and performs many styles. Here are some of the
hats he wears. He is many GUYS.
Marley, Soca Calypso, Junkanoo, etc. And it's totally different
from anything you've ever heard before. Yes, there are a lot
of Buffett guys out there with acoustic guitars. There are
steel pan singles, where every song sounds the same. Mark
takes it to the next level. Yes, it's Caribbean/tropical. Yes,
there's plenty of Buffett. And a flute or a flugelhorn will
appear out of nowhere. Besides being musically diverse,
this act is visually intriguing. Bottom line, you're outdoors
with this one-of-a-kind performer, where the results are
anything but predictable. And for engagements of shorter
durations in remote areas, this act is able to bring its own
power packs, when there is no plug-in electricity.
is also a classic rocker? You bet your ass! Mark
is a veteran of redneck bars and classic rock
from day one. Plan on an evening of the Allman
Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jethro
Tull, Bob Seger, and whatever else will make
your ears ring the next day. He brings an electric
guitar, a flute, and a really loud attitude. Put THAT
in the deck and you're sure to get complaints
from the neighbors.
Parker to the Rippingtons, along with three CDs'
worth of astounding original material. And again,
a very unpredictable visual performance. The
stage setting looks more like a music store, with
the Gibson Howard Roberts guitar, the
flugelhorn, the trumpet, the flute and the stage
piano. And in certain situations, the steel pans
appear, with modern jazz stylings given a totally
new voice. This act redefines the meaning of
the word "cool."
And Snakes" JIM STAFFORD.
No, that doesn't make Mark a star. He
just worked in Stafford's backup band
a few centuries ago. Rewrote some of
the charts and organized the sound.
Young people probably never heard
of Jim Stafford anyway. But that was a
fun gig. Jim is extremely funny. He is
also a frighteningly awesome guitarist.
Notice how THIN Mark looks without
the beard.
2. Began playing trumpet in fourth grade.
3. First gig (playing trumpet and organ) began in
1971, with an all-black band called Soul's Unlimited.
During this time, the band back up Soul artist Rufus
Thomas ("The Funky Chicken").
4. Began playing guitar in 1973.
5. Went on the road with the Fourth Arrangement in
1975, touring the country for roughly ten years.
During this tour, the band backed up
Country/comedian Jim Stafford ("Spiders and
Snakes"). Mark did the arranging.
6. Joined the RC Finnigan Band (country) in 1985
and toured for six months.
7. Joined the Terry Carroll Show in 1986 and played
conventions, club days and cruise ships with Terry
for about 10 years. Began playing flute with Terry.
8. Began MIDI programming around 1992.
9. Joined Bedrock (a classic rock band) playing
keyboards, working almost two years.
10. Began playing a single around 1997.
11. Moved from Orlando to Charlotte County to play
with Third Street Exit around 2002.
12. Began playing STEEL PANS around 2002.
13. Recorded Naughty But Nice in 2001.
14. Recorded Bacchus Arelius in 2002.
15. Recorded Split Pan Soup in 2005.
16. Recorded Bananas and Other Fantasies in 2005.
accomplishment
I have achieved
today, I owe to
THIS MAN.
ONE musical
influence of all
time!
director, JC Sykes gave
me the tools to reach
beyond what the rest of
the artistic world
expected of me. He
gave me the drive and
mental discipline to take
every musical project to
the next level. He gave
me the ultimate
philosophy: "We are
competing against
perfection." Sykes
created what you see
now.
