Marcus York is a co-owner of Monkey Presents (monkeypresents.com), a company that creates children's DVDs based on great books of literature, with classical- music soundtracks. York studied at the Juilliard School of Music and completed his studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music with a bachelor's degree in classical piano performance. He moved to Tucson 16 years ago to get his degree in management information systems.
What was the first concert you ever saw?
Jimmie Rodgers. I was 3 years old, with my parents at the Florida Club in Juarez. He picked me out of the crowd of tables, put me on his lap and sang "Honeycomb."
What CDs are in your changer right now?
Dusty Springfield, Dusty in Memphis; Livía Rév, Chopin Nocturnes; Tindersticks, The Complete BBC Sessions; Anne Sofie von Otter, Home for Christmas; my recordings for Monkey Presents ... Moby Dick; Nick Drake, Bryter Layter; Nina Simone, Anthology.
How many total albums do you own (CDs, vinyl, cassettes, 8-tracks)?
Way too many to count, and if you include my hard drive, the number is exponential.
Do you download music, and if so, legally or illegally?
Yes, and both.
What was the first album you owned?
Elton John's Greatest Hits.
What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
"Is That All There Is?" by Peggy Lee.
Musically speaking, what do you love that your friends don't know about? What's your favorite guilty pleasure?
Bobby Vinton and early recordings of Sparks.
What band or artist changed your life, and how?
Bryan Ferry. I think he's the coolest dude ever. If you look at pictures of me in the '80s, I dressed like him. I also had some of the best makeout sessions while playing his albums.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
The 1953 recording of Puccini's Tosca with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano and Tito Gobbi, conducted by Victor de Sabata. A landmark recording!
