Born in Hollywood California, Mark was the third child of four. While still a babe, his family moved to Tulsa Oklahoma where he spent his formative years. Mark was given his first instrument, a guitar, at the age of 10. Though self-taught he managed to learn enough songs to convince his mother he was serious about music and she bought him his first electric guitar at age 12. “Once I turned it up, I was hooked”. He joined his first band at 15 and started playing his second instrument by teaching himself songs on his mother’s piano. Mark was voted high school “Most talented” his Senior year and at 19 hit the road as a keyboardist /vocalist with a touring band called “The Scene”. Twenty years and five bands later Mark’s music is still going stronger than ever.

Mark started fronting The Groove Merchants in the summer of 2000. This is the perfect band to showcase his soulful vocal style and dynamic stage presence. As a songwriter, Mark’s musical influences include; The Beatles, The Police, INXS, Seal and the Black Crowes among others. He released “Falling Forward” a CD of original music in the Summer of 2003. Songs from his CD have been used on the TV show Smallville, A&E’s Biography and Fox Sports Network among others. He is currently writing songs for his second solo effort and an upcoming Groove Merchants CD.

When he’s not playing music Mark enjoys traveling, snow skiing, scuba diving and big game fishing. Mark is also the owner of ABI Promotions, Inc. a promotional products marketing company that he opened in 1996 and Co-owner of EarthCake Publishing, a music publishing company started in 2003.

Mark maintains that his main goal in life is to effect people in a positive way through music. This is what motivates him to keep playing. “As long as I see people smiling up at the stage, I’ll keep singing”.