ARTIST BIO/CONTACT
Marietta Melton, known artistically as Mahogany Queen, is a poet and spoken-word artist whose work blends the soul of jazz with the richness of folk storytelling traditions. Rooted deeply in the rhythms, histories, and emotional landscapes of human experience, she has become a distinctive voice in the region’s contemporary poetry scene.
As the creative force behind Palmetto Poetry & Jazz, Marietta has cultivated spaces where poetry, music, and community converge. Her events honor the enduring tradition of oral and folk expression — places where verses move like jazz improvisation and stories carry the warmth of shared experience. Through this work, she has helped nurture a vibrant artistic community, uplifting both emerging and established voices.
Writing under the moniker Mahogany Queen, Marietta’s poetry is recognized for its lush imagery, emotional honesty, and musical cadence. Her work often explores themes of womanhood, resilience, ancestry, sensuality, spirituality, and cultural memory. Influenced by literary voices such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Kahlil Gibran, she draws from both classical poetic tradition and contemporary spoken-word artistry, creating work that is both intimate and expansive. She has published original poems, reflections, and developing collections that resonate with readers seeking depth, rhythm, and truth.
Marietta is active within South Carolina’s literary and cultural landscape, contributing to community-centered writing initiatives such as Communal Pen and encouraging creative expression across generations. Her artistic practice bridges performance, mentorship, cultural preservation, and community storytelling.
With a background spanning media, production, communications, and community engagement, Marietta brings a multidimensional perspective to her creative work. Whether performing, curating, or producing, she is guided by a deep belief in the power of language, music, and storytelling to preserve memory, inspire connection, and strengthen community through the arts.
