Mark Griffiths

Bio:

Mark's love of the guitar started, when he heard recordings by Hank Williams , The Everly Brothers and Rick Nelson (with James Burton ). His father encouraged him and bought him his first guitar (a sunburst Framus acoustic) and it soon replaced sport as the most important thing in his life. He left school at fifteen after being offered a job teaching guitar to young students at the Northampton Guitar Studios. listening to many different guitarists, such as Lonnie Mack, Hank Garland, B.B.King, Chet Atkins, Johnny Smith and Hank Marvin. The offer came to join ' Harsh Reality ' a group singned to Phillips records. They made one album ( Heaven & Hell ' ) that dissapeared without trace. The producer of that album ( ' Fritz Fryer ' ) recommended Mark on to other artists and through those connections he was asked to join ' Matthew's Southern Comfort ' . Their MCA recording of Joni Mitchell’s “ Woodstock “ became a world-wide hit reaching number one in the U.K. ****************************************************************** On his first ever U.S.tour, he heard the groundbreaking album ‘ What’s Going On ‘ by Marvin Gaye. The bass parts by the late, great James Jamerson, inspired him to take up the bass . His move to bass, almost eclipsed his guitar playing for the majority of his carrer. He has now rediscovered his interest in the guitar and now splits his playing time between the two ****************************************************************** Since those days, some of the artists Mark has recorded and toured the world with include .... Al Stewart, The Everly Brothers, Sonny Curtis, Duane Eddy, Mark Knopfler, Zoot Money, David Essex, Sherman Robertson, Tom Hall, Steve Gibbons, Sammy Rimmington, Bonnie Tyler, Mike Berry, Billy Connolly, Deniece Williams, Jeff Lynne, Neil Innes, The Rutles, Debbie Davis, Johnny Boston, John Verity, The Ginger Pigs, Dobie Gray, Willy Russell , Gallagher & Lyle , Nina Hagen , Dennis Loccoriere, Iain Matthews , Peter Frampton, Plainsong and Cliff Richard. Mark has been The Shadows and guitar legend Hank Marvin ‘s regular bassist , for the past fifteen years. ****************************************************************** About three years ago, Mark was recruited by the Sue Ryder Care Charity as Product Development manager for their new range of Ryder Guitars. The guitars have been built in China and based on vintage designs. They are now available. Great value for money and suitable for students and professionals alike. The proceeds from sales, will then fed back into helping with the great work they do in the community. Please check them out at: www.ryderguitars.co.uk ******************************************************************** LATEST ALBUM ' 52 FLORENCE ROAD ' OUT ON N2K/ARC RECORDS AVAILABLE FROM: www.amazon.co.uk www.itunes.com Or order from N2K, 8 Hornton Place, London, W8 4LZ

Member Since:

February 21, 2007

Influences:

Lonnie Mack, Hank Garland, B.B.King, Chet Atkins, Johnny Smith, Hank Marvin, Kenny Burrell, Bill Frisell, Peter Green, Amos Garrett, Pat Metheney, Al Anderson, John Scofield, Robben Ford, Grant Green, Jim Hall,Richard Harding, Steve Swallow, Jimmy Smith, Steve Kuhn, Paul Desmond, Art Farmer, Jaco Pastorius,Tom Hall, Alan Holdsworth, George Duke, James Jamerson,Jimmy McGriff, Grady Tate, Prefab Sprout, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, Eric Anderson, Lowell George, Paul Butterfield, Dorothy Ashby,Wes Montgomery, Micheal Garrick, Keith Floyd, Colin Milburn + pages more.

Record Label:

ARC/N2K