"STAND TALL" is the first new release by Mark Leighton
since the 5-song EP release in 1998 entitled "Songwriter". Leighton wrote all 12 of the songs and describes the work as "a series of incidents that have occurred during my lifetime and resurfaced in song form." The range of the songs on the CD have been very well received by critics as a great mix of Contemporary Music with strong influences of Country, Folk, Rock, R&B, and Pop. All of the tunes are very engaging due to the deeply personal nature of the lyrics, great melodies, and unforgettable hooks.
Written and produced by Leighton, in collaboration with
Dave Cournoyer, "STAND TALL" features some impressive
talent from the greater Boston area including:
* Dave Cournoyer - guitars, vocals, and samples;
* Bruce Marshall - vocals (appears courtesy of ATM records)
* Peter Lindfors - drums;
* Cathy Martin - piano, strings, organ, and vocals;
* Tom DiFilippo - vocals;
* Mark Leighton - vocals, guitar, bass, drums and keyboards;
and his 2 sons MJ on drums and Nick on bass.
While Leighton has been absent from the stage for the last few years, he has been very busy writing a great deal of music and raising his 2 sons. According to the artist, "the boys have been a constant inspiration and have been very helpful in setting up the studio, recording tracks and helping to select from the hundreds of song mixes. They remind me of myself when I was their age just starting out in the music business, except they are taller and better looking."
Leighton began playing guitar, singing & writing songs in his hometown of Walpole, MA at the age of 12. Early influences included Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Rod Stewart, the Beatles and the Stones. Leighton sang and played original tunes on guitar, bass & keyboards with 4 to 8 piece bands in the Greater Boston area for over a decade. He also performed on acoustic guitar at Boston coffee houses & impressed audiences with his heartfelt lyrics. During this time he began recording his music.
Leighton went on to study Arranging & Composition at Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA. While at Berklee, he formed Pieces with drummer Peter Lindors and performed at Berklee Performance Center. The band played extensively in clubs and developed a strong appreciation of what it takes to capture the attention of an audience. Pieces recorded original music in Boston area studios and gained airplay on local radio stations.
Hot Wires came next, a pop rock band featuring the songs of Mark Leighton. The project was managed by the Sound Stage designer for Pat Metheny and directed by a NYC based producer with multiple credits including the Doobie Brothers. The lineup included Leighton on guitar/vocals, Mike Bendinelli on drums, a female vocalist, and 2 new faces: a guitar wizard by the name of Dave Cournoyer, and Wolf Ginandes on bass. The band recorded in Boston area studios and performed showcases that generated interest from record labels, but failed to secure a record contract. Leighton disbanded the project and returned to college for engineering to gain some technical knowledge and secure the ability to finance his own projects.
During his engineering studies, Leighton remained active in the Boston music scene. He directed an original musical production, played out regularly with a 60’s rock band, and freelanced with several Boston bands on guitar, bass, and keyboards.
After graduating at the top of his engineering class, he developed project management and digital recording software for Boston based companies, which has given him a good foundation for managing recording projects.
Soon after his first son was born, he stop gigging and went to work for a major recruiting firm, to become the top engineering recruiter nationally for an unprecedented 10 years in a row.
Leighton took a sabbatical from engineering to set up a recording studio, where he recorded “STAND TALL” & "REVELATION".
After working with dozens of bands and writing hundreds of songs, the one thing that remains constant is his gift of capturing a song in whatever style suits the moment. He remains one of the most prolific and endearing songwriters in Boston.
Current influences include Don Henley, Eric Clapton, Vince Gill, & Sting.
Read more...