ABOUT US

Mark was born and raised in Chicago by a family with tremendous musical history including The Grand Ole Opry, a short time with the band “Chicago” just before CTA was released, a Jazz virtuoso trumpet player touring from New Orleans to Nashville thru South America as well as a regular guest of the Doc Severinsen Band during the Tonight Show – Johnny Carson era as well as an amazing tenor performing with the Traveling Sons of Norway International Choir.

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Piano trained since childhood, Mark picked up a guitar for the first time as a teenager and immediately recognized the power of expressing himself in ways not always available as the oldest of 7 children in a conservative, Roman Catholic, Midwest upbringing. Mark cut his teeth with many working bands, acoustic solo performances and open jam sessions. Chicago blues dominated his influence as a means of “saying” something – not just playing fast and loud. Freddie King, Lonnie Mac, Elmore James, Otis Rush, Big Twist and the more modern styles of Stevie Ray, Robben Ford, John Studebaker, Sonny Landreth are major influences. Mark also studied the work of Green, Spenser, Kirwan, Welch with Mick Fleetwood as they crafted their experience with classic blues well before Buckingham and Nicks joined to identify what most recognize as the Fleetwood Mac style today.