Mark Farner
Mark Farner |
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Mark Fredrick Farner (born September 29, 1948 in Flint, Michigan) is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad, and later as a Contemporary Christian Musician.
Early life and career
Farner began his career in music by playing in Terry Knight and The Pack (1965-1966), The Bossmen (1966), The Pack (aka The Fabulous Pack) (1967-1968), before forming Grand Funk Railroad (later called Grand Funk) with Don Brewer (drums) and Mel Schacher (bass guitar) in 1969. Craig Frost (keyboards) joined the band in 1973.
With Grand Funk
Farner was the guitarist and lead singer for Grand Funk Railroad as well as the songwriter for most of their material. His best known composition is the 1970 epic "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)".[1]
Grand Funk's "We're An American Band" reached #1 on the Hot 100 on Mark's 25th birthday.
Post-Grand Funk
After Grand Funk initially disbanded in 1976, Farner released his first self titled solo album in 1977, and his second, No Frills, in 1978 (both Atlantic Records). In 1981, Farner and Don Brewer launched a new Grand Funk line-up and recorded two albums, Grand Funk Lives and What's Funk?. Farner went solo again with 1988's Just Another Injustice on Frontline Records. His third Frontline release was 1991's Some Kind of Wonderful, which featured a revamped version of the Grand Funk classic of the same name. Farner enjoyed success with the John Beland composition "Isn't it Amazing", which earned him a Dove Award nomination and reached #2 on the Christian Contemporary charts.
In the 1990s, Farner formed Lismark Communications with former Freedom Reader editor Steve Lisuk. Soon after, Farner began reissuing his solo albums on his own record label, LisMark Records.
Farner toured with Ringo Starr's Allstars from 1994 to 1995, which also featured Randy Bachman, John Entwistle, Felix Cavaliere, Billy Preston, and Starr's son, Zak Starkey.
In the late 1990s, Farner reunited with Grand Funk, but left after three years to resume his solo career. He currently tours with his band, N'rG, which plays a mixture of Grand Funk songs and Farner's solo offerings.
Other interests
Farner was honoured with the Lakota Sioux Elders Honor Mark in 1999. During the concert in Hankinson, North Dakota, a special presentation was held honoring Mark's Native ancestry and his contributions. Members of the Lakota Nation presented him with a hand-made ceremonial quilt.[2] He has also been honoured with the Cherokee Medal of Honor by the Cherokee Honor Society.[2]
An authorized biography of Farner, entitled From Grand Funk to Grace, was published by Collectors Guide Publishing in Canada[3]
Discography
- Mark Farner, 1977
- No Frills, 1978
- Just Another Injustice, 1988
- Wake Up, 1989
- Some Kind of Wonderful, 1991
- Closer to Home, 1992
- Heirlooms, 2000
- Red White and Blue Forever, 2002
- Live!! N'rG, 2003
- For The People, 2006
References
- ^ Grand Funk Railroad. VH1 Behind the Music. March 7, 1999.
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- ^ From Grand Funk to Grace: Authorized Biography of Mark Farner, Kristofer Engelhardt, Publisher: Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc.; December 1, 2001, ISBN 1896522742, ISBN 978-1896522746