Stan Mark
Encyclopedia
Stan Mark is an American
trumpet
player.
Mark started his playing career in 1963 with the United States Navy Band
in Washington D.C. and later played lead trumpet with the band's jazz
ensemble, The Commodores, from 1967 to 1970.
In 1973 Mark joined the trumpet section of Maynard Ferguson
's rock-influenced big band and was promoted to lead trumpet within a few months. Mark was visible within the band by his distinctive afro
hairstyle and black trumpet. Despite constant personnel changes, Mark remained a fixture with the band until he left in 1982,
although he maintained a cordial relationship with Ferguson until Ferguson's death in 2006.
Following his departure from the Ferguson band in 1982, Mark began leading a big band of his own in Orlando, recording the album Here's Stan Mark on the Progressive Records
label. The band backed numerous singers and appeared on tour as the Nelson Riddle
Orchestra and the Jimmy Dorsey
Orchestra. Mark taught and performed in clinics in high school
s and Universities around the world.
In early 1993 Stan began touring the United States as lead trumpet player with the Glenn Miller Orchestra
. Mark also played lead trumpet with the Sorta Dixie Jazz Band/Gold Coast Orchestra from 1993 to 1996. While in Las Vegas, Mark led a Swing Band, the Sin City SuitZ. In 2002, Mark relocated from Las Vegas to the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon, leading both a big band and a smaller group called the Rogue Valley SuitZ.
Mark largely retired from the music business in 2005, although he did perform as a soloist and ensemble member at Maynard Ferguson's memorial service in St. Louis, MO on September 20, 2006.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
player.
Mark started his playing career in 1963 with the United States Navy Band
United States Navy Band
The United States Navy Band, based at the historic Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., has served the nation as the official musical organization of the United States Navy since 1925...
in Washington D.C. and later played lead trumpet with the band's jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
ensemble, The Commodores, from 1967 to 1970.
In 1973 Mark joined the trumpet section of Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957...
's rock-influenced big band and was promoted to lead trumpet within a few months. Mark was visible within the band by his distinctive afro
Afro
Afro, sometimes shortened to fro and also known as a "natural", is a hairstyle worn naturally by people with lengthy kinky hair texture or specifically styled in such a fashion by individuals with naturally curly or straight hair...
hairstyle and black trumpet. Despite constant personnel changes, Mark remained a fixture with the band until he left in 1982,
although he maintained a cordial relationship with Ferguson until Ferguson's death in 2006.
Following his departure from the Ferguson band in 1982, Mark began leading a big band of his own in Orlando, recording the album Here's Stan Mark on the Progressive Records
Progressive Records
-Artists:*Harry Allen*Laurie Altman*Milt Buckner*Chris Connor*Alice Cooper*Buddy DeFranco*Tommy Flanagan*Don Friedman*Al Haig*Sir Roland Hanna*Hank Jones*Lee Konitz*Stan Mark*Red Norvo*Maddy Prior*Derek Smith*Steeleye Span*Sonny Stitt*U.K. Subs...
label. The band backed numerous singers and appeared on tour as the Nelson Riddle
Nelson Riddle
Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s...
Orchestra and the Jimmy Dorsey
Jimmy Dorsey
James "Jimmy" Dorsey was a prominent American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, trumpeter, composer, and big band leader. He was known as "JD"...
Orchestra. Mark taught and performed in clinics in high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
s and Universities around the world.
In early 1993 Stan began touring the United States as lead trumpet player with the Glenn Miller Orchestra
Glenn Miller Orchestra
The Glenn Miller Orchestra was originally formed in 1938 by Glenn Miller. It was arranged around a clarinet and tenor saxophone playing melody, while three other saxophones played the harmony...
. Mark also played lead trumpet with the Sorta Dixie Jazz Band/Gold Coast Orchestra from 1993 to 1996. While in Las Vegas, Mark led a Swing Band, the Sin City SuitZ. In 2002, Mark relocated from Las Vegas to the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon, leading both a big band and a smaller group called the Rogue Valley SuitZ.
Mark largely retired from the music business in 2005, although he did perform as a soloist and ensemble member at Maynard Ferguson's memorial service in St. Louis, MO on September 20, 2006.
With Maynard Ferguson
- 1974: ChameleonChameleon (Maynard Ferguson album)Chameleon is a 1974 big band jazz album by Maynard Ferguson. It features cover versions of many songs that were popular in the years leading up to its production, including: ""Jet"" by Paul McCartney, ""The Way We Were"" –which was popularized by Barbra Streisand, and "Livin’ For the City" by...
(with Maynard Ferguson) Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... - 1975: Primal Scream (with Maynard Ferguson)
- 1976: Conquistador (with Maynard Ferguson)
- 1977: New Vintage (with Maynard Ferguson)
- 1978: Carnival (with Maynard Ferguson)
- 1979: Hot (with Maynard Ferguson)
- 1980: It's My Time (with Maynard Ferguson)
- 1981: Hollywood (with Maynard Ferguson)
- 1982: Storm (with Maynard Ferguson)
Stan Mark as bandleader
- 1983: Here's Stan Mark and his Big Band
- 1987: The Joint is Jumpin' (Stan Mark and his River City StomperZ)
- 1991: Jubilee (Stan Mark and his River City StomperZ)
- 1992: Welcome Aboard (Stan Mark and his River City StomperZ)
- 1994: Collector's Edition (with the Sorta Dixie Jazz Band)
- 1995: Reflections (with the Sorta Dixie Jazz Band)
- 1997: Rock This Town! (Stan Mark and his Hot HornZ)
- 1997: The Best of Stan Mark (Stan Mark and his Hot HornZ)
- 1999: These SuitZ Can Swing! (Stan Mark and his Sin Sity SuitZ)
- 1999: Remembering Harry (Stan Mark Big Band)
- 2001: Still Swinging! (Stan Mark and his Sin Sity SuitZ)
- 2003: The Next Generation (Stan Mark and his Rogue Valley SuitZ)