Mark Hart
Encyclopedia
Mark Hart is a multi-instrumentalist
best known for his participation as a member of Supertramp
and Crowded House
.
A student of classical music
, Mark worked as a full time session musician
with popular artists, notably the group Supertramp. He began his association with them in 1987 as a studio and touring musician, able to play several instruments and sing lead vocals. Hart shared the same manager as the band Crowded House, who suggested he fill in for Eddie Rayner
, with session work for the band after they experienced difficulties replacing their keyboardist
.
He contributed to Woodface
in 1991 as a session musician, later joining the band fully a while after Tim Finn
left, and is credited as a full member on Together Alone
from 1993. He stayed with the band after founding drummer Paul Hester
left, he is seen along with Neil Finn
and Nick Seymour
in the photographs from the sleeve for Recurring Dream
, the 1996 greatest hits album. Hart played with the band during their farewell concert on the steps of the Sydney Opera House
in November 1996, known as Farewell to the World
.
Following the demise of the group, Hart stated that he thought the band had more in them. He would later join Neil Finn on stage for some of his solo concerts supporting Finn's debut solo album Try Whistling This
in 1998, before rejoining Supertramp, producing for Tim Finn and releasing his own album Nada Sonata, in 2002.
Hart has also scored the motion pictures Life Among the Cannibals (1996) and Mockingbird Don't Sing
(2001) both directed by Harry Bromley Davenport
.
In January 2007, Neil Finn announced that he would be reforming Crowded House with Nick Seymour, Mark Hart and a new drummer, confirmed as former Beck
drummer Matt Sherrod
, releasing a new album, Time on Earth
, and embarking on a year-long world tour. The album was initially intended to be Finn's third solo album, but was converted to a Crowded House album late in the sessions. As a result, Hart contributed on only four songs to the new album. Both he and Sherrod have fully contributed to the next album, Intriguer, which was released in June 2010 and both can be seen on the DVD supplements to that album.
Multi-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
best known for his participation as a member of Supertramp
Supertramp
Supertramp are a British rock band formed in 1969 under the name Daddy before renaming to Supertramp in early 1970. Though their music was initially categorised as progressive rock, they have since incorporated a combination of traditional rock and art rock into their music...
and Crowded House
Crowded House
Crowded House are a rock band, formed in Melbourne, Australia and led by New Zealand singer-songwriter Neil Finn. Finn is the primary songwriter and creative director of the band, having led it through several incarnations, drawing members from New Zealand , Australia and the United States...
.
A student of classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, Mark worked as a full time session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
with popular artists, notably the group Supertramp. He began his association with them in 1987 as a studio and touring musician, able to play several instruments and sing lead vocals. Hart shared the same manager as the band Crowded House, who suggested he fill in for Eddie Rayner
Eddie Rayner
Eddie Rayner , is a New Zealand musician who has played in bands such as Split Enz, Space Waltz, Crowded House, The Makers and 801....
, with session work for the band after they experienced difficulties replacing their keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
.
He contributed to Woodface
Woodface
Woodface is the third studio album by the band Crowded House. The album was produced by Mitchell Froom and released by Capitol in July 1991. It features five singles "Chocolate Cake", "Fall at Your Feet", "Weather with You", "Four Seasons in One Day", and "It's Only Natural"...
in 1991 as a session musician, later joining the band fully a while after Tim Finn
Tim Finn
Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
left, and is credited as a full member on Together Alone
Together Alone
Together Alone is the fourth studio album by the band Crowded House. It was released in October 1993 and was their first album to feature multi-instrumentalist Mark Hart as a full band member. Unlike the band's first three albums, which were recorded in the US and Australia and produced by Mitchell...
from 1993. He stayed with the band after founding drummer Paul Hester
Paul Hester
Paul Newell Hester was an Australian musician and television personality; he was the drummer for the related bands Split Enz and Crowded House.-The early years:...
left, he is seen along with Neil Finn
Neil Finn
Neil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
and Nick Seymour
Nick Seymour
Nick Seymour is a musician, painter, and record producer. He is best known for being the bass guitarist in the Australasian rock group Crowded House and brother to Mark Seymour of another successful group; Hunters and Collectors.- Biography :Born in Benalla, Victoria, Australia, Seymour studied...
in the photographs from the sleeve for Recurring Dream
Recurring Dream
Recurring Dream is a compilation album by rock group Crowded House, released in 1996. It includes most of their singles, as well as three new songs, "Not the Girl You Think You Are", "Instinct", and "Everything Is Good for You".-Background:...
, the 1996 greatest hits album. Hart played with the band during their farewell concert on the steps of the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
in November 1996, known as Farewell to the World
Farewell to the World
Farewell to the World is a 1996 concert by rock group Crowded House. The concert was recorded on the outside footsteps of the famed Sydney Opera House as a charity event to raise funds for the Sydney Children's Hospital. The event was originally scheduled to occur on the night of the 23 November...
.
Following the demise of the group, Hart stated that he thought the band had more in them. He would later join Neil Finn on stage for some of his solo concerts supporting Finn's debut solo album Try Whistling This
Try Whistling This
Try Whistling This is the debut solo album released in 1998 by New Zealand singer/songwriter Neil Finn. The Japanese version of the album has a bonus track called "Tokyo", which also appears on the UK release of the single Sinner...
in 1998, before rejoining Supertramp, producing for Tim Finn and releasing his own album Nada Sonata, in 2002.
Hart has also scored the motion pictures Life Among the Cannibals (1996) and Mockingbird Don't Sing
Mockingbird Don't Sing
Mockingbird Don't Sing is a 2001 American independent film based on the true story of Genie, a modern-day feral child. The film is told from the point of view of Dr. Susan Curtiss , a professor of linguistics at University of California, Los Angeles. Although the film is based on a true story, all...
(2001) both directed by Harry Bromley Davenport
Harry Bromley Davenport
Harry Bromley Davenport is an English director, producer as well as in the beginning of his career a film screenwriter...
.
In January 2007, Neil Finn announced that he would be reforming Crowded House with Nick Seymour, Mark Hart and a new drummer, confirmed as former Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
drummer Matt Sherrod
Matt Sherrod
Matt Sherrod is an American drummer, musician, and since 2007, a member of the New Zealand band Crowded House. Sherrod first became known as a musician playing drums for rock artist Beck...
, releasing a new album, Time on Earth
Time on Earth
Time on Earth is the fifth studio album by the pop-rock band Crowded House. Tracks have been produced by both Ethan Johns and Steve Lillywhite and the album was released on 30 June 2007 in Australia, 2 July in the United Kingdom and 10 July in North America...
, and embarking on a year-long world tour. The album was initially intended to be Finn's third solo album, but was converted to a Crowded House album late in the sessions. As a result, Hart contributed on only four songs to the new album. Both he and Sherrod have fully contributed to the next album, Intriguer, which was released in June 2010 and both can be seen on the DVD supplements to that album.