Marcus' sister was married to Bobby Van, pianist and owner of Bobby Van's Restaurant in Bridgehampton, New York. Marcus grew up surrounded by, and would occasionally play piano for the various Southern writers who congregated around the keyboard at Bobby's.
Authors such as Irwin Shaw, Truman Capote, Willie Morris, Winston Groom, John Knowles, and James Jones. Also Carl Bernstein, Budd Schulberg, and George Plimpton would occasionally drop by to have a listen.
