Marcus Amaker
Marcus Amaker (born October 29, 1976 in Las Vegas, Nevada) is the poet laureate of Charleston, South Carolina. In 2021, he was named an Academy of American Poets Fellow. He has eight published books. His poetry has been recognized by The Kennedy Center, Washington National Opera, The Portland Opera, Button Poetry, NPR, Washington Post, PBS Newshour, TEDx, Huffington Post, Charleston Magazine, Post and Courier, Charleston City Paper, Charleston Art Mag, Charleston Regional Business Journal, North Dakota Quarterly, South Carolina Public Radio, and more Amaker was named Charleston, South Carolina’s first poet laureate by Mayor John Tecklenburg in  2016. He was also named the artist-in-residence of the Gaillard Center in 2019 and an Academy of American Poets Fellow in 2021. In addition to poetry, Amaker is a graphic designer, web designer, videographer and musician. He is the lead graphic designer for the national music journal No Depression. As a musician, he has released more than 30 albums under the alias tape loop. He's also released two albums with Grammy-nominated drummer/producer Quentin E. Baxter of Ranky Tanky. Early life and education. Amaker graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1999. He graduated with  a bachelor's degree in Journalism. After graduation, he worked at "The Anderson Independent-Mail". He later moved to Charleston in 2003 to work as a graphic designer at the Post and Courier. While at the Post and Courier, he became editor of Preview and Charleston Scene, the paper’s entertainment sections. Poet laureateship and mentorship. Marcus Amaker and Marjory Wentworth read at Mayor John Tecklenburg’s inauguration, in 2016. Shortly thereafter, Tecklenburg named Amaker Charleston, South Carolina’s first poet laureate. Amaker frequently visits schools to lead poetry workshops with students. Amaker was asked to compose a poem for  the removal of the John C. Calhoun statue in June, 2020. Personal life. Marcus was born in Las Vegas, Nevada to Betty and Willie Amaker, who were stationed there because of the Air Force. The family moved to England, Maryland, Japan and Texas before moving to South Carolina. Marcus' family is from Orangeburg, South Carolina. In 2015, Marcus married Jordan Freeman in Charleston, South Carolina. His daughter, Rei Amaker, was born in late 2019.