Mark was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee on November 23, 1954. As the only child, his parents moved the family to Nashville and then Madison. Family weekends were spent boating on Old Hickory Lake.

 

     In his early teens he played drums in junior high school, the hippie movement rolled in and he wanted more. While in a record store an Emerson, Lake, and Palmer album was playing 'Tarkus' and he astounded with who this bass player was. Greg Lake started it all. Jaco Pastorius influences were not far behind. Mark picked up the Alembic bass and taught himself. The numerics taught him to groove.

 

     Joining ranks with Costo Davis (keyboards), Randy Bowles (drums), and Stan Lassiter (guitar) the four of them practiced 5 to 7 hour days for 3 years before their first gig as the Stan Lassiter Grupe. (Mark did this while working as a machinist AND getting his papers to be a Journeyman in that arena.) The visionary behind it all was Costo Davis, playing his signature time counts with no variation. Mark still insists to this day that Costo's left hand was from another universe. The SLG had a following of musicians as well as home based fans. The band later signed with BMI and Mark was told if he wanted to make it he would have to move to Europe. He declined, stayed close to home, and the band later broke up. Even though they never played together again the music, which was on tape and in a hot attic, has since been restored on 2 CDs by a friend.
 
     Mark pushed himself in another direction. Around 1982 or 1983 he formed another band named 'Wires'.  He opened his mouth to sing recreating himself all over again to the signature sound that he is today. The members of Wires included Joe Rae Phillips (guitar), Dave Adams (drums), and Mark (bass & vocals).

 

     In 1986 Mark started learning Midi. He put down the bass and began absorbing all the information he could.  He learned, gathered sounds from recording studios, and also taught Midi. This now gives Mark another creative signature sound that he applies in his music today.  Speak was formed during this time and they created music for about 2 years.  Band members were Neal Merrick and Jim Sandefur.

 

     His last band was formed with Larry Little (keyboards), Chris Whitt (guitar), and Mark (Midi & vocals). Mark will tell you when listening to the recordings of their music that Chris is a 'muther' on the guitar and a great song writer, and Larry was a creative little monster.  Finding humor in the names and since it rolled off the tongue easily they called themselves Little, Whitt, and Tallent. They created music together for a couple of years. No gigs were ever played.  Even though tapes from this band were made all copies were given away.  Fed up with it all he wanted to escape from the madness. He turned his gear off and life took him into many different directions. Years later, a childhood friend told Mark he had a copy of the tape and that it was his favorite. He asked Mark if he would like to borrow it to make a copy. Mark said yes and retrieved it. A couple of weeks later his childhood friend died.

 

    Before his father's death in December, 2001 Mark bought a boat and returned to the lake he grew up on.  Mark leads a quiet life today enjoying summer days on the lake. He spends time with close friends, his wife that does NOT make him crazy, and fishes; really hoping not to catch anything but a summer breeze and feel the sun on his face.

 

And every now and again - the artist - he does emerge.