Marshall Gilkes was born in Camp Springs, Maryland to a musical family; his mother was a classical vocalist and pianist and his father was a conductor of the Air Force Academy Band. Due to his father's military profession, Gilkes had a rather itinerant upbringing in Washington D.C., New Hampshire, New Jersey, Alabama, Illinois, and Colorado. Gilkes received his early musical training at the Interlochen Arts Academy, University of Northern Colorado, and William Patterson University.