About Me
..
Click here for Myspace LayoutsMark Sanderson was born with music in his blood. His mother was a Flippo, an Italian, whose family roots go back very far in the music business. His family came over from the old country Italy specifically Sicily. Most all of Mark's first cousins on that side of the family are involved in the music industry in one way or another.Now at the age of 44, Sanderson resides and is based out of Hamilton, Alabama, his hometown. Mark is a retired attorney who used to practice among other areas, much entertainment law and is a former Assistant District Attorney.Presently he is a semi-professional singer, musician, songwriter, recording artist and live performer. Mark sings, performs, writes and records mostly pop,light rock, light country and some contemporary christian music. He has released 3 CD's of original songs. Now available is a compilation CD: "Songs From the Heart" containing all the cuts. Mark has written over 100 songs and poems with many being copywritten and published.Sanderson's mother recalls young 3 year old Mark Sanderson beating on his car seat with the Beatles in the early 1960's. Years later the drums would become his primary instrument for a period, the instrument of which he played professionally. In addition to drums and percussion, Mark currently also plays acoustic guitars, piano/keyboards and bass guitar. He is also learning to play the trumpet.Like many musicians and singers, Mark got his start at a young age singing in church with his mother. He soon thereafter learned to play the piano, guitar and bass guitar totally by ear. Then in his teens he performed and sang in various churches as a soloist. Then for 3 1/2 years in the late 1970's, he traveled as the drummer for a Southern Gospel Group and recorded an album with them on drums in Kentucky. Later the day after high school graduation, he went on the road with professional contemporary christian singer Karen Wheaton as drummer. Unlike many so-called local profession drummers, Mark started drumming again at a very young age, even with his first cousin's rock band's in Birmingham. He won many medals as he played drums in the school band from the 5th grade to his senior year where he was section leader and drum captain.Also as a teenager, Mark performed as a soloist at Christmas parties, civic club events, banquets, business parties and events, banquets, etc. In 1981, he made his first television appearance on WTVA Channel 9 in Tupelo, MS singing and playing 3 original songs.Also, in the high school talent/variety show his senior year, the acts he performed in placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Again, the day after graduating from high school in May 1981, he went on the road with an internationally known contemporary christian artist Karen Wheaton who currently owns and runs the "Ramp" in Hamilton, Al Mark's hometown. Mark played the drums for Karen that summer.In Junior College, Mark performed in two groups, a rock band called the Hang-Ups in which he played bass guitar and sang lead. He also performed with the "Mark and Teresa" duet at several venues. At the Junior College talent show, his two acts placed 1st and 3rd place this go around. In addition, Mark worked 3 summers at a local radio station as a disc jockey playing pop and christian music.After taking a very brief time off from live performing in the mid 1980's (except performing once with the Little Richard Band and the country group Shenandoah at a local nightclub), Mark graduated at the University of North Alabama with political science/sociology majors and a music minor. He also served as Student Government President his senior year at UNA and at graduation was awarded the highest award given to a graduating senior, the "Turris Fidelis" Award. He was also awarded "University Man of the year." In the fall of 1986 Mark moved to Birmingham, Al to attend law school at Cumberland School of Law.There he performed much with two different groups. 1) He performed with Nashville, TN classmate Bill Herbert in an acoustic duet simply called "Mark and Bill." They performed much in Nashville, TN, Samford Universtiy events, law school parties, apartment complexes, pool parties, church youth events, private parties and events, and even for a young girl's birthday party in Mountain Brook, Alabama and some wedding parties. The two also performed regularly on WBRC's TV 6 "Country Boy Eddie Show" in Birmingham, Al.2)Also while living in Birmingham, Alabama and attending law school, Mark was keyboard player, played some bass and acoustic guitar and was lead singer with the "Wild Deeds" rock-n-roll band. They performed often at the once famous Louie Louie's on Birmingham's Southside, The Wynfey Hotel at the Galleria Mall, law school parties, a wedding reception, and the annual "I Love Homewood Day" celebration in Homewood, Al among many other venues.After law school in 1989, Mark and his vocally talented wife Cynthia, began performing as a duet at many varied places and events while living in Birmingham and Tuscumbia, Al. They performed at places such as: weddings, wedding receptions, wedding anniversaries, churches, festivals, private events, bridal shows, political rallies, country clubs, nursing homes, Christmas parties and the Country Boy Eddie Show on Channel 6 many times as mentioned above.In 1993, Mark's wife, Cynthia, passed away after a sudden and unexpected illness: spinal meningitis. Mark knew that she would want him to carry on the tradition of SANDERSON MUSIC. Then while living in Florence, Al (in the Shoals area of Alabama), he branched out and began performing as a soloist at many locations as "The Singing Lawyer," a name given to him by Country Boy Eddie, the TV show host. Mark performed at universities, regular gigs at many nightclubs and restaurants, continued TV performances at different stations, continued private parties, holiday parties for businesses and civic clubs and in private homes, a concert at a Tennessee amphitheater, an Opry type radio broadcast live performance, a town's annual festival as featured musical artist, a church get-together in a barn loft and an apartment complex pavilon just to name a few places.In 1997, Mark was involved in an accident which eventually led him to retire from the practice of law, move back to his hometown of Hamilton, Al and begin to work as a semi-professional singer, musician, songwriter, recording artist and live entertainer.Since 1997, he has performed in numerous churches, opry type events, the Huddle House Restaurant in Hamilton, Al during the holidays 2005, a private pool party, 4 television programs numerous times, a political fundraiser, restaurants during the holidays, the WKLX Radio Christmas party at a restaurant, a family reunion, numerous tours of nursing/convolescent homes (sponsored by individuals, businesses and music companies), St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN, the famous Flora-Bama in Gulf Shores, Al and a Christmas event for mentally impaired kids, birthday parties, a funeral in VA, a Daycare Center in TN, along with a whole host of other venues since 1997 or 1999. In addition, Mark is an accomplished actor and has played leading roles in 3 theatrical companies. He has also taught entertainment law at a major university. Mark is also an actively involved in the study of Kabbalah out of Los Angeles and knows many celebrities who are also involved in this study. He has also recently posed for a famous international magazine.In 2002, Mark recorded a professional 7 song CD of original pop and christian tunes. Then later, the same year, he went back into the studio and recorded a CD single of 2 original pop/love songs. Then in 2005, he combined the two projects into a 9 song compilation Compact Disc entitled: "Songs From the Heart." Articles about SANDERSON MUSIC and his recordings have appeared in the international UNA MAGAZINE, THE PHI GAMMA DELTA MAGAZINE, AND THE AMEILIA ISLAND NEWLETTER. Countless newspaper articles have been written about Mark and his Music.Mark's music has been played on numerous pop and christian radio stations and the CD's have sold well nationwide and abroad. To get a copy, send a valid Cashier's Check or U.S. Money Order written to SANDERSON MUSIC in the amount of $8.00 including postage and handling to: Mark A. Sanderson, SANDERSON MUSIC, 349 Loghaven Lane, Hamilton, Al 35570. Or call these numbers for more info.: (205)306-0306 or (205)921-5644. YOU MAY ALSO CALL THESE NUMBERS IF INTERESTED IN SANDERSON MUSIC FOR HOLIDAY GIG PERFORMANCES.Mark plays Takamine Guitars., uses D'Addario strings, Fender Bass, Ludwig Drums, Zildjian cymbals, Peavy amps, and Roland Keyboards, along with 10 other name brand acoustic guitars.Also please feel free to visit my site on Faithbase.com. I am the founder of a group on there called: "Christian Solo Artists." You can find it at: http://groups.faithbase.com/christiansoloartists. Hope to see you there.Thank you friends, family and fans for visiting this my new music site. Please also visit my other personal site at http://www.myspace.com/markasandersonmusic
Thanks and lots of love, MarkSweet Home Alabama
It Grows
