Marc, named Entertainer of the Year by the National Indian Gaming Association, had just left performing on a cruise ship, one of many venues he performs at all year long, when we talked.

"You get seasoned...write material," said the East Los Angeles native.

"Yes, I do...I tour a lot," Marc said when I asked. "I started in 1999, been touring since 2009. With years of experiences...you get enough recognition."

Marc Yaffee, a Native American of Mexican and Navajo decent, was also named the Funniest Person by Ventura Comedy Festival. He is recognized as one of 25 Indigenous comedians to watch by IllumiNatives Magazine, and he constant performs for US Troops overseas. He has performed on such cruise lines Carnival Princess and Holland America.

"I break gigs down...60% work and then lab work. So, it depends...on the ship," Yaffee said when I asked about his schedule when he has shows. "I hit the gym...write out my sets...go over them a couple times. I might take a nap before the show, or I might eat...depends.'

Marc started comedy one day after attending a comedy show. Since then, he has performed in 43 states and 11 countries. He has appeared on PBS specials such as Crossing the Laugh Line and Comics Unleased. He has also produced and released his own comedy specials, such as Mid-Laugh Crisis, and Raising the Bar, filmed at the Dry Bar Comedy Club has over 8 million views and seen on Amazon Prime, PBS and Comic Unleashed.

"I perform two or three shows a night. Different sets," he continued. "I get up early...though comedians stay up all night. My sets last 30 minutes to an hour. In clubs it's a 45 minute to an hour set. It depends. On cruise lines it's a 30-minute show. You have adult shows, tribal shows, family shows...different audiences."

"Sometimes I get hit with a curve ball," Marc Yaffee launched a little about preparing for the different audiences. "You plan for a family friendly show, PG 13...because the booking agent says be clean...and you get to the venue, and they say it's an adult show."

I asked him to give up-and-coming comedians advice, and he said, "Record your material...laughs don't lie. I was an introvert as a kid, but I had my moments, but I wasn't a class clown."

You can see Marc Yaffee shows by visiting his website  www.LaughWithMarc.com. He just did a show at the Marina County Winery, Carnival Vista and Warren Air Force Base, he has shows coming up November 7, 2025 at the College of the Muscogee Nation Lecture Hall in Oklahoma; November 8th at Rezzy James Comedy at the Renaissance Square Events Center; Nov. 15th at the Chiefs of Comedy at the Prairie Knights Casino and Resort; Nov. 17th and 20th at the Carnival Sunshine at the Punchliner Comedy Club, and Nov. 22nd at the Cozzy's Comedy Club in Newport News, VA. Marc Yaffee also co-stars on Showtime's Goin' Native with Samson Koletkar. 

The Maryland native's husband is Zo Medley.

"Me and my husband met in 2018. His father is a minister, and I played at his dad's church...four years later...," she said about their marriage when I asked.

Kayla continued that he reached out to her on social media and within three weeks their parents were meeting.

Kayla Water's background as a musician started very young playing the piano that was in the house. Her parents saw her talent and as they say the rest is history. Of course, she eventually started playing with her notoriously famous father Jazz saxophonist Kim Waters. Kayla has also shared the stage with other legends such as Stevie Wonder, Patrice Rushen, Marsha Ambrosius, and Corinne Bailey Rae.

"Growing up we had an acoustic upright piano," Kayla recalled for me. "I lifted the lid up and started playing on it. My parents...gave me lessons at six years old."

The first single released from the "Anew" project is titled "Lush."

"All my music illustrates God....it's to inspire," she said as we talked about the single. "The landscape of lush grass. All beautiful...the green of nature."

Jazz keyboardist Kayla Waters holds the record for the longest #1 position on Billboard's Jazz Chart for a consecutive six weeks. She has accumulated six Billboard #1 hits. Also, a singer and composer, Waters is a Howard University alumnus. She debuted in 2017 with her "Apogee" (Shanachie Entertainment) project which reached the top of the Billboard Jazz Chart. Its single "I Am" also reached the top of the Billboard Jazz Chart. Her sophomore album "Coevolve" garnered two Billboard #1 hits with the singles "Zephyr" and "Full Bloom." Kayla Water's 2021 project had a single, "Open Portals," that reached the top of the Billboard Jazz Chart. Then in 2023 her album "Presence," had a single to reach #1 on Billboard's Jazz Chart titled "Undulation" and the album also offered two Billboard Top Five Jazz Chart hits with "Waterkisses" and "Murky Moon."

I asked about how musicians can remember music only songs and Waters said, "To me it's muscle memory. Singers have vocal memory. The frequency...of the fingers...you get use to the key movements."

She said it's like fingers are learning "a new" dance.

"This is my fourth album." She said as we concluded our interview about the November 7th release of her "Anew" (Shanachie Entertainment) project.  www.Shanchie.com www.IAmKaylaWaters.com

SYNDICATED COLUMN: Dr. Eunice Moseley has an estimated weekly readership of over one million with The Pulse of Entertainment. She is also a Business Management/Public Relations Strategist and Consultant at Freelance Associates and is Promotions Director (at-large) for The Baltimore Times. www.ThePulseofEntertainment.com. EVENTS: "Uplifting Minds II" Entertainment Conference (ULMII), founded by Eunice in 1999, is into its 26th year. Next events are coming to Baltimore via Zoom Saturday April 19, 2025, presented by Security Square Mall and The Baltimore Times, and Los Angeles via Zoom Saturday, November 8, 2025. The ULMII event is a free entertainment conference offering a Professional Panel Q&A Session, a Professional Talent Showcase and National Talent Competition (vocal, songwriting, dance and acting) where aspiring artists have a chance to receive over $20,000 valued in prizes/product/services. Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com RSVP for Zoom Access at EventBrite.com or email info@thepulseofentertainment.com.ent.com.