Mark Newman

Mark Newman entered the world in the Bronx, where his earliest spark for music arrived upon hearing his father perform the pair of piano pieces he knew—“Heart and Soul” and what Newman describes as “that famous tune that people play on the black keys....” He spent his childhood in New York before relocating to Los Angeles, where he trained under session guitarist Howard Roberts as well as Ted Greene, author of Chord Chemistry and Modern Chord Progressions. Among his formative listening were the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Allman Brothers, Ry Cooder, Little Feat, Jimmy Nolen (James Brown’s guitarist), and Steve Cropper. Answering a local newspaper advertisement led to his first ensemble experience; the group sought a guitarist, Newman filled the role, and he has stayed in touch with those players ever since. His debut appearance took place outdoors at a high school when the scheduled act withdrew and the new lineup substituted, although Newman later judged the event fell short of its potential.

In 1997 Newman supplied acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, and vocals as frontman for Tao Jones, whose album Rorschach Sunset appeared that May on Secret Records. Nine years afterward, after executives from a fresh label caught his set at The Bitter End in New York City and received copies of the songs “Dead Man’s Shoes” and “Must Be a Pony,” the Must Be a Pony CD was issued. When Fred Herrera of Sweetwater encountered Sam Samudio of Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs, who needed a slide guitarist, Herrera informed Newman that Samudio would telephone; Newman assumed the claim was a joke. After several hours of playing together, Newman performed with Sam the Sham the following evening. In solo performance Newman sustains an audience single-handedly, his slide guitar outstanding and his vocals grounded and likable. His reading of the Blind Faith staple “Can’t Find My Way Home” illustrates how his pop instincts complement his roots-oriented approach. He has shared stages with Sam Moore of Sam & Dave as well as Sam the Sham.