The multi-faceted career of Mark Lee Townsend is exemplified through his work as a producer, engineer, guitarist and singer/songwriter. These various positions have led to his continual influence on the music industry.
Townsend entered the Christian music scene in 1985 as a singer/guitarist/songwriter for CCM new wave pioneers, Bash 'N The Code. From here he worked with various artists, eventually becoming guitarist for Steve Taylor and Some Band in the early 90s. In 1995 he joined dc Talk and toured with them through 1997 when they took a break. During this time, he and the other members of dc Talk's backing band focused on their own music by starting the band Zilch. Townsend was the writer/vocalist/guitarist and they put out their album "Platinum" on Gotee Records.
Shortly after this release, dc Talk started touring again, so the members of Zilch put their project on hold and went back on the road with dc Talk. Even when they weren't touring, Townsend continued to because he was Jennifer Knapp's lead guitarist.
Townsend decided to take a break from touring and with this, he switched the focus of his profession but not industry. It turned out that he not only had talent for being a musician, but also a producer. He began working with a little-known band at the time called Relient K and went on to producing four of their albums as well as part of their most recent album. His work can also be heard on albums by House Of Heroes, The Evan Anthem, The O.C. Supertones, The Wedding, Jennifer Knapp, and Deas Vail.
As if he hadn't already crossed an ample amount of boundaries in his career, in 2004 Townsend moved to Nashville and started Brave New World, a record company home to Deas Vail and The Wedding. In between, Townsend is currently working on his first solo record and the sophomore Zilch album as well, to be released early 2009.I edited my profile with Thomas' Myspace Editor V4.4
