Mark Lee Townsend
Encyclopedia
Mark Lee Townsend is known best as guitarist
for the Christian rock
band dc Talk
, playing with them from 1996 until their hiatus in 2001. Mark's career started as a member/singer/guitarist/songwriter for the 80's Pop/Christian band Bash 'N The Code from 1986 through 1991. In between dc Talk tours, he was a lead guitarist for the Christian artist Jennifer Knapp. He creatively added more life to her already well-written songs. At the Cornerstone Festival 2000, he appeared doing an acoustic act where he ended his show with a rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody
. During his time with dcTalk, he and other members of the band formed the band, Zilch, and made the album "Platinum" for Gotee Records.
After dc Talk went on an extended hiatus, Townsend took to producing. He produced [Jennifer Knapp Live] in 2006, as seen on jenniferknapp.com, as well as producing and engineering two full-length albums for the Christian rock band The Wedding
. He also produced The O.C. Supertones' 2004 album "The Revenge Of The Supertones". He is also the producer of seven albums and multiple smaller releases by Relient K
, and also produced three tracks on their fifth album
, Five Score and Seven Years Ago
, as well. Townsend and Relient K have been quoted as being like family, as Relient K guitarist Matt Hoopes
is married to Townsend's daughter. Mark has been a Gibson guitar endorser and was featured in the article below.
Mark Townsend is one of those rare players who is in demand both for his eclectic background and for his signature sounds. Armed with an arsenal of Gibson guitars, the veteran of the contemporary Christian scene is equally at home in the studio with Steve Taylor and Grover Levy or on tour with multi-platinum hip-hop group dc Talk (in support of Jesus Freak). Among the guitars he uses are a Fender Telecaster, and a Paul Reed Smith CE24, along with his several Gibsons.
In May 2006 Mark started his own music label, Brave New World Records
. He signed both Christian Rock artists The Wedding
and Deas Vail
, producing full-lengths and EP's for both acts.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
for the Christian rock
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
band dc Talk
Dc Talk
DC Talk , is a Grammy-winning Christian rock music trio. The group was formed in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1987 by Toby McKeehan, Michael Tait, and Kevin Max Smith. They have released five major studio albums together: DC Talk , Nu Thang , Free at Last , Jesus Freak , and Supernatural...
, playing with them from 1996 until their hiatus in 2001. Mark's career started as a member/singer/guitarist/songwriter for the 80's Pop/Christian band Bash 'N The Code from 1986 through 1991. In between dc Talk tours, he was a lead guitarist for the Christian artist Jennifer Knapp. He creatively added more life to her already well-written songs. At the Cornerstone Festival 2000, he appeared doing an acoustic act where he ended his show with a rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody
Bohemian Rhapsody
"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen. It was written by Freddie Mercury for the band's 1975 album A Night at the Opera...
. During his time with dcTalk, he and other members of the band formed the band, Zilch, and made the album "Platinum" for Gotee Records.
After dc Talk went on an extended hiatus, Townsend took to producing. He produced [Jennifer Knapp Live] in 2006, as seen on jenniferknapp.com, as well as producing and engineering two full-length albums for the Christian rock band The Wedding
The Wedding (band)
The Wedding is a Christian band from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Musically, The Wedding fuses elements of Christian punk, Christian rock, Alternative Contemporary Christian, pop punk, ska, piano rock, and post-hardcore with their pop rock base...
. He also produced The O.C. Supertones' 2004 album "The Revenge Of The Supertones". He is also the producer of seven albums and multiple smaller releases by Relient K
Relient K
Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio by Matt Thiessen, Brian Pittman, and Matt Hoopes during the band's junior year in high school and their time at Malone University...
, and also produced three tracks on their fifth album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Five Score and Seven Years Ago
Five Score and Seven Years Ago
Five Score and Seven Years Ago is the fifth full-length album by the Christian rock band Relient K. It was released on March 6, 2007, and is the first full-length album by the band to feature bassist John Warne and guitarist Jon Schneck. It is also the first Relient K album released without...
, as well. Townsend and Relient K have been quoted as being like family, as Relient K guitarist Matt Hoopes
Matt Hoopes
Matthew Ryan Hoopes is the lead guitarist of Relient K, a Christian rock band that was formed in 1998. Hoopes has played guitar and performed backing vocals for Relient K for twelve years. Hoopes has slowly developed into the band's lead guitarist over the years, despite Matt Thiessen playing lead...
is married to Townsend's daughter. Mark has been a Gibson guitar endorser and was featured in the article below.
A sideman's greatest asset is the chameleon-like ability to adapt to a variety of musical genres as well as imitate the signature sounds of other players. On the other hand, a session player has truly reached the top of the profession when he's in demand to add his own signature sound to a recording or live tour.
Mark Townsend is one of those rare players who is in demand both for his eclectic background and for his signature sounds. Armed with an arsenal of Gibson guitars, the veteran of the contemporary Christian scene is equally at home in the studio with Steve Taylor and Grover Levy or on tour with multi-platinum hip-hop group dc Talk (in support of Jesus Freak). Among the guitars he uses are a Fender Telecaster, and a Paul Reed Smith CE24, along with his several Gibsons.
In May 2006 Mark started his own music label, Brave New World Records
Brave New World Records
Brave New World Records is a record label founded by Mark Lee Townsend and Mark Mattingly in Nashville, Tennessee in 2004. The label is distributed nationwide by Word Distribution a division of Word Entertainment.The label focuses mainly on Christian Rock and Alternative bands. Brave New World was...
. He signed both Christian Rock artists The Wedding
The Wedding (band)
The Wedding is a Christian band from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Musically, The Wedding fuses elements of Christian punk, Christian rock, Alternative Contemporary Christian, pop punk, ska, piano rock, and post-hardcore with their pop rock base...
and Deas Vail
Deas Vail
-History:Noted for having musical similarities to Death Cab for Cutie, Mew, Copeland, and Mae, Deas Vail was formed in the university town of Russellville, Arkansas in 2003. After a couple of years of touring, Deas Vail signed to Brave New World Records in 2005. In the fall of 2006, they released...
, producing full-lengths and EP's for both acts.