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Mark was born in 1958 in Charlotte, NC, and moved to York, SC in 1973. Mark's wife is Beverly and they have two sons, Bryan and Matt.
Mark started learning banjo from his father while is high school. He played around York in various bands and with several different people .... Tony Comer, Joe Hardin, and Tim Jones to name a few. He played in the WCBW Band in the early 80's with Tim Jones and Jack Nims. The band changed their name to Easy Pickins Band when guitar Moe Laforrest joined the group, then evolved into the Cotton Pickers.
Mark taught banjo at a local music store for a while. He then quit playing with a steady band, but continued to play here and there with Tim and Jack.
Family and his boys came first with hunting, fishing, kart racing, baseball, etc. His music was put on hold until he was asked to play banjo and guitar with a group from his church, the Central Baptist Bluegrass Quartet. This group features arrangements with a bluegrass sound, and it sure felt great to be picking again.
In 2004,Mark received a call from Jimmy Swearingen about playing with a band called Easy Pickin's (yet again). He went to practice with them and stated that he would help out until they found another banjo picker. After about two or three sessions with Easy Pickin's he thought that he would like to hang aroung for a while. It seemed as if it was meant to be. He felt like he clicked with the style of music (older traditional bluegrass). The group all seems to like the same things and they became fast friends.
***** A very special "Thank You" goes out to a fine friend, Tim Jones. Tim helped to spark a fire in Mark to continue to pick and grin.*****
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