in Salem.

• In 2017, Marilyn performed Darrell Grant’s Suite: “Step By Step- The Ruby Bridges Story” in New Orleans- for the Unitarian Universalist National Assembly (2017) and on June 1st, 2019, at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, in Washington, DC.

• In 2021- I portrayed ‘The Returner’ in Darrell Grant’s “Sanctuaries”  a Jazz Opera- with a libretto by Anis Mojgani, OR Poet Laureate. 

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Marilyn is dedicated to music education and has worked with:

• Dr. Paul Klemme, at Willamette University- choirs and jazz ensembles.

• Dr. Dean Luethi, at Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.

• Marilyn has given clinics and master classes for the Newport Arts Council, Tigard High School, Rex Putnam High School, Grant High School and The American Music Program, as well as many other grade schools, middle school and high school choirs and bands.

Marilyn is Currently an Adjunct Professor at PSU, teaching Vocal Jazz Improvisation.

Discography:

At Last Marilyn's solo release (available at www.amazon.com)

How Many Ways with Don Latarski and Chris Stevens, Nightingale, with Don Latarski;

Deep Play, Rue II and Live from Eden Hall with Don Latarski and Rue de Blue

 (available at www.donlatarski.com)

How 'Bout Now and Once in a Blue Moon with Tall Jazz (available at www.talljazz.com)

The Territory, with Darrell Grant, 2015

A Joyful Noise, Ragtime Revelry, How Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em Down On The Farm, Feel The Spirit, Mama’s Gone Goodbye, This Joint Is Jumpin’, Dance Hall Favorites and Hoagy, Heart and Soul, with Black Swan Classic Jazz Band

 A Claymation Christmas, for Will Vinton Studios