In Mark Jungers' world, songs need not fit easily into any one category. Country, roots rock, folk, and bluegrass music are not mutually exclusive. Mark and his band play what is at the heart of "Americana": gutsy, unpretentious music filled with spirit and spontaneity.
Jungers was a major player in the mid 80s Austin music scene, playing with a number of different bands including Hell's Cafe and The Masons. In the fall of 1994, he left Texas for Connecticut, where he began a solo career, and where his songwriting really began to prosper. He found regional success as the lead singer of The Motel Preachers, but Texas was calling, and he returned to the Austin area in 1997. The songwriting continued and he soon formed what is now Mark Jungers & The Whistling Mules. 2000 saw the release of Mark's first album, "Black Limousine", which gained him a strong Texas following. 2002 brought forth the second album "Standing in Your Way", and 2004 saw the release of "One for the Crow", which gained Mark national attention. The CD spent 14 weeks on the Americana Chart, 26 weeks on the Roots Music Report, 2 months on the F.A.R. Chart, and reached no. 2 on XM Radio's X-Country Weekly Rank List.
Mark and the Mules have shared a bill with Fred Eaglesmith, The Derailers, Guy Clark, Gary P. Nunn, Slaid Cleaves, Slobberbone, Sisters Morales, Trout Fishing in America, Billy Joe Shaver, Charlie Robison, Cory Morrow, The Gourds, Terri Hendrix, and the list goes on.
Mark's reputation as one of Austin's premier songwriters continues to grow, as an increasing number of musicians are performing his material. Adam Carroll and Susan Gibson, generally recognized as two of Texas' finest current batch of songwriters, and Canada's Roger Marin frequently collaborate with him on songs. He has also written songs for Sunny Sweeney, who is bursting onto the country scene.
Mark's long awaited fourth studio album "Silos and Smokestacks" was released in the fall of 2007, and his first live CD, recorded at the historic Gruene Hall, is scheduled to be released in early 2008.
The Mule Map
