LYNDA MARKS KRAAR
Toronto-born Lynda Marks and the Marksmen were more than just a passing fancy in Toronto's nightclub scene during the 1980s. By the age of 21
Lynda had earned the respect of her seasoned colleagues and was performing around town with many of them. After a year-long stint performing nightclubs, concert stages and posh soirees for the diplomatic core in Israel during 1984, Lynda relocated to Asbury Park, New Jersey, to record with members of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. Soon thereafter, she formed Blue Moo, an eclectic and highly popular quintet that continued to foster her passion for American roots music.
Over the past two decades she’s performed throughout the US and Canada and in Israel. She also spent nearly 15 years as a public relations executive and development professional for several major philanthropies. Lynda continues to write, record and perform, although lately she has
spent more time teaching guitar and bass, and delving into the study of Jewish enthno-musicology. She has also become an active volunteer for
Musicians On Call, which sends musicians to perform at bedside at hospitals in New York City. She is also a writer for Songs of Love, a charity which calls upon composers and musicians to create individualized songs for critically ill children and hopes to do some more of that!
Her latest musical projects include:
- The Jewish People's Philharmonic Chorus under the directorship of Binyumen Schaecter. Lynda joined the alto section in 2006. This impressive chorus has been a mainstay of Yiddish music for generations in New York.
- Poetic Notion, directed by Rob Darnell. A longtime fan of Laura Nyro, Lynda found a home where she could foster her admiration and respect of the late composer and singer. Lynda hooked up with this chorus in early 2007.
Lynda has spent two years transcribing the manuscript of her mother’s memoirs. She is writing a one-woman, multi-media show based on
her mother’s writings, titled, “Be Decent.†Watch for it!
