Paul Mark(III)
- Soundtrack
Paul Mark's recorded output on New York City-based Radiation Records spans several decades, embracing the Americana/Roots spectrum with a relentlessly original take on blues, rock, soul, country, surf, cabaret, R'nB, and old-timey sounds.
Mark is best known for unique songwriting and for the raucous barroom sounds of his urban blues/roots rock ensemble, the Van Dorens. His originals such as "When God Finds the Time", "Fritos, BBQ and Scotch", "I'm Going Blind", "One More Coat of Paint" and "The Drinks are On Me" take on traditional genres and weave them into contemporary, vital music.
In his instrumental roots guitar CDs titled "Roadside Americana" and "Mirage Cartography", Mark pays quiet homage to country blues greats such as Blind Blake, Mississippi John Hurt and Rev. Gary Davis, as well as next generation influences including John Fahey and Leo Kottke. Mark is also recognized for his smart cover recordings. These include a trash-guitar version of the Yardbirds classic "Heart Full of Soul", Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons", and Dylan's "Don't Ya Tell Henry".
Mark's musical family, the Van Dorens, is a revolving-door collective of dedicated musicians and production collaborators. Mark has said that the band name was sourced from the schlock exploitation flick "High School Confidential". Over several decades he's performed more than a thousand sets of live music at clubs and festivals with his band.
Mark has written, recorded and commercially released hundreds of songs, including 10 full length albums and growing. Before setting up his own studio in New York City he cut albums at numerous world-class facilities including Ardent Studios (Memphis), Compass Point Studios (The Bahamas), The Music Shed (New Orleans) and Dockside Studios (Maurice, Louisiana). Most frequent among his session collaborators is the Grammy-winning Memphis producer/engineer Jeff Powell, who to date has contributed to seven Mark albums. Mark's created albums with Grammy-winning producers Jim Gaines, Terry Manning and the late John Hampton.
Paul Mark is principal owner of Radiation Records Inc. and its publishing affiliate Last Warning Music. Both were founded in 1995. Mark grew up in Connecticut then went to University of CT and got bachelor's degrees in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and English. Mark then attended grad school at New York University where he earned an MA in English. He was on the Ph.D track when a recording contract halted his studies. After traveling in Europe and living in Paris for an extended period he returned to Manhattan where he's lived for the past 25 years.
Having touring extensively for years with his band - often performing three sets a night - Mark says his worldview was permanently modified by long van rides, crappy stage acoustics and fleabag motels.
Mark is best known for unique songwriting and for the raucous barroom sounds of his urban blues/roots rock ensemble, the Van Dorens. His originals such as "When God Finds the Time", "Fritos, BBQ and Scotch", "I'm Going Blind", "One More Coat of Paint" and "The Drinks are On Me" take on traditional genres and weave them into contemporary, vital music.
In his instrumental roots guitar CDs titled "Roadside Americana" and "Mirage Cartography", Mark pays quiet homage to country blues greats such as Blind Blake, Mississippi John Hurt and Rev. Gary Davis, as well as next generation influences including John Fahey and Leo Kottke. Mark is also recognized for his smart cover recordings. These include a trash-guitar version of the Yardbirds classic "Heart Full of Soul", Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons", and Dylan's "Don't Ya Tell Henry".
Mark's musical family, the Van Dorens, is a revolving-door collective of dedicated musicians and production collaborators. Mark has said that the band name was sourced from the schlock exploitation flick "High School Confidential". Over several decades he's performed more than a thousand sets of live music at clubs and festivals with his band.
Mark has written, recorded and commercially released hundreds of songs, including 10 full length albums and growing. Before setting up his own studio in New York City he cut albums at numerous world-class facilities including Ardent Studios (Memphis), Compass Point Studios (The Bahamas), The Music Shed (New Orleans) and Dockside Studios (Maurice, Louisiana). Most frequent among his session collaborators is the Grammy-winning Memphis producer/engineer Jeff Powell, who to date has contributed to seven Mark albums. Mark's created albums with Grammy-winning producers Jim Gaines, Terry Manning and the late John Hampton.
Paul Mark is principal owner of Radiation Records Inc. and its publishing affiliate Last Warning Music. Both were founded in 1995. Mark grew up in Connecticut then went to University of CT and got bachelor's degrees in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and English. Mark then attended grad school at New York University where he earned an MA in English. He was on the Ph.D track when a recording contract halted his studies. After traveling in Europe and living in Paris for an extended period he returned to Manhattan where he's lived for the past 25 years.
Having touring extensively for years with his band - often performing three sets a night - Mark says his worldview was permanently modified by long van rides, crappy stage acoustics and fleabag motels.