MARSHALL L. DAVIS, JR. was born in Miami Beach, Fla. He began tap dancing at the age of 10 at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center. By the age of 11, he was a finalist in the Philip Michael Thomas "Rising Star" Competition and was the 1989 Florida winner for the Tri-Star Pictures Tap Day contest, a promotion for the movie "Tap" starring Gregory Hines and Sammy Davis, Jr. At age 13, he accepted a check from Ed McMahon for winning the coveted 1991 Star Search Teen Dance Champion. Since winning, he has performed in Europe, Japan and throughout the United States. Marshall's dancing is most heavily influenced by his mentor, the late Steve Condos of the Condos Brothers. He has also received guidance from Buster Brown, Edwin Holland, Paul Kennedy, Ted Levy, Lavaughn Robinson and Sam Weber. He performed in the Tony award-winning Broadway and international touring production of Bring in Da' Noise Bring in Da' Funk starring and choreographed by Savion Glover. Prior to Noise/Funk he performed at the Guthrie Theater as Pocket in the musical Babes in Arms directed by Garland Wright. Named "Most Unusual Dance Soloist" by The Miami Herald for his rendition of the Morton Gould Tap Concerto, Marshall is also the recipient of Isaac Hayes' "Breaking the Barrier" award for his achievements at such an early age. Most recently the professor of tap at Queens College can be seen performing in the current touring production of Savion Glover's Bare Soundz.