Mark picked up the guitar at the age of twelve and before long, he was receiving recognition for his musical abilities. Where as many kids at twelve years of age may be content to watch television or to hang out with others of their own age, Mark had one singularly focused ambition, he wanted to become a musician. And so devoted was he to this pursuit, he would often fall to sleep at night with his guitar "strapped on." Mark would eventually play with "Percy Sledge" and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees "Curtis Mayfield's Impressions." After thirteen years of touring, Mark attended Northwestern State University where he studied music theory, while working very diligently on his jazz, blues and rock skills. Mark was nominated for Musician of the Year by The Academy of Texas Music, for his guitar work on "One Drink Away From The Blues". Mark finished in the top 1500 of the Billboard Songwriting Competition and finished as the second place winner in the Unisong International Songwriting Competition with his title cut, "One Drink Away From The Blues."