John Mark Heard (1951-August 1992) was a record producer, singer, and songwriter originally from Macon, Georgia.
Mark Heard released 16 records in his lifetime, and produced and performed with many other artists as well, such as Sam Phillips, Pierce Pettis, Phil Keaggy, Vigilantes of Love, Peter Buck of R.E.M. (who co-produced VOL's album Killing Floor with Heard), John Austin, The Choir, Randy Stonehill and Michael Been of The Call. Heard produced part of Olivia Newton-John's The Rumor, which also included a cover of Heard's own "Big and Strong".
History
After first attending the University of Georgia where he majored in biology, Heard travelled to Switzerland to study at L'Abri under respected Christian teacher Francis Schaeffer. Singers Larry Norman and Randy Stonehill literally stumbled onto Mark one day playing his guitar. Norman was so impressed by Heard's abilities that he soon signed him to his record label, Solid Rock Records. Heard and his wife Janet moved to Glendale, California in 1977 to begin work on his Appalachian Melody album for the label, but would also maintain a close relationship with the people at the L'Abri for years. Heard would also record and release Fingerprint on a Swiss label in 1980.
---In 1981, Heard began a recording contract with Chris Christian's Home Sweet Home Records. Heard released five albums for the label; 1981's Stop the Dominoes, 1982's Victims of the Age; 1983's Eye of the Storm; 1984's Ashes and Light; and 1985's Mosaics.
---In 1984, Heard began recording in his home studio, which he dubbed "Fingerprint Recorders," after the title of one of his earlier records. From that point on, his albums were largely made at home, with just a handful of friends and relatives lending a hand. In 1986, Heard decided to try something a little different and recorded the experimental Pop/Rock album for What? Records entitled Tribal Opera, under the name iDEoLA. When asked about the unusual name, Heard replied "It's not supposed to be mysterious or anything; I just put a band together and right now I happen to be the only one in it." Heard also directed a music video for the single of that album, "Is It Any Wonder."
---
The early 1990s saw a return to recording albums of his own, with 1990's Dry Bones Dance. Fans and reviewers alike hailed the new release as one of the best of his career. Heard followed Dry Bones Dance with Second Hand in 1991, and, finally, Satellite Sky in 1992, which would turn out to be his final release.
---On July 4, 1992, Heard suffered a heart attack on stage while performing with Pierce Pettis and Kate Miner, at the Cornerstone Festival, near Chicago, Illinois. Heard finished his set and went to the hospital immediately afterwards. Two weeks after being released from the hospital, Heard had a cardiac arrest and died in August of 1992............
Psalm 25:4~6 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
You can download tracks from Justin McRoberts' newest release Deconstruction for ANY PRICE YOU WANT. Or tell a few friends about the record and get them for FREE!
A MAN CAN NO MORE DIMINISH GOD'S GLORY BY REFUSING TO WORSHIP HIM THAN A LUNATIC CAN PUT OUT THE SUN BY SCRIBBLING THE WORD 'DARKNESS' ON THE WALLS OF HIS CELL. - C.S. LEWIS
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
And concerning that idea that "I am not too affected by death..." Upon reflection, leave it to Mark to capture what proper thoughts might be: "The headlines in the dailies are the horses in the race...that lead you to believe that life and death is common place. Some believe it...and I'm crying again. "
Not too affected by death; it seems to be happening to all sorts of nice people...but I recall crying when I heard that Mark had died. This emotional response was rare (for me). But Mark was unique. He had been scraping around, way below the surface. And my life and his songs were all mixed up together. I was overwhelmed by wanting to be warmed, wanting to be real, wanting to be healed. Wishing that the ways of men were the same as the ways of God.
Flash forward many years...Still listening, I sit at the table, drawing pictures, with the vinyl spinning, believing that out in the eye of the storm the friends of God suffer no permanent harm.
The long awaited Pat Terry album is now available. LAUGH FOR A MILLION YEARS, the title track, was written for Mark. For more info visit his MySpace page!
Wanted to let you be one of the first to know that our Movie DVD worldwide release is THIS WEEK on our website - www. CrossroadsCafeMovie. com :) That means friends can get a copy TODAY on our website - even before the DVD gets to the retail stores! Yippeeee!
Thanks again for all your encouragement & support and for being a faithful friend! We couldn’t have done it without you! We send LOTS of Love your way! Hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!! :)
Thanks for being our friend! Our debut "The Now And The Not Yet" is now available at Amazon and Emusic. We would love you forever if you would give it a listen. Thanks, m
love the blogs. thanks for the heads up bulletin about them. i was at the last concert. mark's work and what i've gleaned about his life and conversations have meant a lot to me.... long live his work and truth followers like him.
I miss you brother!! I was there in '92; word spread fast and we prayed for you. It was raining hard, storming (it always rains/storms at Cornerstone). It even knocked out some of the AT&T mobile phone units. See you when we all fly!!!
