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I WANT TO PERFORM AND RECORD WITH YOU IN EUROPE - WRITE ME (I'm planning a trip - 40 days and 40 nights...your gig or your studio
** Mark's original song "New New Orleans" was recently awarded as a finalist in the John Lennon Song Competition. Mark shares this distinct honor with only 6 other writers in the Jazz genre and 72 writers in the whole competition- Congratulations Mark!**
Mark was born in Massachusetts and spent his first 14 years growing up in Seattle/Everett area of Washington state. He, his 3 brothers and parents moved back to MA in 1989 where Mark finished school (graduating college in 1995 with a degree in Architecture).
"I started playing saxophone in 5th grade, switched to trombone in 6th grade, and that was enough to pull me into music forever. I don't know if I owe my career to all the people that made me snap my fingers or play a melody along the way, but I definitely owe my voice to all the singers I've listened to over the years."
What started out with vocal imitation as just a "fan of great music", has become a stylistic art form for Mark. He has convincingly taken the stage as Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, and even "Ace Ventura, Pet Detective". His musical influences are rooted in Jazz, Big Band, DooWop and 50's Rock & Roll. The vocalists and musicians he credits with his own vocal style represent a laundry list of talent; A veritable who's who of 20th Century Popular Music, and nothing short of "eclectic". Mark has somehow emerged from the other side of this musical labyrinth with a genuine sense of himself. At the heart of him is Jazz.
"The fact that I imitated every voice I heard has been such an incredible education for me. All those voices in my head ultimately helped me find my own. I grew up loving old music and notable film characters, but hip enough to love what was current...so I've got a lot of music and influences to enjoy. The fact I get to write and perform my own music too? That's just plain cool.
"I have been blessed with an array of talents in many areas of my life, but it took me until I was about 25 to realize what I loved most...and that is 'swing'. When I sing, and when I swing, I feel like it is what I was born to do, and I take it very seriously- way beyond just my singing...I genuinely try to present an era.
"This kid sings so good, I want to punch him in the throat." - Big Band Legend, Buddy Greco
It is great to see that good music will be carried on by such young talent" - Sonny King
"An extremely talented performer" - Tim Russert, Meet the Press
I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V3.6!
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"Streetcorner" and "Careless Moon" Cover Photos of Mark Mahar by Heather McGrath (all other photos provided by Mahar Enterprises, Inc.)
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