Mark is a freelance musician who lives in the Fort Worth/Dallas area and is in much demand as a session musician, doubling on string bass and fiddle. He is the current bassist for Bob Wills' Texas Playboys, plays fiddle and bass with Tommy Morrell and the Time Warp Tophands, plays fiddle and bass for Red Steagall and the Coleman County Cowboys (renamed in 1995 "The Boys in the Bunkhouse"), and plays string bass and fiddle with Don Edwards(Don played the part of Smokey opposite Robert Redford in "The Horse Whisperer").
A partial list of artists Mark has recorded with or worked for includes: Rex Allen Sr., Rex Allen Jr., Gene Autry(Mark played his 90th birthday party), the Sons of the Pioneers, the Reinsmen, the Sons of the San Joaquin, Johnny Western, Wilford Brimley, Willie Nelson, Johnny Gimble, Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, Beck, Don Walser, Janie Fricke, Johnny Rodriguez, Junior Brown, Mark Chesnutt, Lee Roy Parnell, Lynn Anderson, Tanya Tucker, Hank Thompson, Stephanie Davis(author of the song "We Shall Be Free" recorded by Garth Brooks), Robert Waller(author of "The Bridges of Madison County"), Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel, Billy Walker, Ray Price, Charlie Walker, Charlie Pride, Johnny Bush, Darrell McCall, and Larry Gatlin. Through his travels, people have often come to him, after having heard him sing, and asked if he had any of his own recordings. While working sessions over the course of the past year and a half, he was able to put together some tunes for such a project.
The end result is "I Reckon I'm a Texan 'Til I Die," a C.D. of l5 tunes that take the listener from the dancehalls of Texas to the wide open spaces of the Santa Fe Trail in northern New Mexico. This project features triple fiddles, steel guitar, and twin guitars in the danceable style and tradition of Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, the Sons of the Pioneers,and Ray Price. Mark handles all of the singing, fiddle chores,and bass playing.This is a collection of tunes that would be at home in the car on a long drive or for anyone who loves Western Swing, Western, or 4/4 shuffle tunes. It is GREAT DANCE MUSIC, guaranteed to please!!
Read more...