Musician to Know: Marc Broussard

Louisiana-born Marc Broussard is an American musician whose style includes a blend of funk, pop, blues, and R&B. The 29-year-old draws inspiration for his music from his relationship with his wife and kids. According to Broussard, at the young age of 5, his father told him, “Son, I’m going to make you a star.” After his emancipation, Broussard was discovered by a woman named Leah Simon on the subways of New York City. Broussard is also known for his charitable work — especially helping his own community after Hurricane Katrina. He shares the motivation behind his charity: “So many people have given so much to me throughout the years that it'd be foolish of me not to return the favor. I ask myself the simple question of 'Where would I be without the charity of others?'"

What are your three proudest moments as a musician?
"I only need one, two, three... Sting hugged me once."

So many people have given so much to me throughout the years that it'd be foolish of me not to return the favor.

How do you balance the responsibilities of a music career — such as being on tour and giving interviews like this one — with your creative process?
"I keep the two very separate. It's almost as if I have two personalities. It's all part of the gig though, playing and being creative only pays off when you have the chance to share your story with everyone."

What advice would you give to someone trying to break into the music business?
"Get a law degree first, then go into the practice of law in order to pay off your student loans, and then, stay there."

If you could only listen to three albums for the rest of your life, what would they be?
"Let me take a second to answer that with another question: What were the titles of my last three albums?"

What's the coolest thing about the music industry right now?
"It's the wild west. Anything and everything can happen. There's no mold anymore, which has opened up the doors of success."

Links: MarcBroussard.com, @MarcBroussard