Marc Pompe began performing around Rush Street as a solo piano/vocal in the mid fiftys and was influenced by the music of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk. Vocal influences include Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen Mc Crae and Jon Hendricks. In 1965, Marc left Chicago to work out of New York and played at Jilly’s (NYC), Eddie’s Backstreet in St. Thomas, The Gaslight Club in Toronto and Mother’s Lounge in Pittsburgh. After 40 years of performing, 1997 saw the release of Marc’s first CD, Nobody Else But Me, on Kopaesthetics Records. Cadence Jazz Magazine said of the album, “Marc does it the traditional way, full-blooded belting in front of a tasty piano trio.”

In 2004, Marc released his Lost in the Stars album on CIMP Records. On this,album backed by a guitar trio, Marc breaths intimacy into deeply personal lyrics. The liner notes of Lost in the Stars sum up marc’s performance, “Marc Pompe is a true Jazz singer who follows the thread of his own instinct while reacting to his musical surroundings, all the while insisting that notes sustained are never lost anywhere.” Marc’s new album, You must believe in swing, was released in November of 2004 on Cadence Jazz Records. This recording features Hammond B-3 wizard Joey Defrancesco with Henry Johnson (guitar) and Byron Landham (drums). With the backing of this powerful B-3 Hammond trio, Marc was able soar! Chicago Jazz Magazine said of Marc and the album: “As for Pompe, he has two things that most singers don’t: his own style and good phrasing. His treatment of each song is unique without losing the tradition of singers that come before him.” JazzReview.com says, “Pompe handles the American songbook with magnetism and assurance.”