He wasn’t my uncle. I’m not even sure if he was anyone’s uncle. (Hell, I never even thought to ask him why he was playing out under that name in all the years I’d known him) What he was a local musician who’d been part of the acoustic scene in Atlanta for years. He was also one of the nicest people I’ve ever known.
The first time I heard THAT VOICE he was still part of “Ashley and Mark” out in Carollton, GA, when music was still just a hobby for me.
The first time I met Mark he was booking for Eddie’s Attic and I played a writer’s night with him and Kevin Montgomery. It was my first REAL show and still one of my favorite memories. Kevin and I really hit it off and at one point Mark left the stage for a bit, ostensibly to take a break, but mainly because he could tell Kevin and I were really feeding off each other and he just decided to pull himself out of the mix for a bit to let us go. I’m not sure how that comes across for anyone reading this, but it was quite a gesture.
I played a number of other shows with Mark. Once I started my first band I was still talking to him off and on in his capacity as “Bud Bass” the booking person for Eddie’s. Radiant City planned a holiday show/single for charity one year and Mark sang on the song. I tried to convince him that he and I should do the David Bowie/Bing Crosby “Little Drummer Boy” bit in between sets at the show but we never had time to work it out.
Then he suffered a heart attack and everything changed.
During those initial weeks afterwards I spent a lot of time at the hospital with his family and close friends. I can’t even recall today how I ended up being one of the people there. I don’t even think I really understood it at the time, I hadn’t really thought of myself as one of his close friends. But I’m glad I got to be there, to be supportive. There was a benefit put on by Eddie’s Attic that resulted in a show and a CD. I made a goofy little speech before one song implying that Mark had a secret life as a superhero.
He was a candidate for a transplant, but he was told that it would buy him about three years and at least one of those would be spent in recovery. He opted to just live his life the way he wanted. In the end, he got his three years anyway, on his terms.
It makes no medical sense, it’s merely a poetic device my brain has constructed. I know that. But Mark had a voice that could shake mountains. He had a voice that was too big for his body to hold. Whatever animates us put the voice inside him because someone had to hold it and it had to be someone with the will and strength to carry the weight of it the longest.
Most of you reading this won’t know who Mark is. History is full of the comings and goings of amazing people no one knows. You should have known Mark.
Paul,
Excellent piece here about the mighty, mighty Uncle Mark. I “managed” Ashley & Mark for a year or so around 1990… I put that in quotes because they managed themselves really, but I did create flyers and help organize some gigs. I got to see them make music many, many times and each time was a great pleasure.
It was nice to find this online. Thanks again.
In college we called him Uncle Mark.
I could tell some Uncle Mark stories.
I would never a fifth of Beam some weed and all night and I’d still have more stories.
Uncle Mark is still remembered. I think of him so often – he was such a special soul. He is dearly missed.
Does anyone know how we can get his music? I’d really like a copy of “Cover Town” and many others. It was part of the tribute on YouTube so someone has it. Thanks!!