Marcus Eley is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Music in clarinet and studied at the Hochschule fuer Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna, Austria.

Eley has performed as a soloist with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra (Germany), the Louisville Orchestra, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Edmonton (Canada) Wind Sinfonia and the National Army Military Band of the People's Republic of China (Beijing). He has also given numerous recitals in major cities of the United States. He has participated as guest artist at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa. Of his performance, Jeff Brukman of Cue Magazine said, "…consummate artistry. The festival is indeed fortunate to host such a master of the clarinet."

In 2012, record company Sono Luminus released Mr. Eley's Compact Disc, titled "But Not Forgotten: Music by African American Composers for Clarinet and Piano." Lawrence Vittes, CD reviewer for Gramophone magazine said, "(Eley) applies his pure, limpid tone eloquently in music of a varied range of styles." Steve Arloff, MusicWeb International cites, "…a disc of pure unalloyed joy." The Listener (Germany), Rainer Aschemeier exclaims, "Wow!' What a beautiful, varied CD! This CD has succeeded in its well-chosen repertoire, as well as interpretation and sound." "Marcus Eley knows when and how to make the clarinet charm, dance, sing and cry.” - Jean Yves Dupperon, Classical Music Sentinel.

Eley has served as Dean of Students at the New England Conservatory, Assistant (Adjunct) Professor of Music (Clarinet) at California State University Los Angeles and Marketing Projects Specialist/Artist Relations for Rico International.