In addition to his solo work, Mark plays acoustic & electric guitar, bass, bodhran, `ukulele, mandolin & dulcimer in a number of bands with ever-shifting personel. "Life is just one drummer after another..."
Influences
Bob Marley, Bob Wills, Bob Dylan & Baba O`Reilly; Duke Ellington, Duke Kahanamoku, King Sunny Ade, Prince Buster, Lord Buckley, Count Basie, Lady Day & Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey; Sonny Chillingworth, Sonnyland Slim, Sun House & Sun Ra; Blind Blake, Blind Blake Alphonso Higgs & Joe Higgs; Miles Davis, Jesse Davis, Jesse James & Skip James; old time music, good time music, old world music, nuage music & post-traditional party music; Charlie Christian, Charlie Paton, Ray Charles & Ray Kane; Gabby Pahinui & Gabby Hayes; B.B. King, Freddy King, Albert King & the King Sisters; Muddy & Ethel Waters; the Tex Pistols, the Polynesians, Planxty, the Sons of Hawaii & the Sons of the Pioneers.
"Every great once in a while a musician comes along who can make an instrument speak in tongues." - Deseret News.
In demand as a session musician, touring artist and workshop leader, Mark is an outstanding player of the Hawaiian slack key guitar. Co-authored with Keola Beamer, his "Learn To Play Hawaiian Slack Ley Guitar" (Mel Bay Publications) has introduced thousands to Ki Ho..alu – the sweet-sounding tropical guitar style of Hawai..i.
Mark co-produces the Aloha Music Camp in Hawai..i along with Hawaii's beloved Beamer Family. Aunty Nona gave him the name Kailana, which means "floating gently on the surface of the sea" - not a bad description of the sound of slack key guitar.
In the early 1970's Mark was one of a handful of free-spirited musicians who created a whole new vocabulary for the Appalachian dulcimer. He created a driving flatpicking style, playing the dulcimer with a force and passion seldom heard before. This led to a first place win at the National Mountain Dulcimer Championships in Winfield, Kansas in 1979, appearances at festivals, colleges and coffeehouses across North America and Europe, and a recording career spanning over 20 years.
Mark has performed just about anywhere – from Barrow to Boston; Sligo to San Diego. He's shared the stage with performers as diverse as Grover Washington, Jr.: Norton Buffalo; Doc Watson, and the Skagway Girls Jr. Varsity basketball team. He once worked as a banjo playing gorilla in Dublin, but that's another story...
Hey, we finally made it! This MySpace thing confuses me sometimes. Glad to make the connection! LOVE your awesome music soooo much. You rock. I spend more time on FaceBook than I do on MySpace. Search for me there if you have FaceBook -- search for kerry.coates (be sure to include the "." between "kerry" and "coates") or else kerry at danceswithdulcimers dot com. Hope to see you there!
Aloha Nui Loa, Mark! Your music makes me weep with homesickness. I'm a misplaced haole missing plumeria leis, musubi, and the Waikiki Shell where I experienced the legends live!
Just sending some "Aloha" Your way!!!
I hope all is well in your world!!!
Much Mahalos & make it a good one!!!
Hawaiian Style
Sonny
www.mobettahsoundproductions.com 541-621-1225
Mark Visiting your MySpace provides me with a little vacation. I love listening to your music. Will you be coming back to SC Dulcimer Heritage any time soon?
