| Revision as of 03:55, 5 May 2015 editKasparBot (talk | contribs)1,549,811 edits authority control moved to wikidata← Previous edit | Revision as of 19:51, 20 June 2015 edit undo72.21.198.66 (talk) →Other albumsNext edit → | ||
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| * ''Heirlooms: The Complete Atlantic Sessions'', 2000 (re-release of Farner's two first studio albums) | * ''Heirlooms: The Complete Atlantic Sessions'', 2000 (re-release of Farner's two first studio albums) | ||
| * ''Live!! N'rG'', 2003 | * ''Live!! N'rG'', 2003 | ||
| * ''For The People'', 2006 | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 19:51, 20 June 2015
| Mark Farner | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Mark Farner performing at the Fall Fest in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, September 26, 2009. | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1948-09-29) September 29, 1948 (age 76) Flint, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | Rock, hard rock, CCM |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals, keyboards, harmonica, bass guitar |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Labels | Capitol, MCA, Atlantic, Warner, Lismark |
| Website | markfarner |
Mark Fredrick Farner (born September 29, 1948) is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad, and later as a contemporary Christian musician.
Early life and career
Farner began his career in music by playing in Terry Knight and The Pack (1965–1966), The Bossmen (1966), The Pack (aka The Fabulous Pack) (1967–1968), before forming Grand Funk Railroad with Don Brewer (drums) and Mel Schacher (bass guitar) in 1968. Craig Frost (keyboards) joined the band in 1973. Farner has Cherokee ancestry from his maternal side.
With Grand Funk Railroad
Farner was the guitarist and lead singer for Grand Funk Railroad as well as the songwriter for most of their material. His best-known composition is the 1970 epic "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)". He also wrote the 1975 hit "Bad Time", the last of the band's four singles to make the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Post-Grand Funk Railroad
After Grand Funk initially disbanded in 1976, Farner released his first self-titled solo album in 1977, and his second, No Frills, in 1978 (both Atlantic Records). In 1981, Farner and Don Brewer launched a new Grand Funk line-up with bassist Dennis Bellinger and recorded two albums, Grand Funk Lives and What's Funk?. Farner went solo again with 1988's Just Another Injustice on Frontline Records. His third Frontline release was 1991's Some Kind of Wonderful, which featured a revamped version of the Grand Funk classic of the same name. Farner enjoyed success with the John Beland composition "Isn't it Amazing", which earned him a Dove Award nomination and reached No. 2 on the Contemporary Christian music charts.
In the 1990s, Farner formed Lismark Communications with former Freedom Reader editor Steve Lisuk. Soon after, Farner began reissuing his solo albums on his own record label, LisMark Records.
Farner toured with Ringo Starr's Allstars from 1994 to 1995, which also featured Randy Bachman, John Entwistle, Felix Cavaliere, Billy Preston, and Starr's son, Zak Starkey.
In the late 1990s, Farner reunited with Grand Funk, but left after three years to resume his solo career. He currently tours with his band, N′rG, which plays a mixture of Grand Funk songs and Farner's solo offerings.
Farner had a pacemaker installed October 22, 2012. He had suffered with heart troubles for the last eight years.
Other interests
Farner was honored with the Lakota Sioux Elders Honor Mark in 1999. During the concert in Hankinson, North Dakota, a special presentation was held honoring Mark's Native ancestry and his contributions. Members of the Lakota Nation presented him with a hand-made ceremonial quilt. He has also been honored with the Cherokee Medal of Honor by the Cherokee Honor Society.
An authorized biography of Farner, entitled From Grand Funk to Grace, was published in 2001.
In popular culture
Mark Farner was mentioned in episode 9 of season 8 of the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm in September 2011.
Discography
Studio albums
- Mark Farner, 1977
- No Frills, 1978
- Just Another Injustice, 1988
- Wake Up, 1989
- Some Kind of Wonderful, 1991
- For the People, 2006
Other albums
- Closer to Home, 1992 (best-of)
- Red White and Blue Forever, 2002 (mini-album)
- Heirlooms: The Complete Atlantic Sessions, 2000 (re-release of Farner's two first studio albums)
- Live!! N'rG, 2003
- For The People, 2006
References
- Smith, Noel Lyn. "Grand Funk's frontman to rock Jackson arena". navajotimes.com. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
- Grand Funk Railroad. VH1 Behind the Music. March 7, 1999.
- Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955–2002. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research, Inc. p. 288. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
- "Oldies Music News". Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- "Lakota Sioux Elders Honor Mark, Ceremonial Quilt Presented". Mark Farners Official Website. August 28, 1999. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
- "Mark Farner's official website::". Markfarner.com. Retrieved March 7, 2012.
- Engelhardt, Kristofer (2001). From Grand Funk to Grace: Authorized Biography of Mark Farner. Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc. ISBN 978-1-896522-74-6.
External links
| Grand Funk Railroad | |
|---|---|
| |
| Studio albums | |
| Unofficial albums | |
| Live albums | |
| Compilations | |
| Singles | |
| Related | |