About Me
Mark Tortorici in Barcelona, Spain w/ the Lazy Jumpers
Singer, bandleader, harmonica player, songwriter, promoter, producer, entertainer, dancer, actor, Dee-Jay, live music lover, sharp dresser...
A veteran of the Los Angeles blues, roots, swing, and jazz scenes, Mark Tortorici (friends call him “Torchâ€) is a strong blues singer with the range and control to be warm and smooth on a love song, standard, or ballad. A versatile, engaging live performer with a strong sense of swing, style, and showmanship. He always “takes it up a notch,†and during his energetic performances is often known to jump off the bandstand and take a gal for a spin.
Cutting his teeth on the blues, Tortorici (pr. Tor-tor-EECH-ee) served his blues apprenticeships with local bands like the great John Marx & the Blues Patrol, Randy Rich, Blue Stew, Jimmy C, Ashford Gordon, Rick Ambrose, Tim Casey & the Bluescats and others before starting his own groups.
The Hollywood Combo
Simply one of the best groups of its kind in the country. Comprised of the cream of L.A.'s blues, roots, and swing scenes, they play a mixture of covers and originals which run the gamut from post war jump blues to 50s Rock& Roll. They have played for years at all of L.A.s’ top venues- concerts, special events, hotels and casinos across the country, and music festivals worldwide. They have also backed up artists such as Big Jay McNeely, Roy Gaines, Speedo and the Cadillacs, Dale Hawkins, Roddy Jackson, Willie Headen(the Five Birds), James Harman, John Nemeth, Lynwood Slim, and Mike Sanchez. Other performance highlights include the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender, the Green Bay Rockin’ 50’s fest, Ojai Bowlful of Blues, shared bills with Poncho Sanchez, Big Sandy, Royal Crown Revue, and Louis Prima sax man Sam Butera. They've made several television appearances and also had their music featured in several TV, film, and stage productions. Their first CD release includes guest appearances by the great Big Jay McNeely, legendary L.A. radio man Hunter Hancock, and pianoman extraordinaire Carl Sonny Leyland.
Visit them at
myspace.com/thehollywoodcombo
or pickup the CD at
cdbaby.com/hollywoodcombo
The Torchlighters
Combines the best of the American songbook and the classic crooners, the sweet and hot jazz of New Orleans, and a healthy dose of the blues. Typically a slamming 10 piece all-star band filled with LA's "A-list" cats, the Torchlighters play venues around LA, Las Vegas, and many private events.
Mark Tortorici & the Torchlighters
10 Piece Band
Performances
Mark has an extensive background in theatre and performing, with appearances in numerous stage, TV, radio and movie productions. He has recorded both voice and harmonica for radio, television, and motion pictures. Mark’s several movie and TV appearances (musically) include USA, HBO, NBC, and the nationwide opening hour slot in the 1998 Jerry Lewis MDA telethon. Some rather fun appearances include the B-Movie “Attack Of The Slime People†and Horror cut-em-up “Bad Blood†with Piper Laurie and Conrad Janis, and guest emcee at the Miss Exotic World 2006 Burlesque Contest alongside entertainer El Vez and comedienne Margaret Cho.
In addition to the bands mentioned above, there are often smaller groups like duos, trios, quartets, etc., at LA’s better-known restaurants and nightclubs, including the Derby, the Bordello, the Pig & Whistle, Vitello’s, the Forbidden City, the Jonathan Club, Shutters Santa Monica, Miceli’s Hollywood, French 75 Bistro, the Pasadena Jazz Institute, and others. Hundreds of public as well as private, corporate, and industry events all over Southern California, Las Vegas, and the West Coast. Has played over 100 weddings- book him for yours!
Some other performance highlights include opening for the great Keely Smith, Sam Butera and the Wildest, Frank Sinatra, Jr., parties for Gene Simmons of KISS, the cast of ER, the cast of Babylon 5, Ted Danson & Mary Steenburgen, Suzanne Somers, Fran Drescher & the cast of the Nanny, Fess Parker, Hayley Mills and the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Santa Barbara MDA, Marcy Carsey (Carsey-Werner Productions) David Landsberg, and Academy Award winning actress Charlize Theron.
Torch Presents
Besides pursuing his career as an artist and performer, Mark has enjoyed promoting and producing live music events in and around Los Angeles and Las Vegas for the last 6 years. From Blues to Burlesque, Cabaret to Country, Jazz, R&B, Swing, Big Band, Rock&Roll, Roots & Americana-from small restaurants, clubs and cabarets to large venues and events. For 4 years he has been the host and resident DJ at "Dance @ Joe's"- a weekly event at Joe's Bar & Grill in Burbank. Check out Joe's at
www.myspace.com/danceatjoes OR www.danceatjoes.com
And Torch is the Host of the "ALL NIGHT JUKE JOINT" Radio Show
(more info in blog above)
every Friday night/Saturday morning on KCSN 88.5 FM
www.kcsn.org OR www.myspace.com/kcsnradio
Other Stuff
Mark loves to dance, read, listen to scratchy old records, collect old suitcases hear live New Orleans Jazz, stay up all night, travel, and play fetch with his cat Frankie Gatto. He is a clotheshorse, with more pairs of shoes than you. He is currently learning Italian. He also loves collecting 78 and 33 records and can be found DJ-ing at local hotspots or as a guest on the Los Angeles FM dial.
