Mark Wayne Glasmire
Raised in Bethlehem, PA, Mark learned the acoustic guitar at an early age. Influenced by James Taylor, Harry Chapin, Jimmy Buffet and the Beatles, he started writing and performing his own music while in college. While in school, Mark played many local venues in the Eastern Pennsylvania area, including many music festivals and clubs. He recorded his first album, “Sad Songs” in the late 70’s, an effort that highlighted his fresh and original material.
With the first album under his belt, Mark moved on to Greenwich Village in New York City in the 80’s and spent many years performing at top name venues such as Folk City, The Speakeasy, The Bottom Line and other well-known Village stages. During his time in New York, Mark was fortunate to share the stage with many well-known acts such as Tom Paxton, Arlo Guthrie, Tracy Chapman, Suzan Vega, John Gorka and Gordon Lightfoot. One review in the New York Times during this era remarked that “there aren’t many artists who get as good as Mark.”
Over the next few years, Mark went on to record an EP entitled “The Sun, The Moon and The Seasons” a local favorite and bestseller in New York City. Later as an artist with Comstock Records, he released two singles, “Hey Girl” and “Can You Feel It,” into the European market, both of which received extensive airplay and reached the top 5 on the European charts. In 1995, Mark moved from Pennsylvania to Nashville to become more involved in the creative community that flourishes in the nation’s songwriting capital. He immediately began writing and performing in the “Music City” at writer’s nights, as well as other local venues, including the famous Blue Bird Cafe, the Exit Inn, the Wildhorse Saloon and 3rd and Lindsley. As a consequence of those gigs, Mark began receiving local airplay on Nashville stations which led to the recording and release of the “All of My Heart” CD through his own label, Traceway Music. Mark co-wrote ten of the eleven songs on that album. He has also received extensive airplay for the past three years throughout parts of North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
In 2004 Mark recorded and released “Now I Believe”, also through Traceway Music. Again, Mark wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the disc. In May of 2005, Mark had the pleasure of performing songs from this CD for 8,000 U.S Marines and their families at the Marine base at Twentynine Palms, CA, while opening for Dierks Bentley.
Mark has just completed his latest project, a compilation of self penned songs called “Scrapbook”, which is scheduled for release in late 06’. This collection of songs was written over a period of almost 20 years, but until now was never recorded. The richness of his lead vocals and his multiple harmony parts, coupled with his outstanding acoustic guitar playing, showcase a truly talented artist who has depth, experience and a true love of his craft.
Mark is always a favorite with crowds because of his good humor, honest rapport with the audience, but most importantly, his outstanding talent as a performing artist and original songwriter.
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