Mark Winkler

"Born on a mountaintop; raised in a cave..." Wait..that has already been taken.
Where to begin? Well, I can go back quite a few years. I remember hearing what I believe was the first music I remember. It was Beethoven playing from an LP on a turntable. I was probably 2 at the most. Funny thing, Beethoven (and most classical music) has still stuck with me an is an influence to a degree in my writing.
Speaking of writing music....this page is going to change all the time with the music. As I type this, the only things I have ready are old recordings of some synthy-techno sort of stuff. I don't like to label music often, but that's what it sounds like. I prefer to play bass, though - and that's where this is all going to lead. Hopefully by the time you read this, there will be some bass-based songs up for your ears.
I began playing bass when I was 12. Can't say I had many influences at that time because I just loved music in general. There really are only two types anyway - good and bad. By the time I was 14, I added guitar (acoustic, classical, and electric) to what I was learning, and then piano and keyboards came about around age 16. I was already writing music at this time (mostly classical) and took every music class I could in high school, as well as writing the outline for a class I wanted but they didnt offer - Music Theory III. Went to college for music and majored in composition & conducting. Yipee. So I kept playing and grew older. Kept writing and changing my style. Actually, I don't think I really have a "style" when it comes to writing. I just do whatever feels right at the time.
Oh yeah, the basses I use are all altered in some way or custom-built. The custom one's are from Fodera, Birdsong, and Mike Rowan. My other basses are from Fender, Rickenbacker, and Schecter. My main amplification is by Phil Jones Bass, Inc.
Oh, lastly (for real) I have to throw a big thanks out to my bass tech, Eric Jacobsen for putting up with all my complaining, and to the phenominal Phil Jones himself for always taking the time to work with me on getting the best sound out there in the live shows. Of course, thank you to everyone who gets here from www.markjwinkler.com and keeps those emails and stuff coming in! :)
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