"The Delta Dragon!" Smokin' Hot! That's what they're calling legendary Delta Born and Bred, Harmonica Virtuoso, Mark Sallings!
Mark Sallings of The Famous Unknowns, was born and raised in the Arkansas Delta near historical Helena, AR., and Memphis, TN. The Delta Blues are literally a part of his home-grown heritage.
In a career that spans more than three decades, Sallings spent nearly two of them as sideman or working in bands that opened for the likes of: Albert King, B.B, King, Muddy Waters, Steve Cropper, Rufus Thomas, Steve Winwood, Joe Walsh, and Jerry Lee Lewis, and that's just to name a few!
"Its really difficult to write a short bio on some one with a career as expansive as Marks. The guy has done everything from be on the cover of Billboard Magazine in the 70s, signed to Mercury Records, recording at Sun Records, as appearing at major festivals and venues across the U.S. He's worked with the Who's Who of blues!" Says Dick Papa Blues Thyer of the Kansas City Blues Society.
Sallings grew up in a household filled with music, with his dad, Max, playing jazz on a Gibson Hollow Body guitar and his mother Bonnie Lee at the piano, a music teacher teaching her children and the rest of the neighorhood! His brother's and sister's continue to jam together in a family band, "The Little Max Band," which is dedicated to the name of their late father who died at the young age of 57.
Mark's first memory of the harmonica is when Ronnie Hawkins of Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks, father of the legendary rock group "The Band," was dating Mark's Aunt Sue. Ronnie who came "to court and woo" sat rocking' tiny Mark in his lap, playing the harmonica to try and put him to sleep. All it did Ronnie says, was "make the little fella more hyper!" Mark began playing a variety of instruments at a very young age, clarinet and sax being two of the first. By the age of 13 he had put together his first band, which brought about his first paying gig at age 13 performing for a birthday party for childhood friend, Debra Lee, daughter of Memphis high society, modeling and theatre entrepenuer, Ms. Babbi Lovett. This was the spark for a professional, lifelong career beginning at age 14, playing sax in bands with seasoned players, along HWY 49, on what is known as the Chitlin' Circuit. He cut his teeth playing clubs like The White Swan.
Mark attended two years of college in Jonesboro, Arkansas, and shortly thereafter, began making frequent trips to Memphis. It was there that he garnered his first real studio experience, age 19, working as session work at Stax Records under the direction of Steve Cropper. He also worked for Jud Phillips of Phillips Recording with David Less and Ronnie Capone.
It didn't take Mark long to realize that he wanted to perform for a "living." He was in it for life, good or bad, ups and downs. Mark was on his way to a lifetime career in music. He moved to Memphis and after a year or two he took off to New Orleans, where he played as a street musician for tips and this is where he learned to play the harmonica.
Mark allso went on to design and teach the first blues harmonica course at the University of Memphis (Memphis State). He taught the course for eight semesters through the week and on the weekends (and weeknights) he was on stage or on the road.
It truly is next to impossible to condense into a few paragraphs what Sallings has accomplished over the years.
He has performed and recorded so much that he could write a book and perhaps one day he will. The interesting thing about Mark is that compared to a lot of other players is that he doesn't brag about who he's worked with or where he's been, or where he's going. He doesn't name drop to impress. He lets his music speak for him. He's the real deal and one of the best blues harp players alive; at least that's what fans from across the globe email and tell Mark and other blues lovers, on an almost daily basis.
In 1988 Sallings, who plays harmonica and sax, decided to form his own band and because of his time spent backing up legends, or performing with them, when he named the band, he chose a tongue in cheek moniker Famous Unknowns.
Sallings, who has an international following, is well-known for his traditional, and mostly uptempo, electric-delta jump blues. Thrown into the mix is a bit of Memphis R&B and soul. The Famous Unknowns were the first house band at B.B. King's Blues Club in Memphis for over two years which sparked attention for Sallings to finally go solo and put his name out front and carry the lead. So far, he's been making it happen as front man for over a decade now!
Although not signed to a major blues label, much to the disappoinment and dismay of MANY blues fans of all walks of life, Sallings, continues to sell CDs and tour full-time, making his mark on the blues community without the hype of the big blue machine. Perhaps one day, the blues labels will recognize the "real deal" and "cut a deal" with Mark aka "The Delta Dragon!" He is smokin' hot and his blues come from his soul; from the sultry heat of the Arkansas Mississippi Delta.
Sallings is endorsed by both HOHNER HARMONICAS and PEAVEY ELECTRONICS AND is also a Premier Winner of the Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy
Mark was born with music in his veins and performing is something he was destined to do. To read more about Mark's blue bio and get a brief glimpse into where he's been and who has influenced his career, check out his website at http://www.marksallings.com
His new CD Temporary Life was released in 2005 is getting great reviews!
TO READ MORE ABOUT MARK's BLUES BIO, VISIT HIS WEBSITE http://www.marksallings.com
Sallings interests and hobbies:
Off stage Mark is a proud husband and family man. He is the first to tell folks that his wife of almost 15 years, works tirelessly, as his Unknown Media Maven and is involved in many facets of the music industry on his behalf, but also on her own merits, some of which include: booking agent, promoter, singer-songwriter and indie producer, as well as recently starting her own music publishing company: 11 Point Publishing, CO. LLC. Mark is a father to an extended family of five, now adult children, each of whom are equally talented and artistic in their own unique ways.
Mark enjoys auto restoration, fishing, news and politics.
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