2011
2011 was another exciting year for Mark. In addition to several awards, Mark also got to plat some great venues for the first time, including the Somerville Armory and Tupelo Music Hall. 2012 promises to be another great year as Mark begins work on a brand new CD.
NEWSFLASH: Mark received honorable mention (folk category) in this years' Mid-Atlantic Song Contest. Details at www.saw.org
NEWSFLASH: For the second year in a row, Mark received honorable mention in the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase. Details atwww.bluegrass.com/folks/contests
NEWSFLASH: For the second time in the last three issues, and the seventh time overall, Mark was recognized in American Songwriter magazine's lyric contest, this time receiving honorable mention in the July/August edition for "Cowboy Dreams", a new song. Details at www.americansongwriter.com
NEWSFLASH: Mark received two major honors in this year's Great American Song Contest, results of which were announced on March 31. "War Movies and Westerns" was named a top 5 selection and earned Mark an "Outstanding Achievement in Songwriting" award. Meanwhile "Little Black Dress" was a finalist in the folk/acoustic category. Details at www.greatamericansong.com
NEWSFLASH: Mark is featured on the cover of the April edition of Metronome magazine. There's an accompanying interview and article which calls Mark "the songwriter's songwriter" and goes on to rave that Mark's material "makes you stop and ask, How'd he think of that? . . . He seem(s) to be able to say all the things that everyone else [is] trying to say. . . Make it a point to pick up one [of his CDs ] as soon as possible." Well, I guess there's no accounting for taste . . .
NEWSFLASH: "When Vernon Moved From Tupelo" received Honorable Mention in the Nashville Songwriters Association International's 2010-11 Song Contest. It was one of only 22 songs out of over 2,000 entries to receive an award. Details at www.nashvillesongwriters.com
NEWSFLASH: "Beer View Mirror", a new song of Mark's, received honorable mention in the March/April edition of American Songwriter magazine's lyric contest, the sixth time Mark has been honored by American Songwriter. Details at www.americansongwriter.com
NEWSFLASH: "Chevy Biscayne" was selected as one of ten winners of the 2010 Great Lakes Songwriting Contest, announced January 31. The song finished in eighth place overall. Details at www.greatlakessongwritingcontest.net
NEWSFLASH: Mark was runner-up in the Fall 2010 Tennessee Songs Contest. Details at www.tennesseeconcerts.com
2010
2010 was a great year for Mark, with several more songwriting awards and some fantastic shows (including the Passim Campfire, Johnny D's, opening for Claudia Schmidt and Buskin & Batteau, etc.)
NEWSFLASH: For the fourth time in the last five years, Mark was selected as a finalist in the USA Songwriting Competition. Details at www.songwriting.net
NEWSFLASH: Mark received honorable mention in this year's Rocky Mountain Folks Festival Songwriter Showcase, placing him in some very fine company indeed. Details at www.bluegrass.com/folks/contests
NEWSFLASH: "When Vernon Moved From Tupelo" was named a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. Details at www.songwritingcompetition.com
NEWSFLASH: "Worst Kept Secret" was named a finalist (Contemporary Acoustic/Folk category) in this year's Great American Song Contest. Details at www.greatamericansong.com This is the sixth song on the Some Assembly Required CD to receive an award from a major songwriting contest.
2009
2009 was a very productive and satisfying year for Mark. Among the highlights (some of which are summarized below) were the release of a new CD and the great reception it engendered, the opportunity to play some great shows including a CD Release Show at Passim and opening for Steve Forbert, and a host of other songwriting honors. Looking forward to more exciting events in 2010.
NEWSFLASH: In December Mark was selected as a finalist in the USA Songwriting Competition for the third time in the last four years. Details at www.songwriting.net
Some Assembly Required was on the national "Folk-DJ" airplay chart for both September and October, and as of December began its fourth month on the Roots Music Report national folk airplay chart. Thanks to everyone who came out to the official CD Release Show at Club Passim.
On November 6 Mark appeared on New England Cable News' "Coffeehouse" feature. Click here to see his performance.
NEWSFLASH: Some Assembly Required was number 33 on the "Folk-DJ' national folk airplay chart for the month of September, and number 27 on the Roots Music Report national folk airplay chart. Where's Casey Kasem when we need him?
Mark's new CD, Some Assembly Required, is at long last finished! The CD features 11 new songs, with the legendary Duke Levine on guitar, Paul Kochanski of the Resophonics on bass, and Lorne Entress on drums. Sean Staples (also of the Resophonics) plays mandolin on the record and Joyce Andersen plays fiddle. For information on how to order, click on the "Music" tab. The official CD Release show for Some Assembly Required will be on November 23 at the legendary Club Passim in Harvard Square. Click on the "Gigs" tab for more details.
NEWSFLASH: "Little Black Dress", from Some Assembly Required, received Honorable Mention in the July/August American Songwriter magazine lyric contest, the fifth time Mark has been honored by American Songwriter and the fourth song from his upcoming CD to receive a songwriting award.
NEWSFLASH: "When Vernon Moved From Tupelo", another track from Some Assembly Required, has received four recent awards. In November it won Honorable Mention in he Great Lakes Songwriting Contest. Details at www.greatlakessongs.com. In May it won Honorable Mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest (Folk Category). Details at www.jlsc.com. In March it was selected as a finalist in The Great American Song Contest (Contemporary Acoustic/Folk category). Details at www.greatamericansong.com. In February it won third prize in the Dallas Songwriters Association 2008 Songwriting Contest (Folk/Americana/Blues category). The Grand Prize Judge called it "one of the most interesting lyrics I've heard in a long time". For details see www.dallassongwriters.net.
2008
2008 was an exciting year for Mark. Among the highlights, Mark won 1st Prize in the Great American Song Contest, and was selected as a finalist (for the second time) in the USA Songwriting Competition. Mark was also named runner-up in WUMB's "To Kill A Mockingbird" songwriting contest, leading to his inclusion on a benefit CD featuring performers such as Vance Gilbert, Kate Campbell and Chris Smither. Additionally, Mark was invited to play Nashville's legendary Bluebird Cafe for the first time. With the upcoming release of his new CD, 2009 promises to be another banner year.
NEWSFLASH: General Gao was "Song of The Week" on the October 18 Lost Highway show, the great roots music program on Cambridge's WMBR (88.1 FM). In the immortal words of ESPN.com's Bill Simmons, now I can die in peace . . .
"Dead Man's Hand", a new song of Mark's, received Honorable Mention in the March/April 2008 American Songwriter magazine lyric contest. This is the fourth time Mark has been honored by American Songwriter; he has previously been a first place winner and first runner-up, and was interviewed for a "Spotlight" feature in the November/December 2007 issue.
Mark is also the host of the long-running open mike at the Center for Arts in Natick. The open mike is held the first and third Tuesdays of each month. More info at href="http://www.natickarts.org"><span"> www.natickarts.org.